‘They were in contact with our player’ – Karen Weekly and the Lady Vols’ drama with former player reached a fever pitch on Sunday
Karen Weekly and the Lady Vols are dealing with some controversy after Tennessee’s win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the College World Series in Oklahoma City on Saturday.
The Lady Vols’ ongoing war with Texas Tech third baseman Taylor Pannell reached a fever pitch on Sunday morning thanks to some tweets from the infielder’s dad.
Pannell, who transferred from Tennessee to Texas Tech last summer, told reporters on Saturday after the Red Raiders lost to the Lady Vols that UT head coach Karen Weekly told her that leaving Knoxville was a mistake.
“We were walking through the line just saying ‘good game’, and she said that I made a mistake instead of saying ‘good game’, which is kind of crazy,” said Pannell. “Like celebrate with your team. I just think it’s funny she’s still thinking about it. It’s old news. Whatever.”
Weekly told the Knoxville News Sentinel’s Cora Hall that the allegation is an “outright lie.”
On Sunday morning, Pannell’s dad sent some scathing tweets about Weekly and the Vols fan base.
The tweets have since been deleted, but the screenshots live thanks to Sports Illustrated’s Softball on SI.
“[Karen Weekly] was right that my kid did make a mistake and that was to play for her,” tweeted Brandon Pannell.
The Lady Vols need to leave the Taylor Pannell drama in the past
One reason the drama with Pannell is bubbling up again this weekend is because Weekly recently readdressed the former Tennessee infielder’s departure from Rocky Top.
Weekly told The Athletic in an interview earlier in May that Texas Tech tampered with Pannell before Tennessee’s season was over last year.
“There’s no question they were in contact with our player long before the season was over. … A financial agreement was signed with Texas Tech before she ever went in the portal,” said Weekly. “(She) told me that.”
Tampering is happening at all levels in college sports. Weekly’s accusation is one of hundreds, if not thousands, that’s been made in recent years. Tampering is part of the fabric of the sport at this point, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating for coaches.
Weekly and the Lady Vols, though, need to move on from addressing the Pannell drama. There’s no benefit to it for Tennessee. I understand why Weekly answered the question from The Athletic, but a “no comment” probably would’ve sufficed. If Pannell and her family want to continue to stir up drama, that’s on them. I’d advise them to move on as well. There’s just simply no value in continuing the war of words.
Weekly and the Lady Vols won the battle on the field on Saturday against Texas Tech. That should be the story, not the ongoing travel ball-like beef between a loud parent and a former player.