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According to Weekly, it's not a banner season yet
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It has been said that all good things must come to an end, but Tennessee's softball team wasn't ready for that to happen Tuesday night.
At least, not where the dominance of co-head coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly against in-state opponents is concerned.
Tiffany Huff delivered a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh to lift the 12th-ranked Lady Vols to a 4-3 win over East Tennessee State in the opening game of a doubleheader at Lee Stadium.
Had Huff not delivered, it would have been the first extra-inning affair in 50 games against in-state opponents during the Weekly's 6 1/2-year tenure.
In fact, it was only the third time a Tennessee school has played the Lady Vols within in a run; on 19 other occasions, UT has won by virtue of the mercy rule.
The Lady Vols took any suspense out of the nightcap, scoring five runs in the first for a 7-0 victory to improve to 51-0 against in-state opponents under the Weeklys.
Freshman pitcher Ashton Ward (19-3) picked up the wins over the Lady Bucs (16-24) in both games, throwing a scoreless seventh in the opener and a one-hitter in the nightcap.
UT will bring a 33-7 overall mark into the weekend home series against No. 14 Georgia (35-8), but this has not been a typical year for the Lady Vols.
Tennessee's SEC mark stands at 7-6 - sixth out of the 11 conference teams that play softball - and includes a loss to Kentucky (13-17, 1-8 SEC).
The 2-0 loss to the Wildcats at Lee Stadium March 15 - the only defeat UT suffered at home this season - upset Ralph Weekly so much he had the SEC and Women's College World Series banners removed from the outfield fence.
"When this team reaches the level of commitment that the previous teams have shown, we'll put the banners back up,'' Weekly said. "We're playing hard right now, but we've made some young mistakes.
"We start four freshmen and three sophomores, and stuff happens.''
Weekly said the Lady Vols' goals have not changed; they want to defend the SEC championship and make a fourth consecutive trip to the World Series.
Georgia, however, will bring a challenge to Lee Stadium in Saturday's doubleheader (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) and Sunday's match up at 1 p.m.
"This is a huge series for us,'' Weekly said. "Georgia is a very good, experienced team with good pitching. It will be a battle.
"It might take a little time and maturity, but we're not about to let the ship sink.''
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on April 3, 2008 at 12:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love how the Weekly's are not settling on past accomplishments and are not complaining (although I will) about playing 4 of the first 6 SEC series on the road. 7-6 isn't what the Weekly's expect but that's not that bad considering what we lost from last year and the youth on this team.
Posted by pdhuff on April 3, 2008 at 5:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They're young and will get better. It is refreshing to see coaching that is proactive and not just wording tired old cliches.
Get em' ladies.
Posted by houvol on April 3, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am going to be optimistic and believe they are going to settle down and start playing some good ball. Go Vols!
Posted by andefromtn on April 3, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry, houvol, but to be ranked 12th in the nation, you are already playing good ball. Six of UT's loss have come within their SEC schedule. SEC softball has had several national player of the week this season. It is a strong league. This team has a lot of games still to play this season. On April 12, they will play the US Olympic team and I for hope to see a exciting game. I believe in the end this team will be in the NCAA tournament and perhaps make back to play in Championship game again. Time will tell it all.
Posted by westernVol on April 3, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
While taking those banners down to motivate the current team; I say it not the way to get those ladies attention. If fact, taking the banners down only disrespect those who have earned those banners. Those accomplishments should not be removed. They show all those other teams what Tennessee is capable of when they play to there abilities.
Posted by topgun on April 3, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
westernvol
Have to disagree with your assessment of Coach Weekly's removing the banners. You say, "Those accomplishments should not be removed." Obviously, "the accomplishments" were NOT removed--only the banners! Disrespect to those who earned the banners??--baloney!! No way!!
I don't believe the SEC teams are frightened of our banners!! What Monica Abbott and the previous teams did can never be removed! Coaches Weekly respect those teams more than anyone else on the planet.
Perhaps CW thought the current team does not deserve to disgrace the previous teams by less than stellar play, etc., etc. Didn't the great Bruce Pearl take away his teams Orange/UT practice uniforms to prove the same point. Most all coaches do this sort of thing to prove certain points.
Our problems are a young, but talented team that needs experience. They have had a tough schedule for a young team--but will be much better when tourney time comes around. Maybe, earn another banner. GO VOLS!
Posted by westernVol on April 3, 2008 at 1:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry Topgun, disagree. The average fan that comes to the park, know of no accomplishments by the prior teams especially if they are new to watching the ladies. If there not there then how do the new fans know anything about the program and its great accomplishments. The banners also provide an incoming team an ideal that they are not just playing some second rate team as well. While the banner may not affect another powerhouse program, many programs would give their best picture to hang one of those banners. And as far as BP taking away the jerseys, my friend, that is comparing apple to oranges. The comparison should be to those banners hanging in TBA. I don't think BP will be bringing those down anytime soon. You are right as far as a young and talented team. And I too hope they bring another banner home. Go Vols.....
Posted by supersteve17 on April 3, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
With all due respect, it is probably a little easier to take a banner off a fence than it is to remove one from the rafters of TBA. Pearl would need a loooooong ladder to make that point! LOL! My guess would be that Coach Weekly got his point across and that it was well taken by the ladies.
Posted by westernVol on April 3, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Supersteve17,
Great come back.....
Posted by topgun on April 3, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
westernVol
Surely, you jest. The average UT softball fan has knowledge of the recent great history of the softball program. And, are you trying to impress the fans, opposing teams, or what?
Notice that I never said the CBP climbed the rafters, although now that I think about it he may indeed have done so as a motivation technique, but not to take down...(Hmmmmm--exactly what banner would he take down for MBB?) any banners.
It is merely a frequently used coaching device to indicate to players that the coaches "ain't happy" with the team's performance. I believe the Weeklys know what they are doing. GO VOLS!
Posted by westernVol on April 3, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Topgun
You really are making this fun. Where did I say the banners impress a fan or another team. Please I respect your opinion, but don't put words in my text...
You act like every fan will be knowledge about UT sports, if that was the case we would never have any new fans unless they were somehow knowledge about UT.
And by the way, I do jest, just read my comment back to Supersteve17.
Enough from me. Go Vols
Posted by topgun on April 4, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Western, concur that it has been interesting. My last comments too. Still, it is a good coaching technique and the Weeklys know what they are doing. To answer your 19:48 post, read on.
Please reexamine the words of your 3 Apr 08, 13:01 post--the second sentence implies that a new "FAN" would know nothing about the greatness of the UT softball team--unless they could see some banners somewhere. Unless these people cannot read, watch TV, or have no clue about UT sports or have been on a distant planet--Any college softball fan on the planet and any UT FAN knows about our great softball program.
Some new fan muses: "How did I ever get into these stands??...Don't know squat about these teams,...who are those players dressed in orange/white??--wonder if they are any good??..where are all of the banners so I can read up on their history??, etc." Don't think so.
Most likely they HAVE heard about the team and that is why the new fan is in the stands cheering for them.
Third sentence states "(banners?)...provide an incoming team an ideal that they are not just playing some second rate..." That implies imtimidation or fear. NO coach & NO team comes to UT without knowing full well how great the UT program is!!! NO player or coach in the USA thinks that UT is a second rate softball team.
These coaches and players know about UT and have seen, participated in, read about, perhaps recruited by the Weeklys, etc., etc. for some time. And they only realize who they are playing when they trot on the field and see the banners?? Don't think so!
It has been fun, westernVol. GO VOLS!
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