ESPN Memorial to Pat Summitt

#27
#27
Is it just me or did anyone else watching on TV think that Geno looked uncomfortable being there? Every time the cameras showed him, he had a grimace on his face or was fidgeting.
BUT I thought that was big time of him to come to the service considering their rivalry over the years. And the amount of other coaches from around the country that came was just amazing. I want to say I saw atleast 20 head coaches from around the country just from seeing on TV.
Was also pleasantly surprised Doris Burke was in attendance!
Anyone know how many former players came back? I was going to say around the 100 mark?
 
#28
#28
Very nice memorial, especially the tributes from Mickie DeMoss and Holly Warlick. The video with former players crying was almost unbearable to watch.

The presence of so many former players and coaches from other teams? Impressive. And, yes, Geno looked supremely uncomfortable.

Only weak spot: Tyler Summitt. He's way too preachy for a 25-year-old who's done only two things in his life:
1. Be born to a legend
2. Destroy his entire career and damage of his mother's legacy.

I don't need this punk telling me how to live my life.

And Pat Summitt was never as overtly religious as Tyler claims. Funny how none of the other speakers mentioned this as a central part of her life.
 
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#29
#29
VollyParton said:
Maybe a dig at Cheek & Hart, but not the University. You should be clear from the ceremony, if not how Pat led her life, that the University was always foremost in her mind. The Lady Vols brand was her brand and was a sub-brand of the overall University. It never brought shame to UT and always represented the University well. I don't know why you'd think displaying the Lady Vols logo at Pat's memorial ceremony would be a "dig". It was precious to her and the represented decades of her work.
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This times a 1,000. Well expressed, Volly.

And this was the first time hart was not at the forefront of anything. He's always there getting in the pictures, he's always mentioned for how 'great' he is, he's always doing something to get attention no matter what the occasion. First thing you see in the hallway at Neyland is his picture on the wall. But this time he was in his seat, quiet and unnoticed; totally unremarked on by any of the participants. I wonder if Pat's family put their foot down on how much of a dave hart show it would be. Did you notice when Holly waved the flag the first ones on their feet were the Ladys? That Peyton mentioned "ladies"? I would have to see it again, but there were several other incidents when those present did or said something that made me wonder.

We've traveled across the country and internationally. In many areas the Lady Vols and Pat Summit are better known than the University of Tennessee. Some people only know UT exists because of Pat. (I know that sounds like heresy, but remember, to most of the world football really is played with the feet.) People who know and care nothing about American football or basketball know about Pat. She truly was an ambassador for both the USA and UT. I hope one thing Pat's death does is reopen the opportunity for all of our women athletes to be acknowledged again as Lady Vols.
 
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#32
#32
It was a lovely, moving ceremony, and I am glad I got to watch it.

I rejoice for Pat, but mourn for the rest of us.
 
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#33
#33
The Channel 8 site had a list of coaches, etc, who were there, but is anyone aware of a list of current and former players who were there?
 
#34
#34
So glad I went. It was a beautiful night and, surprisingly, more uplifting than sad... though it was sad to see the bouquet of flowers reserving Pat's empty seat. Wonder if they'll permanently reserve it as a memorial or maybe save it for VIPs?

There was a large showing of LVs-- looked to be around 100 or more. I saw Cierra Burdick, Ariel Massengale and Izzy Harrison from Pat's last class. Bashaara Graves wasn't there, but Diamond DeShields and Kortney Dunbar were in the house. I'm sure all the current LVs must have attended, but they may not have sat together.

I heard that the team is devoting this season to Pat. Hope that's true... and hope even harder that they resolve to make it a special one in her honor.
 
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#35
#35
I don't mind to tell you I lost it when Peyton was talking about Pat seeing him on television and pointing at the screen and saying, that's my friend he comes to visit me, there goes my friend
 
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#36
#36
I think there were between 70-80 former players there. There is a picture on the UT website but it's far away. I recognized most from the 90s through today but I didn't recognize a lot of the older ones from the early teams.
 
#37
#37
Guys, I may have never known Knute Rockne or Alexander the Great...But I did get to watch Coach Summitt walk the sidelines....That's good enough for me.
 
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#38
#38
mtsuraider06 said:
I think there were between 70-80 former players there. There is a picture on the UT website but it's far away. I recognized most from the 90s through today but I didn't recognize a lot of the older ones from the early teams.
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I counted the players in that photo about 5 times and of course got a different number each time but it's more like 90-95. One count I got 97.
 
#39
#39
Patti Stephen drove more than 700 miles from Teaneck, New Jersey, to pay her final respects. She packed a lunch in her car and arrived on campus more than seven hours before the start of the ceremony to make sure she got a seat in the arena.

"I've been a Lady Vol fan for a long time, and it felt like I just needed to be here," said Stephen, who wore a T-shirt, hat and a set of bracelets bearing the message "We Back Pat." ''It wouldn't be the same on TV."
 
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#40
#40
I came up from Atlanta. There was no way i was going to miss it. Pat is the reason I coached girl's for 14 years and never once had an interest in switching to guys. It's odd how someone I only met once and in a very informal, brief way had such an impact on me to this day. I remember the day she passed...I literally couldn't move from in front of my tv until about 12.

And yes, I lost it during the video and the Peyton moment. I've watched Peyton's tribute at least 5 times since on video and I choke up every time.

What an amazing PERSON.....there won't be another.
 
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#41
#41
I watched Peyton's speech.
Well
Done.
Not taking away from anything from the moment.
But did anybody else notice that Dobbs was seating next to Coach Cutt?
 
#42
#42
tngivem6 said:
I watched Peyton's speech.
Well
Done.
Not taking away from anything from the moment.
But did anybody else notice that Dobbs was seating next to Coach Cutt?
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I thought all of the speakers were great. It was a great idea to have Peyton be the one to bring up the Pat Summitt Foundation and the work that will continue (since he's on the board), and he spoke well.

That's an interesting catch about Dobbs & Cut, and I hope it means what I think it means :thumbsup:. It's been eye-opening to see so many men being moved by Pat. It warms my sexist pig heart and is a good lesson for me.

Above all, it is helpful to share this time in grief with all of you who loved her.
 
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#43
#43
Whenever I saw Pat walk on the sidelines in her prime, I knew everything was going to be fine...She had panache like none other...

Hell of a woman!
 
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#45
#45
The ceremony was incredible, the attendance was not. Not even 10,000 can show up to Pat's final farewell??

Way to represent Lady Vol nation....
 
#47
#47
Darth_Vol said:
The ceremony was incredible, the attendance was not. Not even 10,000 can show up to Pat's final farewell??

Way to represent Lady Vol nation....
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Leave it to you to come and cast a dark cloud over this thread. There was nothing but positivity regarding Pat's memorial and you chose to point out the attendance???? You spew so much negatively, it's ridiculous.
 
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