Tournaments at UTC
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s McKenzie Arena hosted the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament seven times during an eight-year span from 1993-2000. Here is how Summitt’s teams fared during those tournaments in the Scenic City. The Lady Vols faced Vanderbilt three times in that span. At the time, Vanderbilt was coached by Jim Foster, who is now the UTC women’s coach.1993Lost in second round to Georgia1994Beat Vanderbilt 82-57 in the finals1995First round: Bye. Lost to Vanderbilt 67-61 in the finals1996Beat Alabama 64-60 in the finals1997Lost to Auburn 61-59 in the semifinals1998(Tournament held in Columbus, Ga.)1999Beat Georgia 85-59 in the finals2000Beat Mississippi State 70-67 in the finals
President Barack Obama looks to Pat Summitt, former women’s college basketball head coach, as he awards her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, May 29, 2012, in Washington.
Tennessee head coach emeritus Pat Summitt smiles as a banner is raised in her honor before an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame in Knoxville in this 2013, file photo.
Tennessee coach Pat Summitt holds up the net after Tennessee beat Kentucky 90-65 in an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Southeastern Conference tournament Sunday, March 6, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn.When John “Thunder” Thornton got the text Saturday night while on vacation in Alaska, his heart sank.
The message was about Pat Summitt, and it carried news that the legendary former University of Tennessee women’s basketball coach’s health is declining.
“I was just really sad,” said Thornton, a Chattanooga businessman, prominent UT booster and friend to Summitt for 25 years. “I’m here with several close friends and several of them have known Pat and have the utmost respect for her, as I do. It’s just sad to hear what this disease has done to such a great champion.”
A statement released by Ackermann Public Relations acknowledged that “the past few days have been difficult for Pat” as the early-onset Alzheimer’s disease she was diagnosed with in 2011 progresses.
“She is surrounded by those who mean the most to her and during this time, we ask for prayers for Pat and her family and friends, as well as your utmost respect and privacy,” the statement continued.
As the news of her worsening health spread Sunday, tributes to Summitt, 64, poured in from across the country, and from those in the Chattanooga area with ties to the eight-time national champion.
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball coach Jim Foster called Summitt “an incredible coach.”
Foster pitted his wits against Summitt regularly while coaching at Vanderbilt from 1991-2002. The two squared off three times in Chattanooga, including in the 1994 and 1995 SEC Tournament championship games at McKenzie Arena.
“I think it’s one of those legacies that sort of speaks for itself,” he said of Summitt. “The reality of it, eight championships, all the wins and All-Americans. That speaks volumes and it’s a testament to what was a great, great run of success at Tennessee when Pat was the coach. It’s hard to put in perspective.
“I think all thoughts right now are on her family. You knew this day was coming, and you knew it was coming quicker than you would like it to. I think it’s just time to reflect and celebrate on a legacy that is admirable, for sure, on a lot of levels.”
Summitt’s Lady Vols beat Vanderbilt 82-57 in the 1994 title matchup, but Foster’s team avenged that defeat with a 67-61 win in 1995.
The next year, Summitt’s Lady Vols began a streak of unprecedented national dominance that cemented her legacy as one of the greatest coaches of all time.
UT captured three straight national titles from 1996-98.
Thornton was enamored by the program’s success before that streak, however. He recalled Sunday evening that his first financial gift to UT went to the women’s basketball team because of his respect for Summitt, which had largely been instilled in him by his late father, Lloyd.
“I was just so impressed with Pat,” Thornton said.
He recalled asking her sometime after the 1998 national championship how she kept the success going.
“Look, it’s about these kids,” Thornton recalled Summitt saying. “I just love coaching these kids and bringing out the best in them.”
“She was just in total commitment to excellence,” Thornton continued. “Her perserverance is just unmatched in my book. She didn’t do it for money or anything else. She did it for the student-athletes.”
While the championship banners that hang above “The Summitt” basketball court in Thompson-Boling Arena on the UT campus will commemorate her on-court victories for years to come, Summitt’s victories off the court may be her most lasting legacy.
In 38 years of head coaching, every player who completed her eligibility under the Clarksville native also graduated, and her advocacy for women’s sports made inroads across the nation for female athletes.
During a tumultuous time for the UT men’s basketball program that included a series of coaching changes, Thornton said he asked Summitt if she would ever consider coaching the men’s team.
“She gave me an answer that I never, ever expected,” Thornton said, “She said, ‘why would I give up coaching the women to coach the men? That would give some people the impression that coaching the men is a step up, and it’s not.’ Then she said, ‘I would never do that to the women athletes at the University of Tennessee.'”
Shortly after her diagnosis, Summitt created the Pat Summitt Foundation to focus on awareness, advocacy and research to fight against Alzheimer’s, waging an open battle against the disease.
According to the foundation, 5.4 million Americans have early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s-type.
“Put away your hankies,” Summitt wrote in a letter on her foundation website. “There’s not going to be any pity party. We’re going to fight, and we’re going to fight publicly.”
Thornton has helped Chattanooga get involved in the fight. Last month’s “Toast to Pat” dinner with Charlie Daniels was held at Jasper Highlands, one of Thornton’s developments located in Marion County.
He said Sunday the event raised more than $248,000, about half of which, Thornton said, went to Erlanger hospital’s Alzheimer’s research.
“We’ve got to keep raising money,” Thornton said. “And we’ve got to find a cure for this horrible disease.”
The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported Sunday that Summitt’s family, friends and several of her former players have convened in Knoxville.
Former Bradley Central standout Brittany Jackson, who played for Summitt from 2001-05, confirmed in an email that she was among them.
“Can’t find the right words [right] now,” she wrote on Twitter Sunday morning. “But please #PrayForPat and her family.”
Contact staff writer David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.