B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 255; Flight Crew Type 8000
Workload
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Procedure; Human Factors
I was the PM on our descent into BNA on the RYYMN arrival; night; IMC; landing north.  Memphis Center Controller cleared us to 'descend via' the arrival landing north. Sometime around FL200; Memphis Center told us to now 'descend via; landing south.' We both realized that we were extremely high on profile due to the late runway change; and most importantly; we were approaching the 'branch point' on the arrival. The PF was heads-down; furiously trying to reprogram the FMC. Realizing we were approaching the branch point; I asked Memphis Center for an initial heading; to which Center gave no response. I asked a second time; more emphatically; to which Memphis Center responded 'unable; switch to Approach Control.'I was furious with the lack of proper safety handling from Memphis Center; which was unacceptable. PF got the FMC programmed; after both of us correctly identified the new runway and arrival transition; but we were still about 4000 ft high on the arrival. PF selected 'speed intervention' while in VNAV; without annunciating it to me; and selected 300 knots; all while I was heads-down trying to gather the landing info for the new south flow runways. As the aircraft passed 10;000 ft in the descent; it maintained 300 knots. I looked up; called out our airspeed; and the PF disconnected the autopilot; slowed; and continued descent. I think we maintained 300 knots until about 9500 ft. Very unprofessional; lazy; and unsafe handling from Memphis Center greatly contributed to this event. This was the only time in my 25 years of flying experience that a Controller told me 'unable' when I asked for a simple heading in order to keep safely navigating! Unbelievable and unacceptable handling by Memphis Center Controller.
B737 Captain reported exceeding 250 knots below 10000 feet after given a runway change late in the descent.