There is a SportsCenter commercial with Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt where Kenny Mayne fires off puns that use the coach's name and team, only for Summitt to respond that she's got "this coaching thing down pat."I concur.
Thursday night, Summitt became the first Division I coach, men's or women's, to reach 1,000 wins as her Volunteers beat up on Georgia 73-43.
Streamers fell from the rafters, a banner flashed "Congrats Coach" and the players pulled an old Harlem Globetrotters trick when they showered her with confetti from a Gatorade bucket as she was giving a post-game interview.
"It's a hard number to even comprehend," Summitt said. "It's a time to reflect on a number of things, the administration saying yes to women's basketball and giving us an opportunity to play on the biggest stage in the women's game. I appreciate that."Summitt's Volunteers are currently 17-4, perhaps a worse record than what Summitt is used to, but getting the victory on the court bearing her name, instead of on the road against Oklahoma in her first attempt at 1,000, must have been sweet for the coach. Phillip Fulmer, the former Tennessee football coach, and men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl were on hand for the remarkable feat.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-06-2009 @ 9:18AM
jlew1973 said...
Pat is a class act. Tough, fair, driven, and hard working. I've followed her for years and always believed she was better than John Wooden. (Gasp! I said it!) She gets the best out of her team whether they win it all or not. SI did an awesome story on her years ago. The woman was traveling and recruiting while about to give birth! She's a strong one. I'd be scared to be married to her. LOL!
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2-06-2009 @ 11:16AM
bsoarman said...
Who cares?
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2-06-2009 @ 1:13PM
abadmammerjammer said...
You do...you care enough to click on the link bringing you this story; you care enough to read the article...then, rather than hitting the 'back' button, you took the time and energy to post a response...so it's kind of a paradoxical question, hmmm?
2-06-2009 @ 12:23PM
Cynthia said...
Congrats to Pat, she deserves it. She has integrity,compassion,and dedication to her team and the game of basketball. I'm just wondering when the Univeristy of Tennessee is going to give her the salary she REALLY deserves. When people ask me what I know about UT, I say Pat Summitt and The Lady Vols. Your team maybe young but they can do it!!!
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2-06-2009 @ 12:23PM
bballmom1414 said...
Pat is a class act. Works hard and is a good person. You go girl! If only everyone had her work ethic...
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2-06-2009 @ 1:15PM
rebelesq said...
You Go Pat!! One of the best basketball coaches ever...men or women. She built that program from the ground up...and her players actually graduate with a college degree. She has always been a huge positive figure in the all-too-often negative world of sports.
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2-06-2009 @ 1:22PM
luckysunday22 said...
If only people watched womens basketball, this article might actually be note worthy. But no one watches, so it's really not that impressive. It's kinda like being valedictorian of summer school. You're still in summer school.
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2-06-2009 @ 2:43PM
garfieldfan74 said...
Luckysunday just because you would rather watch over paid premadonnas doesn't mean the rest of us can't appareciate history in the making. It is not the fact it's women's basketball, no one on the college level has done what she has. You may want to stick to the overpaid nfl dudes in there tight pants. Yeah I know what you like.
2-06-2009 @ 2:52PM
kimmeyson said...
Poor lucky...Bob Knight and a host of other noteworthy men's basketball coaches and announcers recognize what a terrific coach Pat Summit is and what her accomplishment means to the WHOLE BASKETBALL COMMUNITY, but you can't see past your own nuts.
2-06-2009 @ 3:00PM
Michael said...
Have you ever been to a Lady Vols game? They charge $15 a ticket for home games while most of the other schools charge $5 or less and have less then 2000 paid seats while the arena is at least 2/3 fullfor this game 16,058 so many people do care
2-06-2009 @ 1:48PM
doulosxp said...
No only do my wife and I watch women's basketball but we sit glued to the radio during those games that are not on TV. There are a lot of us fans out here. Far more that you imagine.
Thank you Pat and the team for giving us the excitement we remember from our college days. We follow you everywhere you go.
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2-06-2009 @ 3:04PM
nsg1111 said...
I agree with all the comments about Pat being a first class act and it took a lot to be where she is today with that 1000th win. I congratulate her with all my heart and wish her nothing but the best for the future. I hope she will always be around coaching and if not, then we have had one of the best to watch thru the years and all I can say is, God Bless her and her family always. She has done a great job. Nancy
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2-06-2009 @ 3:33PM
shirley irwin said...
Thank you Pat, and congratulations for your victory. What other coach would allow microphones to record their language to the public. Thank God, you speak with confidence, dignity, integrity...and don't have to curse to get the message across. My husband and I think you are great.
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2-06-2009 @ 3:43PM
lenfurlough said...
A Class act and conducts a class program. Todays's youth should see what hard work ,determination and a focus on the goal before you. Congrads Pat!!!!
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2-06-2009 @ 5:16PM
Robin Thornett said...
A lot of people don't realize Coach Summit has been in the history books of basketball before. She was one of the women who testified in front of a Congressional Committee DECADES AGO in order to get women's basketball moved from half court to full court games (and you thought the congressional hearings they have NOW are silly). I used to work in local TV in Knoxville and always found Coach Summit to be one of the kindest, most accessible people we ever worked with. She is the very definition of a woman and a lady.
Congrats Pat - you deserve it!
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2-12-2009 @ 9:52PM
ConstanceReynolds said...
Dear pat,congradulations.keep on doing what you are doing because I watch you guys on t.v. and I like what I see.hard driven indaviduals who like to play basketball and love there coach.constance
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