I'm a huge fan of the Lady Vols but I don't live close enough to see games in person. So I'm limited to watching on tv or online when I have wifi. I'm curious to know realistically what the atmosphere has become like at TBA. Not your complaining and griping. We have plenty of threads for that. I'm interested from the die hard fans that are there game end and game out. What is it like now watching them play? Has the fans lost that edge that they know their going to see a great product. Are the crowds getting smaller? What's the chatter like amongst the fans inside TBA? Are the diehards leaving and taking their support with them? I think we are at a very dangerous time for the Lady Vols program even with the #1 recruiting class.
OK. My quals: attended LV basketball games since 1987, season ticket holder since 1987, attend SECT and NCAAT, donated to LV since 1987 until whenever UT put all giving together and have continued giving since that time to present, knew Pat, was a BoostHer member and attended post game "receptions" until that was discontinued.
The crowds are definitely smaller and less involved. The second half of the Baylor game I looked across the floor and a large numbe of people were sitting, most did eventually stand but I have never seen that before (and I was at the infamous Duke game at TBA😳
. The pregame atmosphere in the arena is not electric anymore, the girls seem very calm and not "hyped" when introduced. May just be their personality, but that is unusual too.
All in all, I find it worrying. Just got our renewal information, and they still require a $1,000 donation per seat for center court. As losses increase and attendance decreases I wonder how long UTAD can hold to that. Or if the money decreases, will that be used as an excuse to downgrade the program? It looks like the LV may be approaching a crossroads.
Even I have to admit it is not much fun any more, and I have no intention of quitting either in attendance or donations....but I sure would like to attend games and have the push overs be push overs and the tough games to at least be close.
This is no knock on the team. Contrary to what some on here post, I do not see lack of effort. The worst I see is lack of speed, quickness, and size.