Tennessee Softball 2025

[Orangeslide]

So everyone but TV?

I never said they were bad coaches, I said their window is closing. Age and other variables are in play such as health issues unforseen or frustration with the portal or NIL. Everyone reaches a level to move on. I know Karen and Rick would love to win a national championship before they step away. But it’s easier said than done. No guarantees for either they will get another shot.

 

[VolGee4]

I think with Rick it's more about his overall career than just Tennessee. He's only been to one Final Four in his entire coaching career.

Rick has been at Providence, Clemson, Texas, and UT. He was never at a blue blood and at schools who have blue bloods as rivals. I think it's why the allure of UCLA was intriguing to him. He's always built middling programs instead of taking over blue bloods with inherent advantages.

He doubled the number of NCAAT appearances that Texas had gone to. He's gone to back to back EE's at UT when UT had one in its history. He will have left 3 programs much better than when he got there, and it's not even debatable.

 

[kregman]

I’m saying all because we scored 4 runs off a pitcher in a singular game doesn’t mean jack squat. This was an entirely new game. That other poster was acting like we would’ve been getting hits off her had the hitting coach not been ejected. It would have been the same result with or without the coach.

I believe Sophie became one of mine too. I’m going to miss her swag and whatever that was she had under her eyes. It was awesome!

She was a clutch hitter

 

[volsagain]

Yeah only 32 teams used to go back on the 70 s

And we still didn't make a final 4 . Most power 4 coaches are really good at what they do. They just have to catch lightning in a bottle. That requires a little luck , the right matchups and players getting hot at the right time.

 

[VolPack22]

You're trying to answer a questions that was never asked.

You literally typed:

“I think Rick is a great coach but the bottom line is he isn't the coach you need if your goal is the Final Four.”

 

[VolGee4]

Wonder who Auburn was gonna get....Bama....UConn....what about Florida that just won a national championship? And I'm not sure he's even shaving yet.

Who you gonna get is a cop out. The AD makes huge money to make those hires. I like Barnes....but who you gonna get is just a cop out.

One day, UT basketball will have a run at not making the NCAAT or losing in the first two rounds, and we will realize how great of a run that Barnes has had.

 

[volman128]

You literally typed:

“I think Rick is a great coach but the bottom line is he isn't the coach you need if your goal is the Final Four.”

Okay? I never said to get rid of him, lol. I'm actually a realist. My goal isn't to get to the FF because 1) we've never gotten there and 2) Rick will never get there regardless of what school he is at. So that statement doesn't apply to me. But fans that desperately want to get to the FF shouldn't be ridiculed for doing so. People wanting a FF =/= wanting to get rid of Rick Barnes. I want the softball team to win a NC but I don't want to get rid of Karen.

At some point Danny White will have to make that decision because I don't think Rick will coach much longer.

 

[TouchOfGrey]

Great season LVs! Final Four is not a failure, we just came up short of what we WANTED. KP good enough to take us to a National Championship but we can’t expect her to pitch a shutout every outing especially against elite teams. A few more consistent bats (wherever they come from)and the development of Sage/Erin and possibly another arm and we can be right back to OKC.

 

[kregman]

The big disappointment for me is this is year we could have won it. OU just had some unbeatable teams the last few years but not this year. They may win it anyway. They will load up you can bet will we?

 

[VolPack22]

Okay? I never said to get rid of him, lol. I'm actually a realist. My goal isn't to get to the FF because 1) we've never gotten there and 2) Rick will never get there regardless of what school he is at. So that statement doesn't apply to me. But fans that desperately want to get to the FF shouldn't be ridiculed for doing so. People wanting a FF =/= wanting to get rid of Rick Barnes. I want the softball team to win a NC but I don't want to get rid of Karen.

At some point Danny White will have to make that decision because I don't think Rick will coach much longer.

Some people will never be satisfied. I’m convinced even if we were to make a Final 4 there would still be those same “fans” complaining.

 

[volman128]

The big disappointment for me is this is year we could have won it. OU just had some unbeatable teams the last few years but not this year. They may win it anyway. They will load up you can bet will we?

We would've had a pretty decent shot but Ella Parker erased it. I knew in that moment any hope of winning it all was over. Only four teams have ever lost their first game of the WCWS and came back to win it all.

 

[Majors]

Not knowing the dynamic of the team next year, one thing that showed towards the end of the year was Ella Dodge stepping up and being the leader needed. This team didn’t have the Kiki leader or the G hold you accountable element. Ella stepped up in her own way to be the leader the latter part of the year.

 

[Tnphil]

How is it a cop out whenever you can’t even give me one name

Every single coach for those teams you listed was an up and coming coach with no national championship, no Final 4, no Elite 8, no Sweet 16 on their résumé prior. The furthest any of them went was the Round of 32. And we all know the Florida coach would have been fired had Florida actually cared about character, but because they were winning they decided to do nothing and it paid off for them.

If you can read....That's why Danny White gets paid big bucks to make the hires. I'm 70 and not one time has the UT administration ask me who they should hire. Who you gonna get is a cop out. I bet the Florida fans that said....who we gonna get feels like fools now. Hell....even a lot of UT fans were laughing at their hire.

And as far as character....We are hiring and paying millions for coaches..... not choirboys...

 

[Tnphil]

Some people will never be satisfied. I’m convinced even if we were to make a Final 4 there would still be those same “fans” complaining.

When you are the top 5 highest paid coaches you should be expected to play for it all every once in a while. Those that don't are just settlers...They settle for having a good regular season and just making the field of 68...and it's about to be expanded.

Barnes is paid top 5 because he's been coaching for darn near 40 years. It's not because of his tournament success.

 

[Volstylexx]

How is it a cop out whenever you can’t even give me one name

Every single coach for those teams you listed was an up and coming coach with no national championship, no Final 4, no Elite 8, no Sweet 16 on their résumé prior. The furthest any of them went was the Round of 32. And we all know the Florida coach would have been fired had Florida actually cared about character, but because they were winning they decided to do nothing and it paid off for them.

you mean the Florida coach who was sleeping with, and sexually harassing, young Florida co-eds? That one?

 

[Tnphil]

you mean the Florida coach who was sleeping with, and sexually harassing, young Florida co-eds? That one?

You might want to check on the outcome of that before you accuse someone of being guilty.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

you mean the Florida coach who was sleeping with, and sexually harassing, young Florida co-eds? That one?

Successful on and off the court…

 

[volfan102455]

Pickens is a stud!

Next year results:

Pickens + consistent hitting + limited errors + speedier and smarter base running = National Championship

Agree - this team was very close - just couldn't put it together consistently. Had they just won the first game, I truly believe we would have been celebrating being in the finals later today.
Very hard to come out of the elimination bracket when you have to beat a well rested team twice.

 

[volfan102455]

And how did a thread on Lady Vols Softball turn into a basketball discussion .... SMH

 

[Volstylexx]

There are two "types" of fans in this world. Those who only care about the destination. If it’s not a championship, it’s not enough. Nothing but a trophy will satisfy them. It's "fire the coach" season after season.

And then there are those who fall in love with the journey. The memories. The goosebumps. The high fives with strangers. The hugs with family. The late nights, the close games, the miracle finishes.

You’ll forever remember where you were when that field goal went in against Alabama.
When Tennessee basketball finally raised that SEC tournament trophy after 40 years.
When the baseball team dogpiled in Hoover for the first time in decades.

Those moments matter.
They live in your bones.
They bond generations.
They are the reason we care so much in the first place.

I'm going to continue to cherish the ride. Because long after the trophies fade and the stats are forgotten, it's the moments—the roar, the rush, the people beside you—that stay with your heart forever. It's that memory of taking my Dad to his first ever UT football game. It's the memory of sitting with my Mom and brothers for TN's SEC baseball title in Hoover. It's the memory of sitting in a monsoon against LSU with another brother with a Dooley led team that couldn't win the lottery even if they found a winning scratch off on the ground. I am so grateful each and every day that I was born a Vol, and I will die a Vol. I don't need a trophy in a case somewhere in Knoxville to give meaning to my fandom. It makes the moments even more special when they do happen.

 

[VolGee4]

When you are the top 5 highest paid coaches you should be expected to play for it all every once in a while. Those that don't are just settlers...They settle for having a good regular season and just making the field of 68...and it's about to be expanded.

Barnes is paid top 5 because he's been coaching for darn near 40 years. It's not because of his tournament success.

Tell me you don't understand why he was paid the money to stay at UT. He also isn't top 5 anymore. People don't understand economics.

He wasn't paid because he's been doing it for 40 years. There are coaches who have gone that long that got fired or out of work. He had already started succeeding at UT and was selling out the arena, and his recruiting had gone up to being elite.

 

[ThatVolGuy]

You might want to check on the outcome of that before you accuse someone of being guilty.

Being "cleared" in a Title IX investigation headed up by the university that profits from his success doesn't mean that Toddy Boy isn't a massive creep & predator.

 

[volfan102455]

I told my brother last night that I didn't think we'd win a game today after the game yesterday + quick turnaround. I think that had more to do with the lack of hitting than anything their pitchers did.

Yes, I do believe the long game (9 innings) all the emotions with the controversy etc. took its toll on the team. I think it was more of a team being very tired both physically and emotionally. Had the game against UCLA been like the Florida game where they could rest and relax - probably a different result today.

 

[VolGee4]

You might want to check on the outcome of that before you accuse someone of being guilty.

It wasn't a criminal case. It was a Title 9 investigation and dismissed on a technicality. Could have done it or not done it.

 

[Tnphil]

Being "cleared" in a Title IX investigation headed up by the university that profits from his success doesn't mean that Toddy Boy isn't a massive creep & predator.

There's something called the law....If it was something to it you can rest assured the law of the land would get involved.