Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Senate honors Summitt

WASHINGTON -- Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt won another honor today when the U.S. Senate approved a resolution commending her NCAA-record 880 wins and calling her "a proven leader, motivated teacher and established champion."

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., filed the legislation and it won immediate, unanimous approval. No other federal action is needed.

The UT Lady Vols basketball coach on March 22 surpassed the career-win record of any male or female NCAA coach, passing former University of North Carolina Coach Dean Smith's record. She ended this season with 882 wins.

Frist spoke on the Senate floor today about Summitt's 31 years of coaching, her dedication and being "a role model for future generations of students, players and coaches."

Summitt, he said, has "elevated the Lady Vols to one of the elite programs in all of sports."

Alexander, a former UT president and Tennessee governor, said on the Senate floor of Summitt: "No one has done more to build the game of women's basketball than Pat Summitt. Today (Lady Vols basketball) is my favorite game to watch on television because of the skill of the players, because of the team play, because of the good coaching, and now because of the parity of the sport."

Alexander praised Summitt for also ensuring that all her players either graduate or remain in the process of completing requirements. "Pat Summitt brings out the best in those young women."

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