As I mentioned last month, I want to start answering reader questions more, so let's get right into it for February. Before I dig into the mailbag and give you some answers, I'll remind everyone that you can submit questions by emailing sports@southernstandard.com or just chat me up at games. OK, here we go!
Should Sable been
able to play?
With the news recently that Mendy Stotts would not be retained as girls coach, the locals who specialize in revisionist history wanted to take a look back at Sable's dismissal in November. They asked me a lot on if I thought Sable should have been allowed to play her senior year.
I think it's very likely that the handling of Sable's dismissal - and the major backlash it caused throughout the community (people called for special school board meetings and brought signs to games in support of the senior) - was a part of the reason Stotts won't be back as coach. From the outside looking in, the school's decision to move in a different direction - including applying the WWE special "Best of luck in her future endeavors" in its press release - felt like a vote of no confidence in the future under her. Or, in college investigation terms, it felt like the school deemed the program lacked instutitional control.
Now, back to the Sable part. I always thought the best thing for WCHS girls basketball during all the drama was keeping the best talent on the court and finding a way to make the Sable-Stotts pairing work in November. But when the school backed Stotts' decision for dismissal, that had to be final.
Out of all the negatives that came from the girls season, Sable took the biggest L, sadly.
When do you know coaches are on the outs?
Somebody asked me this when the Stotts news broke because in my February mailbag, I alluded to changes coming at WCHS. Some people think I have magic foresight, while others think I know things long before I report them.
The truth is somewhere in the middle most of the time. It's not that hard to predict coaches at WCHS are going to change from year-to-year - I could make that prediction now about the 2024-25 school year (and every year after it) and probably be right.
That being said, Stotts and WCHS going their separate ways was gaining major steam long before it actually happened. As for who is coming, I think we'll know that pretty soon too.
Still feel good about
Knecht and the vols?
Just to keep this pretty short because I like the other questions a bit more, I'll say no. I didn't like the Texas game; It felt too eerily similiar to so many of the exits for the Vols in tournament games under Rick Barnes.
I don't think that has anything to do with Dalton Knecht though. He is liable to come out on fire against Creighton and push the Vols to the Elite 8 or he could score 40 points and the team lose by 15.
I don't expect to see the Vols playing past this weekend, but an Elite 8 appearance would be nice.
How did you become
a sports Writer?
I've told this story plenty in the past so I'll keep it short again. I was working in Knoxville after graduating from UT and was just spinning wheels. The sports writing job opened and my mom called and said I should apply. I thought I would never get it, but I did and now I've been covering sports off and on for the last 14 years.
. . . And a special note
from yours truly
I didn't want to let it go too much longer without expressing my deep apprecation for my readers, my family, my friends, my coworkers and the Lady Broncos for their support in March. It wasn't an easy time for my family, but we were lifted up by this community in a time where it was needed most.
It's not easy to deal with a death in the family and it's especially tough when it happens 30 minutes before you're supposed to be helping lead a group of girls on to the court for a chance at a title. It's crushing when you see kids in tears because they know the pain you're going through and I'll always remember a very simple, "are you OK?" comment from a senior after she lost a chance at a championship to end her career but only wanted to know if I was going to be alright.
This community is special. Kids in this community - the thousands I cover throughout the year - do special things and I'm blessed to be able to continue to tell their stories. And I'm so thankful for everybody who took time to reach out over the last few weeks and offer their condolances and support. It was needed and it was felt by my entire family.
