Beth Sullivan making headlines at UT

Lie Down With Dogs wrote:

Lie down with dogs, get up with flies. Why would anybody ever drive through Knoxville; let alone go to school there?

You summed it up nicely with this. Spot on

Lie Down With Dogs wrote:

Lie down with dogs, get up with flies. Why would anybody ever drive through Knoxville; let alone go to school there?

I don't know anything about UT, so I won't bash it, but I did think it was ridiculous when the dad said "We weren't super impressed with the university, but...". College athletics has gotten so out of hand if a father isn't impressed with the education his daughter will get, but it's ok because she'll run track.

So here's the other side of the store from BAS mouth! Cray...

References KEEPING Morgan...

"track kids tend to be very loyal...the clas remains in tact....I'm not surprised...I think they were pretty pleased with the hire" - Beth Alford Sullivan

http://www.knoxnews.com/govolsxtra/other-sports/ut-track-and-field-class-survives-transition-intact_07207425

Where's Quentin when you need him?

How has no one mentioned that Beth Alford-Sullivan is the president of the USTFCCCA? In reality this make the entire sport of track and field look bad, not just the University of Tennessee, because the president of our entire coaches association acts like this.

http://www.ustfccca.org/about-us/ustfccca-board-of-directors

BOTH SIDES wrote:

http://www.knoxnews.com/govolsxtra/other-sports/ut-track-and-field-class-survives-transition-intact_07207425

One look at her tells you something ain't right. Alford-Sullivan is a charactor or lack of) right out of The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom.

Her job is to be a mentor for young adults through their college years, helping them grow mentally, socially, and intellectually.

Her job is not to be a cold-hearted, calculating, manipulative witch who is despised by most of the running community.

I'm a former high school coach from a relatively small program, but we had some talented kids that went to DI schools on scholarship or as walk-ons. They were not treated well. One did transfer after being forced out after a year but made NCAAs while at another school. The others didn't fare so well and quit running. It's a business alright, and sometimes those in power have no scruples. Hope that kids avoid UT.

It's rather sad that coaches like this are a part of our sport. Unfortunately it's all too common. Many coaches try to satisfy their egos and ride the coattails of student-athletes. It is the athlete who works, suffers, bleeds and sweats. Too many coaches forget this simple but obvious fact. Sometimes the problem stems from the athletic director as well. A coach might get fired for not lying to recruits or taking other unethical actions as directed from above. This particular story epitomizes a sad and misguided aspect of college athletics that is all to prevalent right now.

I can speak from personal experience that some personal grief is coming the way of Coach Beth Sullivan.I will be running in college and was approached by Sullivan at a meet recently. I was standing with my mom, who does not read message boards and doesn't really know much about the sport. Anyway, Sullivan introduced herself but I already knew who she was because she was pointed out to me by my coach. My heart was racing because I have been reading all about what's going on with her dumping athletes, and I wanted to show her there are young runners who are not happy about this, but I was super nervous. I am normally very respectful to adults. Anyway I think I said "I already know who you are and I'd rather play intramural field hockey at Diddly Technical College than run for you." I then walked off. My mother didn't know what the hell was going on and was angry with me for being rude, but once I explained she sort of understood. (By the way, I am already going somewhere, so there wasn't anything to lose.)

nitwit lion wrote:

Coach Beth has shown herself to be a fully qualified candidate for USATF or maybe even Nike leadership with all this, so I don't think it's hurt her career much, either.

Well she has coached a couple national teams. Was on that staff at Worlds in Moscow 2013 I believe.

I have a strong sense that the majority of these posts are the same small group of people. Thin skinned coddled generation. It really is sad. When something really tough happens in your life then you will have no skills to handle adversity.

I would not have handled things the same way as BAS but it hardly warrants this long of a thread. Good luck with life. It will be rough!

Hell Shorter's a lawyer

Toto the tittat wrote:

I have a strong sense that the majority of these posts are the same small group of people. Thin skinned coddled generation. It really is sad. When something really tough happens in your life then you will have no skills to handle adversity.

I would not have handled things the same way as BAS but it hardly warrants this long of a thread. Good luck with life. It will be rough!

lol.....

douche

QTaylor wrote:

I said "I already know who you are and I'd rather play intramural field hockey at Diddly Technical College than run for you." I then walked off.

I wish I could have seen/heard that!!!

Having worked tangentially (same school, same time, different program) with Beth, I can honestly say that none of this drama is a surprise to me.

Time will tell if she as good as she says/thinks she is with her results (competitive results and restoration or further damning of her rep) at UTenn.

Peace!

She didn't write the book on this type of appalling behavior by a coach. Some oversight to reign in this type of thing would be good.

I don't know if your story is true or made up, but this is true:

A junior at my daughter's high school has run 4:55 so far this season. She received a letter from Tennessee. After the coach handed it to her, she politely laughed and said, "I know about that coach and how she has shown terrible loyalty to the team members. There is no way I would tempt that situation."

The girl must read the boards or be aware of BAS from some source. I'm sure many kids will be interested but her reputation IS out there and will have some impact on her credibility.

UT-M's new XC coach is eerily similar to Sullivan in some respects. Is it really that damn hard to find a decent human being to coach your program?

Here is a long article documenting these events of how this went down (Sorry if already posted) good read:

http://www.theshadowleague.com/articles/rocky-flop-the-story-of-how-the-tennessee-track-program-discarded-its-top-recruits

EmersonLakeandPalmer wrote:

How has no one mentioned that Beth Alford-Sullivan is the president of the USTFCCCA? In reality this make the entire sport of track and field look bad, not just the University of Tennessee, because the president of our entire coaches association acts like this.

http://www.ustfccca.org/about-us/ustfccca-board-of-directors

Wow, she is so perfect for USATF that Hightower should hand over her position right now!