Saturday, June 9, 2007
Don: Another Reason to Dislike Tennessee
Tennessee, you should be ashamed of yourselves. How could you possibly put an end to the greatest rivalry in women's athletics?
Yesterday, Tennessee said no thanks to continuing the annual rivalry game between the Huskies and the Lady Vols. UConn signed a contract for 2 years but Tennessee did not want to sign it, thus ending the heated and always anticipated game between the two schools. Tennessee would not comment on why they didn't want to continue the series.
Ok, I get Tennessee. You have the all-time winner in Pat Summitt, you won another National Title this year, and you never have a problem with recruiting. You probably think you don't need the UConn game, and you know what, maybe you don't, but the fans sure do. This can only hurt the sport which has grown so quickly over the last 15 years or so. Did you not like playing against Geno Auriemma? Do you not like traveling to Hartford every other year? Do you not like the passionate UConn fans? What could possibly be your reason? If anything, UConn should be the one backing away because they have lost the last three meetings.
Well, I am sure it has to do with money or some petty clause that the two sides couldn't agree upon. Yesterday, men's head coach Jim Calhoun was our guest sportscaster and he thought it was a bad decision too.
I guess everyone will be looking for another big game to promote during the women's schedule. UConn and Rutgers is a nice rivalry and Tennessee and LSU is pretty good, but they don't have the same marquee feel that UConn and Tennessee do together. I just hope that this truly isn't the end, and that the two teams will meet up again down the road.
As an aside, I would like to thank Coach Calhoun and CCSU Coach Howie Dickenman for being good sports as our guest sportscasters. I had a lot of fun working with and preparing with them. I got to know Coach Dickenman a little better because he came into the studio. What a class act and you can tell he still loves his team from this year because his eyes were glowing when he told me stories about them. Coaches, you did a great job...now when will you reciprocate and let me take a shot on the bench with you!
Yesterday, Tennessee said no thanks to continuing the annual rivalry game between the Huskies and the Lady Vols. UConn signed a contract for 2 years but Tennessee did not want to sign it, thus ending the heated and always anticipated game between the two schools. Tennessee would not comment on why they didn't want to continue the series.
Ok, I get Tennessee. You have the all-time winner in Pat Summitt, you won another National Title this year, and you never have a problem with recruiting. You probably think you don't need the UConn game, and you know what, maybe you don't, but the fans sure do. This can only hurt the sport which has grown so quickly over the last 15 years or so. Did you not like playing against Geno Auriemma? Do you not like traveling to Hartford every other year? Do you not like the passionate UConn fans? What could possibly be your reason? If anything, UConn should be the one backing away because they have lost the last three meetings.
Well, I am sure it has to do with money or some petty clause that the two sides couldn't agree upon. Yesterday, men's head coach Jim Calhoun was our guest sportscaster and he thought it was a bad decision too.
I guess everyone will be looking for another big game to promote during the women's schedule. UConn and Rutgers is a nice rivalry and Tennessee and LSU is pretty good, but they don't have the same marquee feel that UConn and Tennessee do together. I just hope that this truly isn't the end, and that the two teams will meet up again down the road.
As an aside, I would like to thank Coach Calhoun and CCSU Coach Howie Dickenman for being good sports as our guest sportscasters. I had a lot of fun working with and preparing with them. I got to know Coach Dickenman a little better because he came into the studio. What a class act and you can tell he still loves his team from this year because his eyes were glowing when he told me stories about them. Coaches, you did a great job...now when will you reciprocate and let me take a shot on the bench with you!
Posted at 11:34 AM by Don
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