Oh, the difficulty in being a track fan

[BillVol]

I have to pass along this funny story. Out of the seemingly hundreds of pictures on the photo gallery on the Chuck Rohe site, linked on another thread, there was one on Tom Black Track. The text said something like "Tennessee's new Olympic track -- best in South." The text was not readable due to the small size image. But I could also barely make out a blurb on the actual Mr. Tom Black, the man who gave us the track!

I thought, WOW THIS IS GREAT! I wish I could see what the text says! So I sent an email to the website and said, "Could you send me a higher resolution version of that image so I can read it? It is for my own use only."

Now, out of all the images on that gallery, this would seem to be the least "valuable." It was not a photo of a person. But I heard back from the website and got this reply: "I do not find you on the track directory . Did you run track at UT ?...I am curious what you are doing ...Would you send me your full name and your connection with UT."

Now, if you sent a similar request to the UT football department, they'd say, "Of course you are interested it us, because we are UT football! Of course you are interested in the picture. Of course you are interested in UT football history."

But track people are shocked to learn that they actually have fans with no connection to the program. Sad in a way. But also funny.

A year or so ago, when I was throwing in my two cents on UT track coach, several former Vol track athletes said, "You are not a UT track athlete, so you have no right to comment on UT track and field." Really? I and thousands of other UT football fans are allowed to comment on UT football. Who says I can't comment on UT track?

Sometimes I'm surprised I'm allowed to subscribe to Track & Field News. I really am. The sport is snobbier and snootier than golf could ever imagine. No wonder the sport has no fans.

[Dixon]

Re: Oh, the difficulty in being a track fan

I have this bad habit of talking about footballers track talents on football boards. Stuff like..."ya know that Holliday was a 10.00 guy whie at LSU"...that usually gets a..."who cares?" Then there's..."Bob Hayes was a 9.1 guy before the Cowboys"...that has got a..."dude. the world record is 9.58 I just checked"....hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dj]

Re: Oh, the difficulty in being a track fan

But I heard back from the website and got this reply: "I do not find you on the track directory . Did you run track at UT ?...I am curious what you are doing ...Would you send me your full name and your connection with UT."
. . .

"Sometimes I'm surprised I'm allowed to subscribe to Track & Field News. I really am. The sport is snobbier and snootier than golf could ever imagine. No wonder the sport has no fans.

I think you can read their comments another way: "We're so amazed that you've shown such an interest that we want to find out who one of our friends is even though we can't find you on the UT track directory."

[BillVol]

Re: Oh, the difficulty in being a track fan

You could be right, DJ. Heard from a friend of the program who told me the website was intended for track alumni and they were surprised a fan knew about it. I actually heard about it from another UT track fan, so I was not the first. I do wish the track people at UT realized that there are a lot of people who know about the program and care about it.

Here are some recent track threads on our board, one started by me:

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=7&f=1372&t=12898767

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=7&f=1372&t=12890842

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=7&f=1372&t=12889598

[no one]

Re: Oh, the difficulty in being a track fan

BillVol

checked out the UT website out of curiosity. Very impressive. Somebody's done their homework and groundwork as well

[BillVol]

Re: Oh, the difficulty in being a track fan

BillVol

checked out the UT website out of curiosity. Very impressive. Somebody's done their homework and groundwork as well

You mean the Chuck Rohe site? Yes, that is a great piece of work. Many, many photos I've never seen before. Many names I was unaware of. Great interviews with former Vol greats such as Bill Skinner. It is just awesome.

I am sure I overreacted and have sent an apology to the website. I wasn't rude, but I was showing my displeasure. But this comes from years and years of putting up with an unfriendly UTAD. They couldn't write a book on customer relations. The Rohe site is not affiliated with UT -- I know.

I remember one year after Sea Ray, I had my eye the shirts the meet officials were wearing. The shirts they sold the public were garbage (not that anyone was buying them). When the meet was over, I saw them boxing up probably 100 extra meet officials shirts, which were dated with the year of the meet. I had driven up from Chattanooga for four days of the meet. Now, who the hell does that? I asked the person in charge, "May I buy one of those shirts for myself?" "NO! These are for meet officials only!" It's been this for thirty years of following UT sports.

[BillVol]

Re: Oh, the difficulty in being a track fan

Here's a link to the page I wanted to read. Just think: If this image had been in higher resolution, none of this nastiness would have happened. :wink: At least not yet.

http://www.rohetrackera.com/PhotoGaller ... -Track.jpg