Posted by Kwitcherbellyachin on February 12, 2008 at 1:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Very interesting. Thanks Adams for clarifying how the whistle is configured. Maybe this way, at least the clock operator will not get the blame for what happened (since most of the media is claiming, inaccurately, that the clock operator inexplicably stopped the clock somehow).

Posted by hdhurst on February 12, 2008 at 1:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I will admit it..I am a probably being biased as a Lady Vols fan. But, something to think about....

There were two significant events here:
Like most everyone, I saw with my own eyes how the game clock appeared to just stop when it got to 0.2 seconds.

Second, whether you are viewing it in person or in the gym, I would question anyones "certainity" that a whistle was blow AFTER the game ended. How could you hear anything accurately with that much noise in there.

Anyway, my view is this. The shot clock did not get stuck....it was (as described above) stopped by the referee's whistle or otherwise actions. After reviewing this several times, I can be reasonably sure that the foul took place with just barely any time on the clock.

I applaud the Rutgers team. Regardless of who scored the most points, I would have to be happy if I was this Rutgers team...they got a (no question) win versus CT and virtually outplayed the new No. 1 team tonight.

I don't think this will hurt the Lady Vols down the road, but rather in fact, help with a better region seeding. However, I have no question, this will motivate the heck out of Rutgers from here on out. I certainly would not want to face them in the tourney if I were TN.

Good Luck Lady Vols...it looks like you had just enough to get by tonight.

Posted by reg_mza on February 12, 2008 at 2:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I just want to clarify for hdhurst, the game clock is controlled by the official's whistle. The shot clock was turned off.

My only question is...why did it start back and run to 0.0 after the whistle blew to stop it? If the whistle stopped it, then it should have stayed stopped until the whistle started it back again. Only thing I can figure is the ref blew the whistle twice, kinda like two short chirping whistles. However that was enough to stop and start the game clock.

Either way, that's crap that it was "just a foul" when Kia Vaughn never went for the ball but flung Nicki down by her shoulders. That I can agree with Pat completely about.

Posted by huntined on February 12, 2008 at 2:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

ESPN CREW WAS A COACH IN THE SEC.. Should have known about the clock but made no mention about it.
She was a coach at FLA. Did their clock have the same thing with the ref's whistle??

Posted by hdhurst on February 12, 2008 at 6:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

reg_mza (2:17 a.m)....good point about the second whistle theory. However, it would certainly seem strange that a second whistle would reactivate the clock, given fellow refs often will blow a follow-up whistle to an original blow by the primary caller. Does that make sense?

I think the article needs to expand on why the clock continued after it was stopped. Certainly seems relevant enough to review that.

Posted by pabashia on February 12, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I guarantee what happened here is a case of the clock operator ANTICIPATING a foul call in that situation and pausing the clock ever-so-slightly (think press twice in succession) to allow the LV's an advantage.
As someone who has worked the scorer's table I can tell you it's commonplace for human-related clock errors to occur. Most of the time they aren't picked up and the game continues.

But in this case it's obvious what happened. The clock operator, cuaght up in the game, flinched while hoping for a foul call. And that's what happened.

That's not a way to win a game and the LV's should be embarrassed.

Posted by pdhuff on February 12, 2008 at 7:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Beat whomever's next, # 1 Lady Vols.

Beat Arkie and move to #3, Vols and errr.... stay there this time.

Posted by mtnvol on February 12, 2008 at 7:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

A HS is my area has the same device where the clock is controlled by the ref's whistle. So no, John, it isn't that unusual, but thanks for your typical snide remarks! You are so clever! I wonder if you would write this article if your Bayou Bengals were on the winning side of a similar situation?

Often, the refs blow the whistle before they raise their arm - the typical signal that the clock should stop. The uneducated fans in the HS gym howl at the refs and clock operator for "cheating" when, in fact, the only thing the opeator does is change the score, START the clock and reset it at the end of each quarter.

Posted by blewissmith on February 12, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Pabashia, didn't you read the article? You are the one that should be embarrassed. It really didn't matter who won the game, it was an excellent game from start to finish!! But I think it is about time that Rutgers quit whining about all their injustices.

Posted by mparker on February 12, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

pabashis, did you read the article? are you not getting it?? the 'scorer's table' has nothing to do with this issue. it is basically that the ref blew the whistle, period.

Posted by mparker on February 12, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

pabashis, did you read the article? are you not getting it?? the 'scorer's table' has nothing to do with this issue. it is basically that the ref blew the whistle, period.

Posted by mmhartz on February 12, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As a point of education, there is no "clock operator" who sits at the scoring table pushing buttons. The game clock is an automated system which utilizes the belt pack sensors that each referee wears. When the clock is running, it can only be stopped by the sound of the referee's whistle. The only way that they clock can be started is for one of the referees to push the button on their pack to restart the clock. As such, the whistle will usually sound, stopping the clock, before the referee's hand goes up to signal a foul. If the clock restarted after it "paused" last night, it was because one of the referees pushed the button on their belt pack. The whistle can not re-start the clock, only the button can.

As to the foul, that should have been a flagrant foul because there was no intent to block the ball, only to stop Anosike. If Rutgers were playing smart basketball, they should have let her follow through with her shot because she would not have been able to get it off before the buzzer, just like in the LSU game on Saturday.

Posted by vinnievol on February 12, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

pabashia, next time read before you post. The article explains exactly what happened. I went to bed and woke up thinking what happened last night was iffy and that Rutgers had every reason to be upset. But this article explains everything and I have no guilt for the outcome now. The whistle blew before time expired, period. Next time, maybe Rutgers should think about not committing a stupid foul at such a critical moment. And Stringer, stop playing the victim card.. it's getting really old.

Posted by marc_ash on February 12, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

woops. Don Imus must have had something to do with this.

Posted by jopad on February 12, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

One thing forgotten in the discussion--NA HAD to make the 2 free throws to win the game. A tie or win was no "given". Credit her with the calmness to step up and make both. Whether the foul was before or after time expired does not diminish Nicky's accomplishment. Remember the fumble by Stoner of Arkansas in 1998? Bad play but the fact was the Vols still had to take advantage of an opponents mistake. They did and Nicky did!

Posted by volsrock54 on February 12, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I always want us to win but right is right. The Lady Vols should have lost that game. That clock was running and paused at .02 seconds then restarted well after the foul. I watched the replay and the clock if it had continued to run it would have run out well before Nickie got fouled. I will take a win any time but the Lady Vols better tighten their game up cause if it weren't for that clock we would have lost last night. Go Vols!

Posted by Volalumnus on February 12, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It did look like it froze for a period of time, but I don't care and the outcome should have been the same....
Working backwards.
Although it froze, in the slo-mo replay, Anosike was fouled as it hit .2 not after or during the pause.
That should have never came about either because Parker was fouled twice before that. Once on getting the rebound, and a very hard foul on the shot attempt.
The refs did screw up, it was not calling a foul that was obvious.
I do think refs should try to not be part of the game, but it is getting to the point teams are given a free pass to mug someone at the end of a game without any consequences.

Posted by guitarch882000 on February 12, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What about the deal where the announcers stated what coach summit told her players in the huddle...they told the whole world that Pat said "I don't want any threes taken until you get the ball in the paint"(this was referring to coach Summit wanting the team to 1st try and get the ball inside for a shot in the paint before trying the three-point shots which weren't falling at the time) Well if this info got to the Rutgers coaches by fan with TV etc...wouldn't it make it easier to guard Tennessee since they knew they didn't have to guard against three-pointers?

Posted by dash727 on February 12, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Nicky was cool literally, John continues to stir the pot instead of writing about how intense and competitive a game that was played, ESPN has an agenda also, and pabashia, you are an idiot. Wouldn't it be refreshing to read about the exceptional athletes that played their hearts out last night. Finally, the crowd was awesome, the noise was a sixth player for the Lady Vols.

Posted by lnbadger320 on February 12, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

i just hope the rev sharpton doesn't get UT suspended for the racist clock operator. will Pat have to get on his station to apologize.

Posted by lnbadger320 on February 12, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

i just hope the rev sharpton doesn't get UT suspended for the racist clock operator. will Pat have to get on his station to apologize.

Posted by Embarrassed on February 12, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

There is an overide on the clock controls....someone stopped it.....As a true orange vols fan I am now embarrassed.

1. What if it was the other way around...How would we feel.

2. Also 17,000 is a nice crowd, but short of the 23,000 a Uconn game would bring. Come on Pat, bring back the Huskies so we can enjoy the beating we put on them.

Posted by Pullingguard on February 12, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Millions of eyes would not be fooled. The clock stopped/began/hesitated long enough at .02 for the LV to get the call. I pull hard for the LV, but I thought they were beat, that something screwy happened with the clock, intentionally or accidentially whichever it was, it happened. With most fans supportitive or otherwise it certainly leaves a black mark on this game. It also showed that without Parker the LV would not be a top 10 team. Regardless for what it does for a team from here out, motivation for Rutgers, luck of the clock for LV there certainly is big question mark on what caused this to happen, accident or on purpose.

Posted by Volalumnus on February 12, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Although it froze, in the slo-mo replay, Anosike was fouled as it hit .2 not after or during the pause.
Parker was fouled twice before that. Once on getting the rebound, and a very hard foul on the shot attempt.
The refs did screw up, it was not calling a foul that was obvious.

Posted by dburgin0114 on February 12, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The whistle stopped the clock and after that it is not revelant. The official ALWAYS will blow his whistle before raising his arm with closed fist to indicate a foul not a violation. The clock was stopped as a foul occurred.The corner clock is the one to look as it stopped at.02 when it was activated by the whistle. End of story! It was an intentional foul as Rutgers player grabbed/hit Nicky from behind and she was no where near the ball.

Posted by vols76 on February 12, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The next time we played them will be sometime in the ncaa tourney......lets blow them off the court so there will not be any talk of wrong doing....this is the second game with them that something happen (on or off the court). I read an article this spring that stated that with all the problems with comments made by the radio announcer about the Rutger's Players, that they couldn't enjoy their Championship........DUD!!!! THEY DIDN'T WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!.......We know who is the best team in the nation? GOVOLS!!!

Posted by adimatteo on February 12, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The foul was called, the ref blew whistle, clock stops. End of story. Sorry it happened at end, but those are the facts, may be heartbraeker if youre aR utgers fan, but we won, fair and square.WE all have lostgames at the end, etc.
I just hope girls are healthy, scared that Candace played whole game, what continues to amaze me, is that our coaching staff, finds these girls and coaches them as they do, I bet every fan there assumed we would lose when we couldnt make a basket in the second half, yet they were just calming going along, and in the end, they did it.
Amazed at the tee shirts, quite a committment whoever did that.As for Nicki, amazing to anyone who makes free throws like that...

Posted by Chainsaw on February 12, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Rutgers's coach has descended into being a constant victim. The fall will be complete when she teams up with the Revs Sharpton and Jackson to demand a do-over.

Posted by xd9x19 on February 12, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ms. Bobbit was saved from having to think about her technical foul costing them the game....even when the Ladies made only 1 field goal the first part of the second half. Goodness....bricks everywhere last night.

It would have been one thing to lose a game due to poor shooting, but quite another to lose and know you handed them two freebies that enabled them to win the game. I'm sure she won't do that again, however..especially after that little "chat" with Pat.

Posted by jdcdjc on February 12, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I just have a few words of advice for Vivian, you reap what you sow. I would not say Rutgers outplayed our Vols in the second half, I saw no letdown in effort for either team. Our Vols just went COLD from the floor, Rutgers did not. I have lived a lot longer than I would like to admit but I will never understand how a team can score so well in one half and be so cold in the other. If our Lady Vols do this in the SEC or National tournament we will not last long. I hope this is not a sign we have already peaked.
Had it not been for the foul line, we would have only lasted #1 for a few hours.

Posted by blhvols on February 12, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Vivian was not upset with the call her team got when the big Rutgers center lowered her shoulder and knocked Candace on her rear end. That was a four point turn around in itself. Rutgers entire team was standing around waiting on the offensive foul call, especially the big center. One call at the end of a game is no more important than any other time during the game. Stringer is a classy lady, but she would be kind to acknowledge her team got one for sure in that case.

Posted by THE_VOL on February 12, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WHAT A CROCK OF BS!!!! So now we're supposed to believe that a human at the table can START the clock but not STOP it!!???? LMFAO!! I understand that the ref's whistle can stop it as well but there is also the ability to stop the clock at the table. Otherwise, what happens if the little "belt pack" system goes haywire>???? Folks that switch at the table that STARTS it also can STOP it and THAT is EXACTLY what happened whether anyone admits it or not. If that clock doesn't stop, there is no shot, there is no foul and the game is over. Pat should give this win to Rutgers as they rightfully earned it.

Posted by tlc429 on February 12, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What I find interesting in all the posts is that no one has commented about when the clock "froze and then restarted" it skipped "one" and went from .2 to 0 once it restarted. I think that makes up for the freeze as well. I agree Parker was fouled. I agree Nikki was flagrantly (sp) fouled and showed extreme composure to convert the free throws and win the game for us. Also, there is the controvery over our 6 footers fouling their 5'2" player on the hail mary inbounds pass to which I say: It's just like football. When the QB throws the ball, it's as much the safety's as it is the receiver's. So when the ball was heaved, it was as much ours as it was Rutgers. Ultimately we won and I feel good about it. I don't feel bad for Viv. She comes up short all the time. That's her and her team's problem. Not ours. Great win LV!!

Posted by NatiVol on February 12, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I am bias, lets get that out of the way. How could you not feel a little of how Rutgers felt. I did see in here an attempt of explanation from an official that there is a separate trigger they have for the clock and something with the whistle, so there should have been .2 left according to them.

I am glad it did not end this way in a tournament game, that is for sure. I am glad the Lady Vols got the win, but it should have never been this close. They blew that big lead and allowed it to end in controversy. Congrats to Rutgers for changing it up at the half and fighting back into it.

Posted by TYRCYN on February 12, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

anyone who watched the game saw that Rutgers was robbed by the clock operator and the male referee. This was a disgrace and Pat Summit dont have a thing to complain about. What would she say if something like that happened to her team? What would all you UT fans say? This game was a disgrace and the clock operator should be fired and the ref should be investigated. I hope the NCAA take a close look at this game, because what happened was a disgrace to college sports.

Posted by 98reax on February 12, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wish this had not happened. So does Pat & Vivian & TN players/fans & Rutgers players/fans. IT HAPPENED. The guys on ESPN First Take think they know EVERYTHING as they watch the game from Bristol, CN. Well Duh! I realize how much they wanted Rutgers to beat Lady Vols, but, what happened, happened. Human error or technical glitch? It happens everyday. Too bad controversy is the only way women's bb can get air play. The Georgetown vs Villanova game was very controversial. Didn't look like a foul should be called there either. Unlike the Kia Vaughn takedown. Now that was so very blatant. The players on the floor were not looking at a clock. They were fighting for a win. Lady Vols were throwing up shots, I was throwing up my dinner, Rutgers coaches & players were celebrating on the sideline, Kia Vaughn and her courtmates were grabbing, clawing Parker, (refs missed an obvious call with seconds left on the clock, no question) finally Kia was taking Anosiki to the floor, intentional & blatant.(she was not seeing a clock) How could officials not be vulnerable. No one cheated. Stuff happened. Unfortunately, that's life and basketball. The guy Skip, on ESPN First Take, he is perfect and he will tell you so. He made unnecessary slanderous, accusative remarks against Thompson Boling Arena officials, Pat Summitt and SEC officials. Does he have that right? Opinions are one thing, it is his show. But slanderous remarks, uncalled for. It just shows his ignorance.

Posted by calvolfromkingsport on February 12, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey TYRCYN you've just predjudiced yourself. How do you know it wasn't one of the two women refs who blew that quick whistle? I thought Rutgers played great in the second and not so great in the first. Besides, I didn't see Imus behind the scorers table managing the clock. Don't be a sore loser you make Viv Stringer and her team look bad.

Posted by jack_2222 on February 12, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Embarrassing ending. If the clock was stopped electronically, then why did it restart and go directly to .00/red light? There was obviously manual intervention. This is something I'd expect from FL or AL.

Posted by johnlg00 on February 12, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Adams' explanation made me think that controlling the clock is a bit more complicated than I had realized. I was not in love with the officiating all night--I think they frequently blew calls in both directions. I was especially annoyed by the no-call when Vaughn put her shoulder into Candace on her last field goal. That said, this was one win that certainly felt like a loss to me. Rutgers has really absorbed a lot of close, crushing defeats to the Lady Vols. It would be easy to call them snake-bit versus UT. I can understand why Coach Stringer must think the fates are against her. It was clear to me that Pat was not pleased with the team's performance in the second half. Someone other than Candace MUST step up with some consistency if we expect to keep it going this year. In fairness, Angie had some good moments, and she, Shannon, and Nicky came through when we needed it most.

Posted by johnlg00 on February 12, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

98reax, ESPN's Skip Bayless is an idiot. He says something incredibly stupid and/or deliberately provocative on nearly every segment of that show. I haven't watched it in quite some time, and do not care at all what he says about anything. That said, the whole incident didn't help us at all around the country. Anyone who ever wishes to make us look bad SEEMINGLY has new ammunition.

Posted by ladylbc on February 12, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

lnbadger320 and Chainsaw, the Sharpton comment was completely uncalled, please have some class.
If our African-American players were called the names the Rutgers young ladies were, I believe VOL NATION (at least most of us) would be upset.

This game had nothing to do with Sharpton or Jackson, let's show some class in Tennessee and maek the comments relevant.

If the LadyVols had lost last night, I think your comments today would have been different and we could have been called the whiners.

This was a great game, the L Vols played terribly but still got the winner. Rugters felt they should have won and quite frankly, the clock issue certainly gives credence to that. There was bad officiating ob both sides throughout the game.

GO Lady Vols!

Posted by NatiVol on February 12, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is never the way you want a game to end. Pat would have rather had it end with just a hard faught W and not all of this going on. On another note I guess they joined today just to talk about this:
User profile: TYRCYN
Name: I took this one out

Joined: Feb. 12, 2008

Comments posted: 3 (view all)

Contact TYRCYN (log-in required)

Posted by coach75 on February 12, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the game is over. no, the lady vols did not deserver to win the way we palyed in the second half, but we did because of the foul at the end. clock operators are only allowed to put up points and turn the clock on not start and stop it. there is an official that sets beside the clock operator to make sure of no errors, therefore if there had been one they would have taken care of it. as for skip bayless (espn a$$) he is a vandy alum and he hates tennessee because they are better in everything but baseball than vandy. also, he has made the statement before that womens basketball is not basketball. i doubt very seriously he could outplay anyone on either team or their coaches. ignore him because he is a pompous a$4.

Posted by murrayvol on February 12, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm thinking there's gonna be a grassy knoll and a second whistle blower in here somewhere.

Posted by 98reax on February 12, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I hate it, johnlg, the stuff the First Take guys are saying. You know if the show originated from TN, the flavor would be so very different. Welcome aboard, NatiVol. There are some great posts today on this one. We all have our opinions. I guess mine is simple: let it go and look out for LSU. Seems as though when a team catches a break, all other teams start gunning to avenge. Lady Vols should be expecting that. We have lost heartbreaker big games to LSU recently. Van Chancelor would love to beat us down right now. It would be sad to lose a conference game, albeit a defeat could humble us to play a complete game. I just shake my head in disgust when I see players go cold the way our bench did last night. I'm sad to say I don't have a lot of confidense in our ability to close a team out anymore. I love my team but truth is truth. The bench scored SIX points. Starting 4, especially Anosiki looked so hesitant with the ball. Hornbuckle, my goodness, 3 points she scored. Agustie has to look to score without hesutation. The hesitation on the drive is going to get you a whistle on you, a missed shot and no chance at an offensive rebound. Our team is strong and physically capable of going to the basket and finishing the shot and drawing the foul. Why don't they act like it instead of this timid looking, deer-in the-headlight pansy dribble drive? The shots were not falling in large part because they were hurried. That, to me, has been an ongoing flaw in the Lady Vols offense for years. Teams are just BETTER at finishing shots than we are. Now that grieves me to say that. Is it not true?

Posted by mtnbikrtn on February 12, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The whistle stops the clock. The button on the belt starts the clock. A second whistle will not start the clock. A ref blew a whistle because there was a foul. Now if the talking heads would explain it, it would make more sense. I think ESPN likes the controversy.

Posted by gotvols on February 12, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The sad but honest truth is that if the Rutgers player had not grabbed her by the shoulder and slung her to the ground, they would be celebrating a huge win right now. Instead, she showed extreme unsportsmanship and cost her team the game.

Unfortunate.

Posted by gotvols on February 12, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh, I forgot to mention the collegiate time keepers stratigic course UT offers. It is amazing how our highly specialized time keepers managed to keep just a fraction of a second on the clock so we could win the game. Sometimes dumb luck helps.

Posted by 98reax on February 12, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I hear you coach75, I just wish the gals could be discussed and lauded for their tremendous talent and dedication instead of always being downplayed because they are women. The one guy on the First Take show said this is the most he has talked about women's bball since Imus. Shame on him. Any other women's team for instance E Carolina vs Nebraska (I just pulled those out of the blue, nothing personal there) the discussion would not even be mention on TV. The fact that a NY team was seemingly discriminated against by the mighty Lady Vol powerhouse, saying Pat Summitt should be ashamed, is most unfortunate and so very typical of ESPN and "anti-women's sports" guys anyway, it's laughable. The laugh is on them this time. They can talk and spew but they cannot change the score of this game. Perhaps the NCAA could, but that would be unprecedented. It would really become fodder for the pundits and Skip-to-my-lou commentators to spew about. I want to hear from Geno. I just do. He must be nauseated today. Honestly, I would like to watch a replay of the entire game. I was working and only got to view tiny bits and pieces at a time. Someone send me a recording please. Will this world end before women gain respect? The Nova/Gtown foul was bearly if any contact. Anosiki was mauled, pulled backward to the floor. If I had been a defender, I may have grabbed and mauled too, but I would have expected and accepted the consequences.

Posted by mtnvol on February 12, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Before the Vol Nation gets their bowels in a uproar about someting said on ESPN.....think. ESPN charges more ad revenue as the viewership on cable and the web increases. What better way to gain hits on the web than to say something controversial on TV? Besides, if every talking head said the same thing, no one would tune in! We love PTI 'cause they take different views!

ESPN is in the "Entertainment Business" not the "News Business" so take what they say with a grain of salt. Lastly, everyone loves to see the king/queen fall and the LVs are the queens of bb! Get you some o' that, geno!

Posted by johnlg00 on February 12, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well said, 98reax. That hesitance on offense has bugged me for years. It is as if they are so unsure about when to shoot and drive that they go "should I/shouldn't I" alternately in their heads, every millisecond it takes to get a shot off. Candace, Angie, and Shannon are the only ones who usually look confident every time they put it up. The others seem to be looking around to pass until they say to themselves, "Oh, what the heck," and just jerk one up. Or they do like Alexis often does and tell themselves, "I'm just going to put my head down and drive to the hole, no matter who is in the way."
gotvols, I didn't think the foul on Nicky was flagrant, it was just the kind of thing you do to stop a shot in a frenzied situation. I had no problem with the foul being called, I just wondered, as others have, if there was indeed time on the clock when the foul occurred. It was not, IMHO, nearly in the same class as the mugging Werner put on JP in the Florida game.

Posted by 98reax on February 12, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There's been some big time mugging going on in the men's game. I'm impressed when the victims of such can just shake it off and go on with the game, knock down the free throw, take the ball out or whatever. Off the subject but consider young Eli Manning handling that gang horse collar in the Championship game, staying so cool, stepping up and delivering the TD pass. Tremendous maturity and focus on the part of Anosiki to do just that last night. That shows so much leadership unlike the taunting technical Bobbitt drew only moments earlier. Bottom line with Pat Summitt philosophy, be a better person having been a Lady Vol. Don't go out into society having the attitude of "I'll have the last word." Pat said it best last night post game, "We found a way to win." It's not always what you do but responding to what's been done. The ball is in the NCAA's court to do with what they may.

Posted by ATLVOLFAN on February 12, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think this article help out alot, but Stringer should more upset at her team giving up a 5 point lead with little of a minute to go in the game. I think that is what driving her more crazy because the ladies really came out that timeout wanting to win the game. Learn from this, and stop blaming the refs and blame your team because they had the game won.

Posted by johnlg00 on February 12, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mcbrim1998, I am shocked--shocked, I say--that you would even say such a thing(;-P)! As has been explained over and over, the clock is controlled by an official's whistle, just as it is nearly everywhere these days. None of these officials were from the SEC. No Lady Vol player, coach, or official had any control over the clock. Was a mistake made? Possibly. Was it because the Lady Vols cheated? Only if one chooses to see it that way. You have shown long ago that you have nothing good to say about anything "Vol", so why should we give any credence to anything you might have to say on the matter?

Posted by gillespie_wants_namaths_liver on February 12, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mmmmmmm.....Smells like home cooking

Posted by snowvol on February 12, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm a Lady Vols fan through-and-through, but my eyes didn't lie and they can explain it away all they want: The clock should have expired before the foul and Rutgers should have had the win. Of course, there's one other view: Be further ahead to ensure something like this doesn't cost your team a win. As for ESPN -- good grief, when will UT fans get over their obsession with ESPN. If you listen to them long enough, you realize they say a lot of things about a lot of other programs, not just UT.

Can no one in Knoxville get it through their heads that ESPN does not start every week with the sentence "OK, now how can we screw the University of Tennessee with our commentary?" For all the tremendous publicity that the men's basketball team has received not to mention women's softball last year, enough already. ESPN has a right to say what they want; if you love the good, then be prepared to take the not-so-good.

Posted by Bristol on February 12, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Snowvol, you must be getting your paycheck from ESPN like Kara Lawson does.... I could not believe them saying "let's give the win to TN". Who exactly died and left them in charge to so graciously determine who gets the win???? Go Lady Vols!!!

Posted by texron on February 12, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We Baylor fans viewed with great empathy the sorry situation that C. Vivian Stringer and the Lady Scarlet Knights found themselves in last night. Those poor ladies from Rutgers just thought that Don Imus treated them roughly. They had never enjoyed the fine hospitality that the Lady Vols can dish out on increasingly regular basis. Al Capone never stole with this type of audacity. Do you people have no shame on Rocky Top? The cheating that Baylor took in the 2003-04 Sweet Sixteen defied logic. The thievery you pulled off last night was truly spectacular. Let me assure all you Lady Vol fans that the rest of the country is on to your skullduggery. We know a bunch of cheaters and crooks when we see them.

Posted by GunnerRB50 on February 12, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Check out the BOX SCORE and you will see the real story.

Posted by fundamentals83 on February 12, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow, look out vol fans, we're on Baylor's sht list. Like it matters texron.

Posted by TurboFan on February 12, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Texron, that's a mirror.

Posted by budd on February 12, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is truly amazing that supposedly intelligent adults can dream up the crap that is spewed here. There were three refs who watched this over and over before finalizing their call. There was no disagreement between any of the three.There is noone but the refs controlling the clock. I can't wait until Oliver Stone gets a new movie out of this one. "The Grassy Knoll in Knoxville" . Or how Pat Summitt hired Cuban mafia guys to steal a bball game. Pleaseeeee

Posted by cboots54 on February 12, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with volalumnus; I did not see Stringer complaining and whinning either when that big center elbowed Parker and knocked her down, that was O.K. Right it should have not even come to that play at the end; the final statistics told the story, the Lady Vols should have kept their 11 point lead and more. Their terrible outside shooting is what kept Rutgers in it.

Posted by Utkman on February 12, 2008 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That assessment that the clock can only be stopped by the whistle can't be true. Under 1 minute in the second half the clock stops after every made basket and no whistle is blown. Who stops it then? In this game, Carson for Rutgers hits the go ahead shot at 23.0 seconds. The clock stopped until Anosike inbounded to Parker. No whistle is blown for a made shot. How did the clock stop? Obviously, there is another way to stop it. I'm glad the Lady Vols won, but there could be operator error.

Posted by smokey90 on February 12, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Long and short Rutgers should not have committed the foul. Nearly the whole team was in foul trouble as if that was defensive strategy (to foul).

Posted by anthony on February 12, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Vivian Stringer actually slapped the girl that committed the foul, or slapped at (verbally or physically in her direction) or at least rebuked her. I saw that and then the foul shots were made.

Posted by anthony on February 12, 2008 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just blame Valerie Plame, the misogynist, who undercover CIA spy who wasn't not undercover. Thank goodness we don't have the change the rules to help us win. We did that when we were kids. Too many people won't just let the refs do their job and live with the consequences. Heck UT has lost a lot of games on a lot of close calls. When is it going to be our turn to win a few of those close ones??

Posted by johnlg00 on February 13, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

mcbrim1998 and others, Sports Animal is an ESPN wannabe which deliberately stirs the pot to draw callers and listeners. If you want to believe that Rutgers got "hosed", that is your right. However, you have to ask yourself, "Who did the hosing and why did they do such a thing?" If somehow someone at the scorer's table stopped the clock, and there seems to be some doubt that any such person COULD have done that, does that mean that Pat or anyone else put them up to it? Do you really think that a nonconference regular-season game means so much to a team with SEVEN national championships that they would risk such a blow to their reputation for such a thing? If wrongdoing of any kind is proved, that would destroy the reputation that Pat has striven to build for THIRTY-FOUR years as UT head coach. Do you really think she has faked that all this time with all the national scrutiny the program gets? Do you think she has now become so crooked, grasping, and senile that none of that matters to her now? Anyone who could answer "yes" to any of those questions is not worth talking to anymore. Those who have always hated and envied the Lady Vols will forever point to this as a reason why. No proof or counterargument will ever convince them. No Lady Vol fan is happy with the way the game ended, precisely because it LOOKS so bad, but to think the program in any way CAUSED it to work out that way is beneath contempt.

Posted by Mugratter on February 13, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The developer of the Precision Timing System says that the three officials AND the official scorekeeper can stop and start the clock. All four were interviewed and each denies any role in restarting the clock or any involvement in the obvious delay occurring at 0.2 seconds. It's hard to blame UT for this one. It does however bring considerable shame to the integrity of those involved with direct control over the clock, because it appears that someone is not being truthful.