Dear Pat,
Along with leaving an untouchable legacy, you will be remembered specifically for one thing that will never be questioned, your fight. The fight that you had to succeed led you to be the winning-est coach in women’s collegiate basketball. The fight you demonstrated every single season day in and day out got you to eight championship rings. The fight that you had for your girls led to a 100 percent graduation rate for any young woman who played under you. But most importantly, the fight for your life.
Let me continue with these two simple words that contain so much sincerity, thank you.
Thank you for leaving the impact that you did on women’s sports. Thank you for paving the way for little girls with a dream of being athletes. Thank you for teaching us as much off the court as you did on. Thank you for giving young women the confidence to believe in themselves and the opportunity to turn that belief into success. And of course, thank you for your fight.
Thank you for teaching us that you might win the game on the court, but you “win people off the court.” At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how many banners you hang, rings you acquire, or teams you beat, it’s about the relationships that you build as a team. Those are what last a lifetime. 20 years from now, her players will not remember the score to every single game they played in at Tennessee. But they will remember the nights they spent at Pat’s house while she made the whole team dinner from scratch. If that’s one thing her players knew, is that she loved them.
If you ever got the chance to meet Pat, then you know just how humble and down to earth she was. She was just as excited to meet you, as you were to meet her! Her smile could light up a room, but oh, that stare.
Anyone who is familiar with Tennessee Women’s Basketball is familiar with the patented “Pat Summitt Stare.” To be on the other end of this stare was more frightening than any nightmare you’ve ever had. The stare was her trademark. The stare could freeze hell over. The stare proved to you that she meant business and to reevaluate whatever it was that you did to make it surface. That stare was 100 percent passion for everything she’s worked for.
When I heard the news, I instantly broke down. When your biggest role model since you were six pass away, it’s not a load that is easily carried. But I’m not alone. The city of Knoxville has felt an indescribable amount of pain these past few days. Tears, reminiscing and prayer has been on the minds of Pat Summitt fans and will continue.
We love you so much, Coach. Your legacy will live forever. Thank you for giving us your everything.
