South Carolina basketball fans are spending their April Fools' Day laughing at Tennessee Volunteers fans.
On Monday, Tennessee fired women's basketball coach Kellie Harper after five seasons at the helm of her alma mater, but that isn't what is being laughed at by most fans. No, the ridiculousness started after news broke of Harper's dismissal when UT fans began speculating that the Big Orange could replace Harper with a much bigger name in the sport.
The bigger name that Vol fans proposed as Harper's replacement? South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley.
In response to SEC Network's Paul Finebaum polling the audience about Tennessee's next hire, one Vol fan unironically suggested that Staley would come because UT has plenty of money.
Dawn Staley - make her the highest paid women’s basketball coach in history. Tennessee has the money - plenty of it.
— Lanier Eagle (@EagleLanier) April 1, 2024
Another Tennessee fan argued that going after Staley is appropriate because Tennessee is the standard of the sport (something they haven't been in 20 years).
Honestly Tennessee should act like the standard of their sport and throw the bank at Dawn Staley. Going to be interesting to see what Dr. Danny does.
— Josh's Journal 🍊🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 (@Joshes_Journal) April 1, 2024
Even Tennessee media is promoting the idea that Staley is a candidate in Knoxville (though, they used an extremely dated photo).
Who would be your top HC candidate for the Lady Vols?🤔
— Volunteer Sports Network (@VolSportsNetwrk) April 1, 2024
Let’s hear them in the comments… pic.twitter.com/dE7y6SiORf
It makes sense why the Vols would want Staley. She has turned the Gamecocks into the best program in women's college basketball and dominates the conference Tennessee used to own when Pat Summitt was in charge.
After starting the SEC rivalry 39-2 against the Gamecocks, the series has gone 14-12 in favor of the Gamecocks during the Dawn Staley era in Columbia, and USC has won 7 in a row (and 10 of 11). The Gamecocks have won 8 SEC regular season titles in the last 11 years and 8 SEC Tournament championships in the last 10 years. Tennessee hasn't won either outright since 2014.
Tennessee was once the best program in women's college basketball but was replaced by Geno Auriemma and UConn, and they have been doubly-replaced by Dawn Staley and South Carolina.
The Lady Vols must hire another great coach if they hope to be in the conversation among the elite programs in the country again, but that coach will not be Dawn Staley.