Neyland'76
Active Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2009
- Messages
- 37
- Likes
- 9
I would like to start a thread to post stories from VOL fans about their experiences with Coach Summit. I know I am setting myself up for a wave of criticism from the VOLNATION Police for starting a thread as an amateur who has only posted on this site a couple of times. But Pat means so much to all of us, and she is the definition of what is good and right about the University of Tennessee. So someone has to start it and Im OK with being beaten up for being the one .I am honored to have just a couple of stories about her, and wanted to share them with the VOL NATION.
Let me take you back in time. I was born in Knoxville, and entered UT as a Neyland Scholar (one of the first 30 or so of those) in 1973. I graduated in 1976, and have recently retired as an Army civilian from Redstone Arsenal after 34+ years of service (and as a prisoner in the state of Alabama). At UT, my classmates included Ernie Grunfeld, Mike Jackson, Mickey Marvin, Stanley Morgan, Mike Smithson and many other great VOL legends. I had the chance to watch these guys, and many greats like Condredge Holloway, Larry Seivers, Bernard King and others in person. And as a decent basketball player from Shelbyville, I had the wonderful experience of playing pick-up basketball with a number of these guys.
One afternoon I was playing a pick-up game at old Alumni Gym at the foot of the Hill. Im not sure that building even exists any more, but it was a great place to play full court games. When we finished playing, Pat Head (and I knew she was the Coach of our newly established womens team) walked up to me and asked if I would practice a few minutes with her team. I dont remember if they were an NAIA level, or even club level team at the time. But she said I was the size (in those days, 62, 160 pounds) of a girl they were going to face in their next game, and the tallest girl she had on her squad was about 511. I told her I had done that for the Shelbyville girls team, and would be happy to that for her group. She smiled, and with that ever present twinkle in her eyes, said keep your hands to yourself. I worked with them for 20 or 30 minutes, and she said Thanks and I went on my way. I may have been the first guy she ever had practice against her girls, but in time that became a tradition and important element of her coaching. As you can imagine, I was hooked on UTs girls program for life.
Then flash forward to late 1990 when my wife and I were expecting our youngest child (a girl, of course). Alabama required an amniocentesis test for children of older parents, and we had gone to Birmingham for the test. Afterwards, we were walking through the Galleria Mall, and I saw two ladies, dressed in Orange, walking toward us. I told my wife I recognized them, and she said sure youre with your pregnant wife and recognize the first woman you see! As we got closer, I told her thats Coach Pat Summit, and Bridgett Gordon (they were in Birmingham for Media Days). Coach Summit stopped and said good thing you got that right I said youre right, Coach good luck and she said Good Luck to you two as well
So like so many of you, my life has been touched by Pat Summit. And though we know she is the greatest coach ever, and a tough person, those memories will be stolen by this disease. I have seen that personally in my father in law, Natale Cancilla, who was in the Ordnance Officers Hall of Fame for his work building GEN Pattons 3rd Army tanks (look it up), but couldnt remember that or his children in his later days.
So if you folks agree, maybe you will post stories of how Coach Pat touched your life or family, and our VOLNATION managers can send them to Tyler or her. That way even when she forgets how much she means to us, or what she has done, they can enjoy the memories, and share them with her as time goes by.
GOD Bless Pat and her family.
Go Big Orange!
Let me take you back in time. I was born in Knoxville, and entered UT as a Neyland Scholar (one of the first 30 or so of those) in 1973. I graduated in 1976, and have recently retired as an Army civilian from Redstone Arsenal after 34+ years of service (and as a prisoner in the state of Alabama). At UT, my classmates included Ernie Grunfeld, Mike Jackson, Mickey Marvin, Stanley Morgan, Mike Smithson and many other great VOL legends. I had the chance to watch these guys, and many greats like Condredge Holloway, Larry Seivers, Bernard King and others in person. And as a decent basketball player from Shelbyville, I had the wonderful experience of playing pick-up basketball with a number of these guys.
One afternoon I was playing a pick-up game at old Alumni Gym at the foot of the Hill. Im not sure that building even exists any more, but it was a great place to play full court games. When we finished playing, Pat Head (and I knew she was the Coach of our newly established womens team) walked up to me and asked if I would practice a few minutes with her team. I dont remember if they were an NAIA level, or even club level team at the time. But she said I was the size (in those days, 62, 160 pounds) of a girl they were going to face in their next game, and the tallest girl she had on her squad was about 511. I told her I had done that for the Shelbyville girls team, and would be happy to that for her group. She smiled, and with that ever present twinkle in her eyes, said keep your hands to yourself. I worked with them for 20 or 30 minutes, and she said Thanks and I went on my way. I may have been the first guy she ever had practice against her girls, but in time that became a tradition and important element of her coaching. As you can imagine, I was hooked on UTs girls program for life.
Then flash forward to late 1990 when my wife and I were expecting our youngest child (a girl, of course). Alabama required an amniocentesis test for children of older parents, and we had gone to Birmingham for the test. Afterwards, we were walking through the Galleria Mall, and I saw two ladies, dressed in Orange, walking toward us. I told my wife I recognized them, and she said sure youre with your pregnant wife and recognize the first woman you see! As we got closer, I told her thats Coach Pat Summit, and Bridgett Gordon (they were in Birmingham for Media Days). Coach Summit stopped and said good thing you got that right I said youre right, Coach good luck and she said Good Luck to you two as well
So like so many of you, my life has been touched by Pat Summit. And though we know she is the greatest coach ever, and a tough person, those memories will be stolen by this disease. I have seen that personally in my father in law, Natale Cancilla, who was in the Ordnance Officers Hall of Fame for his work building GEN Pattons 3rd Army tanks (look it up), but couldnt remember that or his children in his later days.
So if you folks agree, maybe you will post stories of how Coach Pat touched your life or family, and our VOLNATION managers can send them to Tyler or her. That way even when she forgets how much she means to us, or what she has done, they can enjoy the memories, and share them with her as time goes by.
GOD Bless Pat and her family.
Go Big Orange!
