And Tony V is officially gone.

#202
#202
Southpaw02 said:
Damn dude, kind of bitter? You get a shot at the Bigs you take it! What part of that don't you understand?
Now you are aware that Tennessee is a pioneer in woman's basketball?
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Who gives a ****? It’s not a both/and anyway, but if they never played an other women’s sport over there I wouldn’t miss it one iota.
 
#203
#203
sami said:
I don't disagree about White's comments, but then I really don't put as much importance in press conferences as most here seem to do. No one knows what really went on behind closed doors, and there is usually nothing but speculation based on whatever axe the media has to grind.

Bottom line (to me, anyway) is that TV had a once in a lifetime opportunity after achieving all he could here - building a program from the ground up to elite national status, winning a natty, and raising the interest level in the baseball program at UT to the point where stadium upgrades are happening and every game is a sellout.

There was nothing that could have been done to keep him here, and maybe instead of blowing smoke up all our asses about "doing everything possible to keep him", White is focusing on moving forward and keeping the program at the elite level. I'm not defending White, but sitting here knashing our teeth about a guy fulfilling a dream as if the world revolves around UT is just silly and unproductive.

Tony should have a statue built in front of LNS some day, and my guess is he will, but now it's time to move on.
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To me, that PC was alarming. DW showed near Butch Jones-level ineptitude of managing the moment. It was bad. Maybe it was just the first misstep…no one is perfect. Im sure he didn’t plan on being in this position…but it concerns me that he handled that so poorly, and more so because of HOW he handled it so poorly, if that makes sense.
 
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#204
#204
Volboy said:
Maybe I'm in the minority, but SCREW TONY VITELLO and the horse he rode in on. He encouraged us to attend games, spend more money, etc., etc., which we did, all the while helping him to achieve HIS goal of coaching elsewhere. Loyalty works both ways dude. We survived before TV and we'll find someone who truly values this job. GBO
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Tony gave me more opportunities to celebrate in 8 years than I’ve had the rest of my life combined. Of all my years as a fan, Pat Summitt is the only coach that afforded dominance. As I was investing my sports dollars, I had divested 100% from basketball and football. Why? I knew that the super regionals were the floor for the program. I was all in baseball. From my view, the AD just shrugged his shoulders. Do you get that? It’s obvious a good deal of fans just don’t know understand who we had on Tony Vitello. Dominance. In a sport that has unequaled parity in the conference.

Survived? Brother, you really don’t have a clue. I guess someone on life support is technically surviving. I’m really a shame to have to identify with the loser mentality so many Vols have accepted.
 
#205
#205
preacherman20 said:
I don't think you can discount the fact that he is driven by being the first which has been talked about on here before. First national championship at UT. First college coach to become MLB manager and then first person to win CWS and MLB WS. That is pretty impressive.
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He may go there and set the World on fire but there is a reason why MLB hasn't reached out to a college coach (that we know of at least) to lead their franchise. It's the reason why few college football and basketball coaches rarely succeed in their professional ranks as well. It's not because they can't coach or are stupid. It's because there is a huge difference trying to coach an 18 or 19 year old as opposed to a 26 year old making 10 million a year. Certainly, there are several players on a roster who aren't making 10 million a year and aren't 26 years old, especially in the NBA, but all professional athletes consider themselves "grown men" whether they are or aren't maturity wise. Many college athletes, if not most, still respond to coaching and teaching (although that is changing due to NIL). I get why he is doing it and maybe that has always been his dream but I suspect he is doing it because his ego is driving him to it like most big time coaches. Free agency in MLB is much different than the transfer portal and the SF Giants haven't made the playoffs in four years. They don't have a great roster and are in the toughest division in MLB outside of maybe the AL East. You can't simply flip a roster like you could in the NBA or even in College baseball with the era of NIL and the transfer portal. It will take 2-3 years to rebuild their roster or see how well their young players continue to develop which is probably what their intentions are in hiring Vitello. There is a huge difference in the level of pitching they will face in the Major Leagues versus a NCAA level pitcher. It's not even close, neither is the baseball or equipment. He is going from one of the most hitter friendly fields in college baseball to a MLB park that is one of the least hitter friendly fields in all of MLB. The weakness in Vitello's coaching is pitching staff related and rotation decisions. He is walking into a difficult situation which will test his weaknesses as a coach.
 
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#206
#206
10
WaywardVol said:
You’re literally drunk. TBA was built for men’s bball. They even offered Pat Stokely gymnasium and she turned it down. You could get into lady’s games for a canned food donation. Women’s basketball did not make money. This is just 100% wrong info on your part.
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💯LVB never has and never will turn a profit and if it weren’t for Pat most of the fanbase could give two sh@ts less about women’s basketball.
 
#210
#210
WaywardVol said:
You obviously don’t know what’s been lost.
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I know very well what's been lost, but I understand a guy getting a huge opportunity to coach at a top 10 MLB program. Can't fault him for that and I'm not going to act like I wouldn't take that gig either.

But I jump on Vol twitter and all I see if "F Vitello" " F Danny White" etc etc, childish overreaction.

It sucks yes, but the program is the program. We just move on and deal with it.
 
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#211
#211
theFallGuy said:
I know very well what's been lost, but I understand a guy getting a huge opportunity to coach at a top 10 MLB program. Can't fault him for that and I'm not going to act like I wouldn't take that gig either.

But I jump on Vol twitter and all I see if "F Vitello" " F Danny White" etc etc, childish overreaction.

It sucks yes, but the program is the program. We just move on and deal with it.
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It's what they do and the loudest mouths are usually the ones with the dumbest advice. "We should hire Chris Burke" or "the players want Elander" and maybe they do but players don't always make great coaching hires. Many "players" coaches have been pretty terrible at actually coaching so there is no harm in exploring who is or who isn't willing to coach at UT. Maybe Elander is the best option in the end but I certainly wouldn't hire an unproven assisstant IF a more experienced, proven option is available. I suspect there probably isn't but we have no idea who DW has or hasn't spoken to at this point.
 
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#212
#212
WaywardVol said:
Who gives a ****? It’s not a both/and anyway, but if they never played an other women’s sport over there I wouldn’t miss it one iota.
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key word in your statement is “I.” I know many who would miss women’s sports a lot. i hope you don’t have daughters. like others have said, you sound bitter. you’re more vocal about your hatred for women sports than TV leaving.
 
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#213
#213
theFallGuy said:
I know very well what's been lost, but I understand a guy getting a huge opportunity to coach at a top 10 MLB program. Can't fault him for that and I'm not going to act like I wouldn't take that gig either.

But I jump on Vol twitter and all I see if "F Vitello" " F Danny White" etc etc, childish overreaction.

It sucks yes, but the program is the program. We just move on and deal with it.
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All of these comments assume that both can’t be true. It is an opportunity, but none of this happens in a vacuum. It assumes that there aren’t underlying issues that either opened Tony’s ear to listen or even caused him to float himself out there.

Over reaction is the nature of fandom. No, we don’t move on. I don’t agree with the people blaming Tony. Danny? Different story. We push back so this doesn’t happen in the future. I can remembered expressing some frustration over an issue at work. I had a fellow worker ask me why I was pushing back so hard on something that wasn’t that big a deal. I said, if they take advantage of you on the little stuff, they’ll take advantage of you on everything. Sometimes you gotta push back to let others know you will. People in power will absolutely bus roll you.
 
#214
#214
Herman Hickman said:
He said it himself; he doesn't talk to coaches.

That is not how a proper business operates, especially when it comes to a question of losing your top employees.

How does it work? Take a look at Indiana's AD to see the way it is done.
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They talked. What you’re illustrating wanting is begging. It’s silly. You’re comparing a coach nearing the nursing home to a very young coach who has always likely wanted to try his shot in the bigs. Guy was gone either way. He got everything he wanted within reason.

Not like he’s making history or anything making this move….. oh wait, it is.
 
#215
#215
Herman Hickman said:
You know what you didn't hear at that press conference yesterday?

"We did everything we could to keep him here."

In the early 1930s, Tennessee had a Major assigned by the Army to run the ROTC program and assist with Corps of Engineers projects in East Tennessee. He doubled as Tennessee's football coach. Fordham, at that time a major football power, wanted him and made several overtures to that Major to gain his services. A judge in New York City contacted the Army to get him transferred to the Corps of Engineers district located in that region.

Tennessee's athletic department at that time did everything they could to keep him.

It is a good thing White wasn't in charge at that time. Major Neyland would have become General Neyland in the Bronx, winning championships in the nation's largest market and adding Vince Lombardi to his coaching tree.

I expect more from an athletic director. You should as well.

Winning championships is important. You never let an elite-level coach walk out the door with only a handful of words said.
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What did DW do/not do to keep TV?
 
#216
#216
volforlife10 said:
key word in your statement is “I.” I know many who would miss women’s sports a lot. i hope you don’t have daughters. like others have said, you sound bitter. you’re more vocal about your hatred for women sports than TV leaving.
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I’m not arguing that. I get it. When Pat was there, I rooted for her even though I never paid for a ticket. I rooted for her because I knew her value to the university. Sadly, she’s gone. Maybe Kim Caldwell is that person, but I don’t get that sense.
 
#217
#217
BillyHoyleVol said:
To me, that PC was alarming. DW showed near Butch Jones-level ineptitude of managing the moment. It was bad. Maybe it was just the first misstep…no one is perfect. Im sure he didn’t plan on being in this position…but it concerns me that he handled that so poorly, and more so because of HOW he handled it so poorly, if that makes sense.
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I don’t know what to believe in regard to Tony and Danny’s relationship, or what Danny could have or should have done to keep Tony in Knoxville; however, that press conference was really odd and he seemed very nervous. Stumbling over his words and a shaky voice as well as calling out the media wasn’t the best look.
 
#218
#218
landscapingvol said:
He may go there and set the World on fire but there is a reason why MLB hasn't reached out to a college coach (that we know of at least) to lead their franchise. It's the reason why few college football and basketball coaches rarely succeed in their professional ranks as well. It's not because they can't coach or are stupid. It's because there is a huge difference trying to coach an 18 or 19 year old as opposed to a 26 year old making 10 million a year. Certainly, there are several players on a roster who aren't making 10 million a year and aren't 26 years old, especially in the NBA, but all professional athletes consider themselves "grown men" whether they are or aren't maturity wise. Many college athletes, if not most, still respond to coaching and teaching (although that is changing due to NIL). I get why he is doing it and maybe that has always been his dream but I suspect he is doing it because his ego is driving him to it like most big time coaches. Free agency in MLB is much different than the transfer portal and the SF Giants haven't made the playoffs in four years. They don't have a great roster and are in the toughest division in MLB outside of maybe the AL East. You can't simply flip a roster like you could in the NBA or even in College baseball with the era of NIL and the transfer portal. It will take 2-3 years to rebuild their roster or see how well their young players continue to develop which is probably what their intentions are in hiring Vitello. There is a huge difference in the level of pitching they will face in the Major Leagues versus a NCAA level pitcher. It's not even close, neither is the baseball or equipment. He is going from one of the most hitter friendly fields in college baseball to a MLB park that is one of the least hitter friendly fields in all of MLB. The weakness in Vitello's coaching is pitching staff related and rotation decisions. He is walking into a difficult situation which will test his weaknesses as a coach.
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The college ranks will over time see more pull from the professional ranks because it is turning into the same issues and items to tackle. But yes over the past history of the sport is was way different, that can’t be said quite as much anymore.
 
#219
#219
WaywardVol said:
I’m not arguing that. I get it. When Pat was there, I rooted for her even though I never paid for a ticket. I rooted for her because I knew her value to the university. Sadly, she’s gone. Maybe Kim Caldwell is that person, but I don’t get that sense.
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Dude you need to go touch some grass or something…. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN A BASEBALL SCHOOL… let’s say the quiet part out loud…. We were a women’s basketball and football school for Pat’s tenure…. Then we fell off because she was gone….

But it seems we have quite a bit of financial support for the college baseball team so that usually brings about better overall play… honestly I low key kinda wish we would hire a splash guy that is a good for a year and then sucks so if Tony V comes back to college we will pick up where we ended… 2nd best option or just hire Coach E and keep this thing rolling.

Might not agree but we should be happy for Tony V and what this baseball program is now and wait until the dust settles before we want to kill the best AD we have had in the last 30+ years…
 
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#220
#220
BillyHoyleVol said:
To me, that PC was alarming. DW showed near Butch Jones-level ineptitude of managing the moment. It was bad. Maybe it was just the first misstep…no one is perfect. Im sure he didn’t plan on being in this position…but it concerns me that he handled that so poorly, and more so because of HOW he handled it so poorly, if that makes sense.
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If White was a brand new AD and this was the first impression we got of him, I would tend to agree. But we've seen what the man can do with regard to raising the level of UT sports, and I'm inclined to give him a pass.

Listen, maybe he didn't have the greatest relationship with Tony - I don't know and I don't care. TV buillt a juggernaut and won a natty, now he's living every baseball player/coach's dream of going to the bigs. Maybe White is more concerned with moving forward and doing what is necessary to keep the program at an elite level. All I know is that I'm going to judge him on the next hire far more than anything he might say in a press conference.
 
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#221
#221
WaywardVol said:
Tony gave me more opportunities to celebrate in 8 years than I’ve had the rest of my life combined. Of all my years as a fan, Pat Summitt is the only coach that afforded dominance. As I was investing my sports dollars, I had divested 100% from basketball and football. Why? I knew that the super regionals were the floor for the program. I was all in baseball. From my view, the AD just shrugged his shoulders. Do you get that? It’s obvious a good deal of fans just don’t know understand who we had on Tony Vitello. Dominance. In a sport that has unequaled parity in the conference.

Survived? Brother, you really don’t have a clue. I guess someone on life support is technically surviving. I’m really a shame to have to identify with the loser mentality so many Vols have accepted.
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I appreciate the passion even if it's a little over the top, but you're taking personally what is no more or less than a guy living a dream. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, be happy for the guy who provided all those great moments for you.

There was nothing that could have been done to prevent this. If it was another school he left for, I would share your outrage. The guy is living every American kid's dream, one that I guarantee he couldn't have ever imagined happening. Be thrilled for him - if the program dies, then he didn't build a really great foundation. I believe the program will live on and thrive.
 
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#222
#222
Raebo said:
Which begs the question, which is making more money (profit), LV basketball or baseball? I think Kim is only making about $250,000.
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Just now perusing this part of the thread. I hate to break it to you folks, but the only sports that operate with a profit (at UT and pretty much every other university) are football and MBB. All other sports, including baseball and WBB, operate in the red. That's why the revenue sharing percentages are broken down the way they are. That may be changing a little with increased interest in baseball in recent years, but that was the way things were in the UTAD budget report that was posted online a few years ago.
 
#224
#224
vflteacher said:
It bothers me that he hasn't addressed Volnation. I sincerely hope that he's under media restrictions and will address us when he has a chance. The silence makes it hurt worse.
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Same here. We’re talking about the guy who was Tennessee’s biggest cheerleader. He attended other sports games. It’s odd.
 
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