Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt earned her 1000th career victory last night. At home. Against the Georgia Lady Bulldogs. By 30 points. Arguably a down year so far for them, the Vols were given their second crack at #1000 after losing to #2 Oklahoma earlier in the week. Her #1000 wins are the most by any college basketball coach (men's or women's), nearly 100 more than men's leader Bob Knight (902).Coach Summitt has been with the Vols for 35 years but she's still only 56, meanings its quite possible she could be doing this for another 10+ years. Since 1974 she's won 8 national titles, 14 SEC regular season titles, 13 SEC tournament titles, was the SEC coach of the year 7 times and the NCAA coach of the year 7 times - oh and the Tennessee hardwood is named after her.
Ladies and gents take note that one of the three greatest college coaches in history is here in the south. Every year Georgia fans can make two trips to Stegeman to see Coach Summitt in action. Men and women alike can tell their children they saw Pat Summitt coach the Vols. Its like telling your kids you saw John Wooden take the court, or Bob Knight. Its like how I'll be able to tell my children that I saw Greg Maddux, Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds play. Sometimes we forget that we are witnessing history. That the players and coaches we see every year and take for granted may someday be looked upon as the greatest there ever was. And when you look at sports today and see names like Tiger Woods... Shaquille O'Neal... Alex Rodriguez... Coach K... you have to know that in twenty years people will be wishing they had a chance to see them in person. That they'll have photos and ticket stubs framed on their walls. The same will be said about Coach Pat Summitt - arguably the greatest coach in sports today.
4 comments. Leave Your Own!:
Nice sentiment. How about seeing Smoltz's 200th victory. Or watching Barry hit one of the biggest blasts I have ever seen against the braves in game 5 in 02. Or watching ARod hit a game winning walk-off in yankee stadium.
We have seen a lot. Some greats. I am going to tell my kids, or anybody's kids for that matter, how great it was.
adam
I was in San Francisco and saw Giants v. Braves. Barry Bonds hit a home run into McCovey Cove, the Braves won the game, oh and it was 2001 - the year Barry hit 73.
Also I was at Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS, but thats no biggie hehe.
haha, women pounding each other.
Though I hate the Tennessee athletic program with great passion (I have my reasons), what Pat Summitt has been able to accomplish at UT is beyond comprehension. When Larry Munson announced his retirement, rivals from across the nation expressed their joy and appreciation for what the man had done.
Despite the inter-conference rivalry, I'd like to extend the same type of congratulatory message to Pat and the 30+ years of Lady Vols. What an amazing feat. I only wish it hadn't been against the Lady Dogs.
Post a Comment