[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 19 (Tuesday, March 3, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COMMENDING PAT SUMMITT ON MAKING THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

 Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, today I wish to take note of a 
woman of character and accomplishment who has recently been recognized 
in a unique and public way for her outstanding talent and tireless 
work. University of Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball Coach Pat Summitt is 
on the cover of the March 2, 1998 issue of Sports Illustrated, and I 
can't think of a better choice. On the caption of the cover, it asks 
what Coach Summitt's place in basketball history might be, and suggests 
that she is perhaps the greatest college basketball coach of all time. 
Mr. President, I think that's a pretty accurate assessment.
  As I have pointed out with more than a little pride before to the 
Senate, the Lady Vols have taken home the national championship trophy 
the last two years in a row, and five years out of the last eleven. 
Every one of those victories was both hard-fought and well-deserved, 
and Coach Summitt was always at the helm. In Tennessee, we're all very 
proud of what she's done, and fans everywhere have come to appreciate 
just how much of the success of women's basketball is owed to her 
efforts. She has helped to make women's basketball a major interest of 
sports fans, and she has helped create a great deal of opportunity for 
young scholar-athletes.
  Coach Summitt has never let ``no'' stand in the way of getting what 
she wanted. As the Sports Illustrated article tells it, Pat grew up on 
a farm where she learned to work hard and stick to a job until it was 
done--and done right. Later, after a potentially career-ending knee 
injury, she defied the odds and the predictions of her doctors not only 
to play again but to join the 1976 Women's Olympic Basketball team as 
the oldest player, and come home with a Silver Medal.
  Her rise is impressive. She was made head coach at age 22 at the 
University of Tennessee while she was finishing a graduate degree. And 
she rose to the task, doing more than she had to do in all her jobs. 
Anybody else might have settled for second best under the workload. Not 
Pat. She wanted to succeed. Pat didn't just show up for practice and 
blow the whistle while the players ran laps. She built the women's 
program from nearly the ground up. She drove the team to and from 
games, she made sure everyone had uniforms and towels, she swept the 
floor and she looked after her players' injuries. And she finished her 
degree. Pat did it all, and her dedication has paid off.
  Pat has spoiled us in Tennessee. We're more accustomed than most to 
winning the big games. But as long as Pat's in charge, and as long as 
she keeps bringing in the best young players out there and bringing out 
their potential, I think we can look forward to a long run of great 
teams, first-rate competition and championship seasons. So I am pleased 
that Sports Illustrated has acknowledged what so many of us already 
know. She's on the cover--for anyone involved in athletics, this is one 
of those moments that you never forget.
  Mr. President, we are proud of Coach Pat Summitt in Tennessee. We're 
honored to see her on the cover of Sports Illustrated. She deserves 
this recognition and I send along my best wishes to her.

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