From the moment the final Knoxville Super Regional game ended, most people with a vendetta against the Tennessee baseball team or its fans this season made it known on social media.
Tennessee lost to Notre Dame in a best-of-three series this weekend in Knoxville, ending their chances at a College World Series berth. Despite the disappointing end to the season, the Vols still had a historic season, amounting to 57 total wins, an SEC regular-season championship, and an SEC Tournament championship.
Tennessee, arguably college baseball’s most documented team this season, has been dominating the conversation around college baseball with their in-your-face attitude and style of play on the field. Attitude and style that doesn’t come from arrogance and egotism, but instead come from passion. For people that aren’t directly connected with Tennessee, or are fans of another team, this has stirred up anger and frustration.
While people outside of Knoxville will throw out the theory of how bad Tennessee is for the sport of baseball, the city of Knoxville would disagree. Tennessee’s baseball team gave new life to the city and its fans this spring and has inspired a new generation of fans and future players.
Below are some of the most notable social media reactions, for better and for worse, after Tennessee’s season-ending loss to Notre Dame on Sunday.
*Some posts below contain strong language*
See Also from RTI: The College Baseball World Might Not Like Tennessee, But Knoxville Loves the Vols
Barstool Sports’ Ben Mintz
“From their coach, to their players, to their fanbase, the way the Tennessee Volunteers behaved this year, all the way down the line, sports karma is a real thing,” Mintz said. “Because no one deserves this pain more. There is no joy in Knoxville tonight.”
Notre Dame & Karma take down the #1 Tennessee Vols!
No team or fan base has ever deserved this ending more. There’s no joy in Knoxville tonight….. pic.twitter.com/uBl8lO0H9S
— Mintzy (@BarstoolMintzy) June 12, 2022
Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin
Awesome thanks for asking!! We are watching @OleMissBSB advance to the @CWSOmaha !! What are you guys today in Knoxville?? 🤔 https://t.co/OOJbD4stgn
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) June 12, 2022
ESPN Baton Rouge Radio Host Matt Moscona
In college baseball, legacies are made in June.
This Tennessee team’s legacy will be:
1. Being colossal A-holes
2. Gagging away a home Super Regional as No. 1 seedCouldn’t have happened to a better bunch.
— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) June 12, 2022
CBS Sports’ Danny Kanell
Congrats Tennessee baseball on a great season. So many memorable moments…flipping opponents off rounding the bases, coach getting tossed for chest bumping umpire, crying over balls and strikes, and of course soooo many pimped out bat flips…what a legacy. #DaddyGang
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) June 12, 2022
Arkansas Rivals’ Jackson Collier
Arkansas:
– made the elite eight in NCAAB
– made the supers in softball
– made the CWS in baseball
– won their bowl gameTennessee:
– didn’t.
— JC Hoops (@JacksonCollier) June 13, 2022
Ya know if Tennessee had played the season with class I would feel for them. They had a spectacular run but it was overshadowed by their attitudes and antics. Learn from this vol baseball.
— John Hawes (@Thatjohnguy17) June 12, 2022
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙊𝙣
For the 22nd straight season the #1 overall seed won’t win the national championship.
In what’s one of the most dominant seasons in college baseball history, Tennessee gets eliminated by Notre Dame in the Knoxville super regional. pic.twitter.com/Msa6QEPUvj
— SEC Baseball (@SECbaseball) June 12, 2022
The Tennessee Volunteers baseball program (and fans) continue to display why they are literally the trashiest school in the country. #GBO #VFL pic.twitter.com/TOnsLOr6e9
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) June 11, 2022
Former MLB First-Round Draft Pick & Rice Alumni Wade Townsend (NSFW Language Warning)
Special message to all Tennessee baseball fans pic.twitter.com/joROTOQ3NK
— Wade Townsend (@WadeTownsendMan) June 12, 2022
Despite more tweets filled with vitriol towards the Tennessee team, there were also plenty of positive and supportive reactions from the social media world as well.
Here are a few:
See Also from RTI: Before Looking Ahead, Appreciate The Players Who Paved The Way
Tennessee PG Zakai Zeigler
Thank you🧡 you guys brought me so much joy and made me even like baseball🙏🏽 #GBO #VFL @Vol_Baseball https://t.co/Di84RfGJlV
— Zakai Zeigler (@Realzakaiz) June 13, 2022
College Baseball Expert Stephen Schoch
Like it or not, but what Tennessee did this season was incredible for college baseball
— Stephen Schoch (@bigdonkey47) June 12, 2022
College Baseball reporter Steven Godfrey
https://twitter.com/38Godfrey/status/1536114122277912576?s=20&t=DmT_MNMu_lxahsBsmXRpsA
Tennessee center Uroš Plavšić
Nothing but LOVE for our baseball team! Them boys GAVE THEIR ALL FOR TENNESSEE!!! 🍊
— Uroš Plavšić (@urosp33) June 12, 2022
Blue Jays pitcher and VFL Chad Dallas
Hold ‘em high @Vol_Baseball what a season! Baseball is weird! One of, if not the best college baseball team to ever step between the lines! All love🧡 #VFL
— Cheese Dallas (@chadwell__) June 12, 2022
Tennessee guard/forward Josiah-Jordan James
Love @Vol_Baseball Always and Forever🧡🧡 SEC Regular Season and Tournament Champs!!! Nobody can ever take that away from them! Thanks for bringing so much joy into my life
— Josiah-Jordan James (@jjjames30) June 12, 2022
One Response
Who gives a flying damn what they have to say. Probably never played baseball anyway.