Congratulations, Pat Summitt

TWIT would like to congratulate Pat Summitt for being a part of NCAA history.  Last night, when her Lady Vols opened a can of whoop ass on Purdue and beat them 75-54, Summitt became the winningest college basketball coach.  This was win # 880 for Summitt, breaking the long-standing record of 879 wins by my beloved Dean Smith.  This win will send the Lady Vols to the Sweet Sixteen of the women's NCAA tourny.   The 52-year-old Summitt's record is 880-171 in 31 years at Tennessee, while Smith was 879-254 when he retired in 1997 after 36 years with the Tar Heels.

Pat's 79-year old mother Hazel was there for the historic game, along with Pat's husband and son.  To make the event even more prestigious, NCAA officials presented Summitt with the game ball and a plaque and the university announced that the basketball court at Thompson-Boling Arena will be called "The Summitt." 

I'm not a huge college basketball fan, but I've always admired Pat Summitt for her coaching style. I remember watching the HBO documentary "The Cinderella Season: The Lady Vols Fight Back."  HBO followed the Lady Vols for the 1996-97 season, filming their every move on and off the basketball court.  This was one of the better sports documentaries I've watched.  Pat didn't hold anything back when she ripped into the team in the locker room after a huge loss to Stanford.  All of the players were holding their heads down in shame, and about half of them were crying.  Pat told them "As bad as you played tonight, you need to cry."  A perfect example of tough love in action.  Another memorable part of the show was when the cameras filmed Summitt during a recruiting trip.  She visited a recruit at the girl's family farm.  The girl agreed to come to UT, and her father started talking about basketball with Summitt.  He made a comment about his daughter's playing and what she should do with the Lady Vols, and Summitt simply smiled and told the man "I'll make a deal with you, sir.  You don't tell me how to coach basketball, and I won't tell you how to farm." 

Way to go, Pat.  Keep up the good work.