Tennessee Track: WTF?

I heard that Clark may coach them himself. Not sure about that one, as there's a lot of stuff flying around right now.

Firing George Watts has to be one of the worst decisions I can imagine.

There are rumblings about Watts and G'town. Watts is from N.Va, so it would not be a big surprise.

Not Bobby Glenn wrote:

Firing George Watts and Norbert Elliot? What?! Those two were the only ones who knew what they were doing.

And yet the program had not been producing much in terms of results or many post-collegiate successes. (I can accept a coach not winning titles in track and XC if the athletes continue to develop post-college, but an AD does not look at it that way).

There was a time when Tennessee had sprinters out the wazoo. Now? Nothing. No SEC titles since 2007. Few making the NCAAs. LSU and Florida are the new powers.

I do not know these men and a few here might, but if you are coaching in the SEC, regardless of the sport, you are expected to win conference titles.

Men finished 4th in the SEC in cross country last year. Women didn't even have enough runners for a team score. Clark coached the women, watts the men.

Is there anyone happy about this or someone who has anything positive to say about JJ who is affiliated with the men's program? I ran for them and graduated in 08 and I can't think of a single thing.

It's an unfortunate set of circumstances that a lot of people saw coming when JJ was promoted. It doesn't appear JJ ever gave Watts or Elliott the resources to succeed, drove the program to the ground, and used them as his scapegoats.

As a Tennessee Grad, I have never been more disgusted with the athletic department. Throughout the Phillip Fulmer, Lane Kiffin, Bruce Pearl, etc... things were bad but this is a total slap in the face to anyone who has any respect for tradition at UT.

Disappointed in the Vols,

Andy Baksa

Obviously Watts has a lot of supporters, but probably more due to him being a nice guy. At the end of the day, it is quite simple.

JJ wants NCAA points and SEC points.

Watts has scored very few SEC and fewer still NCAA

Watts either can't coach or can't recruit kids that are good enough.

Sorry to say, but even with a full scholarship, I don't believe Watts can sell UT or himself.

Being an assistant coach is easy to say I get no money or the head coach doesn't let me coach etc.

sorry guys wrote:

Obviously Watts has a lot of supporters, but probably more due to him being a nice guy. At the end of the day, it is quite simple.

JJ wants NCAA points and SEC points.

Watts has scored very few SEC and fewer still NCAA

Watts either can't coach or can't recruit kids that are good enough.

Sorry to say, but even with a full scholarship, I don't believe Watts can sell UT or himself.

Being an assistant coach is easy to say I get no money or the head coach doesn't let me coach etc.

You sir are an idiot who should check Vol TF history as to they have been and where they have sank to under Clark.

Possibly Pat Davey wrote:

Read the comments, especially the one from FormerTrackVol.

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/jul/01/tennessee-wont-retain-george-watts-norbert-elliot/?partner=RSS

The comments from him were deleted but I found them via google cache:

Here are FormerTrackVol's comments: From the perspective of a recent graduate and ardent George Watts (and Norbert Elliott) supporter:

Two years ago, when Coach Watts was passed over for the Men's Head Coaching position we, as alumni, were very disappointed. Here are a few reasons why:

1. When we won the 2007 SEC Track and Field Championships in Tuscaloosa, there were two teams that were the first to high tail it out of the stadium: Arkansas and the Lady Vols (coached by JJ Clark). We received no congratulations, no encouragement, just complete avoidance by our current director of track and field (obviously the Lady Vols didn't win)

2. JJ never spoke, communicated with, or helped any of the male athletes before he was promoted by our brilliant former AD (and his minions... Chris Fuller). All of the sudden the athletes he ignored were supposed to trust him and respect him... no wonder the program went downhill.

3. He has coached one successful male athlete in his many years of coaching. It made no sense to put him in charge of 30+ with no experience.

In hindsight, everything we were upset about came to fruition:

1. The team suffered because of the lack of trust in the director and his poor management style... not because two great people, and coaches (George and Norbert), did anything wrong. The comments from Locke were not directed at the original coaching staff. The reason Locke came to TN was to be a part of the UT tradition that was built on integrity by the likes of Coach Watts and Coach Elliott (and Coach Webb, Huntsman, Brown). He saw JJ for what he was and thankfully he was brave enough to say so.

2. I (and this comes from some of my obvious bias) have 100% confidence JJ had absolutely no intention of keeping Norbert or George around from the start. I don't believe he purposefully sabatoged the program but I wouldn't be surprised if he denied Watts and Elliott the resources they needed to succeed fully.

3. From a reliable source, when JJ talked to Coach Watts this morning, he didn't even have the gall to tell him that he was firing him. It wasn't until Watts posed the question "JJ, are you firing me?" that Chris Fuller intervened to stop the bleeding.

Just some opinions from a former Vol and opinions that are shared by many other Alumni (and coaches). Everyone knows the Athletic Department is in trouble and this just confirms it further.

[quote]Possibly Pat Davey wrote:

Read the comments, especially the one from FormerTrackVol.

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/jul/01/tennessee-wont-retain-george-watts-norbert-elliot/?partner=RSS

[/quote

Can you enlighten us as to what he wrote as his post has now been taken down:

in response to FormerTrackVol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

I believe that FormerTrackVol retracted the last of his assertions, the one about the supposed conversation between Watts, Clarke, and the Assistant AD. I think that's why it was deleted.

The other comments are pretty telling. Lots of support for George Watts from his former distance runners, none for Clark.

By all accounts, Elliot is an excellent coach and all-around good guy. There's a link to the story about his wife's death that ran not long ago, too.

sorry guys wrote:

Obviously Watts has a lot of supporters, but probably more due to him being a nice guy.

Nice guy? That's why all these guys are so loyal to George? Really? Because he's "nice"?

This makes my heart ache. JJ Clark was in over his head from the get-go. The track and field alumni (who are a very loyal group) will not support the program until a true leader takes the helm. Clark fails to see the value in a strong alumni base even as they are attempting to raise money for a long needed indoor facility. I ran at Tennessee decades ago and was disappointed when they combined the programs and put JJ at the head of things. The results of the last two years and now this unfortunate move simply validate what could have been foreseen. I have heard stories about the way things are being run and predict when UT hires a new AD this house will be put aright. Hang in there Vols. I am simply sick about this news.

Thanks George for your contributions to Tennessee Track and it's history.

[quote]Stirrer of the Pot wrote:

July 2, 2011

9:20 a.m.

JohnnyRotten writes:

Which men's athletes have been having considerable success recently? Middle distance and distance: see Franklin, Peacock, Spooner, Sigilai, and, going back a little, Famiglietti, Morgan, Pitcher, and Williams. And there are many, many more.

So let's get rid of the guy who coaches them, who made relationships with coaches nationwide (collegiate and high school), who sends men to the Olympics and beyond.

Great job.

It seems like Watts had landed a pretty good distance crew in March with a trio from MI, including ESPNRISE.com's top returning male prep 800m runner, Nick Kaiser.

Any rumors on replacements that would be an upgrade?

The only ones that knew what they are doing. They scored one point at NCAA's between the 2 of them. What the hell are you talking about?? He was a nice guy but they don't give medals to nice guys. JJ made a decision that was unpopular but necessary. That is the type of leader I respect. The alumni are a bunch of cry babies. They have no loyalty to the program. Somebody look at the stats of the Elliot and Norbert over the last few years??? Be for real!! JJ is a winner it is all he knows. He is a great person and is doing what is needed. All of you need to get over it.

This is typical Letsrun piling on; without a doubt Coach Watts and Elliott were well liked and good coaches; however, you can't pretend that everything good about the program is the result of Watts & Elliott and everything bad goes to Coach Clark...they have all been there together.

I am not sure were people are getting their stats from, but the Tennessee women have been a top tier program for almost all of Coach Clark's tenure and he has only had the men's program for a short period of time. Like everyone else, I hate to see two well respected coaches let go, but the overall results were not good this year and Watts & Elliott I would think had more direct responsibility for that than JJ. Also, coaches are fired all of the time and we usually don't know the full details, but I am pretty sure it was not not JJ's decision alone.

You would have to be a VERY ignorant fool to say that JJ is a horrible coach when he has won SEC and NCAA titles, he has been the NCAA and SEC coach of the year. He has coaches athletes to NCAA titles, he has put athletes on USATF national teams and he has done it with out athletes named Clark. If he was so horrible, why would world class athletes continue to train under him and put their professional careers at stake.

I questioned his taking over the men's program and subsecquent promotion to director over...questioning administrative decisions is one thing, but the attacks on his personal character and coaching ability is way overboard.

UT alumni kick rocks wrote:

The only ones that knew what they are doing. They scored one point at NCAA's between the 2 of them. What the hell are you talking about?? He was a nice guy but they don't give medals to nice guys. JJ made a decision that was unpopular but necessary. That is the type of leader I respect. The alumni are a bunch of cry babies. They have no loyalty to the program. Somebody look at the stats of the Elliot and Norbert over the last few years??? Be for real!! JJ is a winner it is all he knows. He is a great person and is doing what is needed. All of you need to get over it.

The alumni are a bunch of crybabies? So we should sit back and say nothing when we feel injustice is being done? How would we be serving the coaches we care so much about if we did that? All of this uproar could have been (partially) avoided if JJ ever acted like he cared about the mens team before he was promoted. I can't speak for how he acted with the team after he was promoted to Director but he made no attempt to re-align the alumni base and, it is obvious from Locke's comments (along with other anecdotes from current athletes), that there is some dissention with the current athletes. Do you not think Locke would have run better at NCAA's if he wasn't so unhappy? Don't you think if Watts had the men he tried to recruit (he had his hands tied just as much as he did with Webb) he would have had some points at NCAAs? (he lost a 1:48 and 1:49 guy after the promotion).

I respect your comments and am glad that JJ has some vocal supporters out there because, if he didn't I wouldn't know what to think. JJ is, without a doubt, a great middle distance coach. He has done great things with the women's team but, over the past two years, he has done little to show he can handle both teams and succeed.

Martin Smith @ Oregon - he produced a lot more AAs and titles than the current regime, but he did it with non-distance athletes. Alums revolted, and there was regime change.

UT - maybe they want more bang for their buck?

Its a common issue in athletic programs - win titles or nurture a stable of athletes all year for a single performance and PERHAPS a single title.