Handshake controversary in Tenn versus Texas Tech game
Texas Tech's Taylor Pannell transferred from Tennessee to Texas Tech this season.
D1 Softball's Jenna Becerra is reporting that Tennessee Coach Karen Weekly told her she "made a mistake" while in the post-game handshake line. Weekly denies it.
Get your popcorn ready...lol
** Edited by VTChip at 5/30/2026, 8:55:53 PM
22 Replies
2mo
Good grief. How embarrassing for the sport of softball
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
Merchant university buying everyone. There's gonna be resentment and drama until the ncaa puts a stop to it
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
Probably slanted a bit towards Texas Tech since it’s a Lubbock paper, but I found it interesting nevertheless.
Link:
Tennessee and Texas Tech
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
"But if Weekly wants to point the finger at somebody for why Texas Tech softball has become just a hot-button issue, or an issue at all, she needs to consider her role in all of this.
If Pannell made a mistake transferring to Texas Tech, Weekly taking Snider from Lubbock is what set everything else in motion."
Whether Glasco or Snider was coaching the $$ people at TT were going to go on a shopping spree. I don't think Karen's hiring Snider was much of a factor.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
Glasco had said he was very happy at Louisiana and in order for Texas Tech to attract him to Lubbock, they had to make a commitment to upping their NIL game.
Would they have done that had Snider stayed at Texas Tech? There's no way of knowing.
(In response to this post by MidloHokie)
2mo
. . . coaches for softball and other sports I can't imagine the conversation in the room after a Glasco interview that concluded "He's our guy, we need to do everything we can to get him here". It's safe to say that wouldn't have been the conclusion of any group I was a part of. But, in Lubbock, who knows?
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
Per the linked article:
"Pannell spent three seasons with Tennessee, proving to be one of the team’s finest hitters during her final redshirt-sophomore season. In 2025, she posted a .398 batting average with 16 home runs on the WCWS squad.
"Then, shortly after the conclusion of the season, she entered the transfer portal and promptly committed to Texas Tech. While Weekly didn’t specify it was about Pannell in the post, she took to her X account to give her thoughts on the state of softball after the announcement.
“I think we can all agree on 2 things:” Weekly wrote. “1) women making money in sports is awesome and long overdue; 2) contacting players (directly or indirectly) before their season ends and signing them to NIL deals before they enter the portal is wrong. Money isn’t the issue – tampering is!”
Link:
From Rocky Top
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
And her dad had some not so nice things to say on social media directed at UT last year, so the UT fans enjoyed giving them an L today. Saw lots of posts about her father Brandon today and after the game.
She went into a terrible slump last year, guilty conscience after agreeing to a deal at another school?
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
can't by class!!
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
TT appears to be a recurring theme in these team skirmishes. It seems that the mighty and powerful SEC doesn't like someone beating them at their own game, buying players.
(In response to this post by ancient alien 2018)
2mo
Without tampering. Players should not be offered anything till they enter the portal plain and simple.
(In response to this post by atticus555)
2mo
But I’m fairly biased.
(In response to this post by ancient alien 2018)
2mo
At least some people think she is telling the truth
I truly don’t know what to think, but the question is..why would the player make that up?
** Edited by VTChip at 5/30/2026, 11:12:56 PM
(In response to this post by VTsportscaster)
2mo
The only people who know are Pannell, Weekly and possibly a few people around them in line. So a coach is specifically looking for a specific player and premeditatedly thought this is what I’m going to say in the handshake line in a walkoff environment. Not much time from the HR to the line. If it was a blowout, sure you have time to think but in the moment, I have serious doubts.
I have known the Weekly’s for 21 years now. Can they come across as jerks and other bad words, absolutely. Have I seen them mellow in their time here and not be as intense, also absolutely. Based on the players exit and what her father had to say, I tend to trust Karen more in this instance. Will be curious if TTU sends her to the press conference after the game with UCLA because it’ll probably come up.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
I do agree with him that we need to get to the point that these interactions are “non-existent.”
But I don’t Know how you do that as long as humans are involved.
(In response to this post by VTsportscaster)
2mo
But you are correct in this day and age everyone is so quick to be offended, right, wrong, etc it will be tough to get back to that.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
Here’s both of them at the post-game press conference
It’s a true “she said,” versus “she said” situation.
I admittedly have no idea who is telling the truth. Every person that watches that could come to a different conclusion.
** Edited by VTChip at 5/31/2026, 10:21:40 AM
Link:
Link to press conference
(In response to this post by VTsportscaster)
2mo
UT went first and TTU second. If TTU went 1st and UT second, very interesting if things go down the same way.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
highest levels into this cesspool. So grateful VT has Pete, Mr. Chip, and all the TSL folks, and the quality players he recruits representing the University without the garbage going on with the "top" programs.
(In response to this post by VTChip)