KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee's plan to eliminate the Lady Volunteers nickname in all women's sports other than basketball remains off the agenda for Thursday's Board of Trustees meeting, after dozens of legislators asked the board to reconsider the school's decision.
Rep. Roger Kane sent a letter signed by 45 legislators asking trustees to discuss the matter. James Murphy, the board's vice chair, and University of Tennessee president Joe DiPietro replied Tuesday in an email that "we understand and respect your opinion and that of your colleagues, but we continue to hold that the decision in this matter rests with the Knoxville campus administration."
Kane's letter was first reported by the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Tennessee announced in November all its teams other than the women's basketball squad would be called the Volunteers starting July 1.