The UT Athletics Department is now officially a big fail. Subsuming the Women's AD by firing women and promoting men is tarnishing the stellar reputation that the Lady Vols had and I believe the men had at one time. It's a tragedy and all volunteers should stand behind Pat and Debby and Bud and raise hell.

What's the ADs job? To provide the best athletic programs they can, right?

Best woman's basketball program? He had it.
Best option to replace the best coach when she retired? He had her on the bench.
Best attendance for the program to help with revenue? If Summitt, with all the pomp and accolades, had been afforded a farewell season, Lady Vol attendance and revenue for that season would have been at all time highs.

I'm glad this will be litigated. If he feels his decision was best for the program, I'm anxious to hear in his own sworn words how and why.

When your revealed actions make Mike Hamilton look like he operated on the behalf of angels, you know you're doing something horribly wrong.

(link...)

Wonder if Coach Summitt signed a confidentiality agreement w/ UT that precludes her from discussing w/ the press the details of her departure as head coach? As I recall, UT gave her $1M good bye bonus, plus the one year $354,000 salary as Coach Emeritus. When deposed for the Jennings lawsuit Summitt had to describe the situation that led up to her departure as head coach. However, she may not be able to be as frank about what really happened when discussing it w/ the press. My guess is the Jennings thing will be resolved out of court, and soon.

Is it possible that the principals are telling the truth? The two affidavits are not contradictory.

I pretty much agree with Econgal, except only one of the statements (the first one, the one that David Burkhalter realeased, )is an affidavit.

The second statement is a press release.

But I'd say they are both true. Hart called Summitt in to his office the day before the team was scheduled to depart for the opening game of the tournament, told her she was done at the end of the year. She was in tears as she walked back to her office and told numerous people that Hart was forcing her into retirement.

At some point afterward, he evidently told her she had "misunderstood" him, and she then came to the wrenching decision that she needed to step down.

I cannot see that the second statement has much bearing on the Jennings lawsuit at all.

My impression is that Pat Summitt gave the sworn affidavit to go on record as to the facts to help her friend and colleague who was wrongly accused, regardless of how it might affect her pension, emeritus salary, and/or whatever.

Now, she is helping the University and her program, despite whatever hit her credibility (or mental state, as the KNS commenters go on about) might take.

I giver her credit for that, because that's what she's always done - put others and the program before her own self interests.

The establishment dismantles the successful program's administration, both athletic wise and academic wise, and blends it into the program that always seems to have a tenuous hold on any athletic and academic success.

Typical.