1996-97 Tennessee vs Old Dominion Final Four

#2
#2
Around the time of Pat's passing I found the 2001 UT-UConn game in Knoxville on YouTube and watched the entire thing. That was a terrific game and the only time Tauarsi lost to the Lady Vols. I think there are a few others on there as well.
 
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#3
#3
Can someone explain to me the downfalls of ODU and La Tech? I remember growing up and those 2 were always right up there with UT.
 
#6
#6
MsSportsGuy said:
Around the time of Pat's passing I found the 2001 UT-UConn game in Knoxville on YouTube and watched the entire thing. That was a terrific game and the only time Tauarsi lost to the Lady Vols. I think there are a few others on there as well.
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Hands down one of the best rivalry games!
 
#8
#8
Volsfaninva917 said:
Can someone explain to me the downfalls of ODU and La Tech? I remember growing up and those 2 were always right up there with UT.
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Wendy Larry/ODU and Leon Barmore/LaTech retired. They were great coaches and representatives for their respective universities.
 
#9
#9
Volsfaninva917 said:
Can someone explain to me the downfalls of ODU and La Tech? I remember growing up and those 2 were always right up there with UT.
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i believe you're seeing a good explanation playing out in real time with the lady vols. someone will ask this same question about UT in just a few years.
 
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#10
#10
gladiator06 said:
i believe you're seeing a good explanation playing out in real time with the lady vols. someone will ask this same question about UT in just a few years.
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I think it's a bit different, regardless of opinion on coaching, because La. Tech and ODU do not have the benefit of being in a Power 5 conference.
 
#11
#11
The answer to why second tier conference schools declined is television rights. Universities recognized visibility of television and recruitment changed significantly. And in no way to present a negative on Connecticut but ESPN had a major impact initially on their being able to recruit the best. And my answer didn't come from me it was an article in the program at an early final four after ESPN had announced that they were carrying women's games and the Tourney. Interestingly one of the predictions that was also right on was that girls would become better after watching and seeing the opportunities for college education, and possibly the pros.
 
#12
#12
I loved watching Kim Mulkey bringing the ball down the court, looking like an avenging angel with her french braid bouncing and total focus in her eyes and in every part of her--what--5 foot tall body? She was h3ll! :machgun:You knew if she went down she was taking someone with her. So fierce! Not too many players like that anymore! (This was, as I recall , before the NCAA W) The women that played then were not the dainty snowflakes/primadonnas that some are now.

Those were the days!:dance2:
 
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#13
#13
T.J. said:
Wendy Larry/ODU and Leon Barmore/LaTech retired. They were great coaches and representatives for their respective universities.
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Money, too, and athletic budgets.

BTW Old Dominion's dynastic run occurred during Marianne Stanley's tenure there. Larry did an admirable job keeping the program competing respectably, but it became more and more evident that the lesser budget schools would succumb to the schools with bigger budgets during athletic competitions.
 
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