RIP Pat Summitt

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Sergeant George G. Wortman (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions from August to October 1868, in Arizona. His citation reads:

Bravery in scouts and actions against Indians.

Sergeant William J. Wray (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on July 12, 1864, at Fort Stevens, D. C. His citation reads:

Rallied the company at a critical moment during a change of position under fire.

Captain Albert D. Wright (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on July 30, 1864, at Petersburg, Virginia. His citation reads:

Advanced beyond the enemy's lines, capturing a stand of colors and its color guard; was severely wounded.


It is being reported (on here and also on legitimate news sites) that former Tennessee basketball coach Pat Summitt passed away this morning. Her battle with Alzheimer’s is now over. You can read the full obituary here, but I would like to highlight a couple of things:

This is one simple statement that Patricia Sue Head Summitt embodied, lived by and passed on to so many throughout her 64 years of life. She ‘won’ every day of her life because of the relationships she developed, nurtured and cherished. Relationships with her family and friends. Relationships with players, coaches, and fans. And most importantly, a strong relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

On Tuesday, June 28 2016, Pat passed away peacefully, following a courageous battle with early onset dementia, “Alzheimer’s Type.” This disease attacked a lifetime of precious memories, memories that she has now won back as she rests in her eternal home. Memories that will live on in each and every relationship she developed throughout her life. 

For the next 38 years, the farm girl from Henrietta, Tenn. would impact the game of women’s basketball like no one in the history of the sport. She guided the Lady Vols to eight NCAA championships, 32 combined Southeastern Conference titles and became the winningest NCAA D-1 basketball coach of all time on March 22, 2005. She was named the NCAA Coach of the Year seven times and the Naismith Coach of the Century in 2000.

Pat also excelled internationally, as both a coach and player. As a player, she was a co-captain of the 1976 U.S. women’s team, earning the silver medal during the Olympic Games held in Montreal. She then went on to coach the U.S. Junior National and U.S. National teams to multiple championships and medals, culminating with a magical run as head coach of the 1984 U.S. Women’s Olympic team, leading them to the gold medal during the XXIII Olympiad in Los Angeles.

Of all the records, awards, and stats, Pat would point to one number as the most significant in her career – 161. This is the number of Lady Vols who contributed to the 1,098 wins over the span of her illustrious career. To these 161 student-athletes she was more than a coach – she was a friend, mentor and a loving mother.

You can, of course, donate to the Pat Summitt Foundation (which is what the link up top for the obit will take you to), or you can join Team I’m just sayin… in our Walk to End Alzheimer’s. If you would like to join or donate, just click on the Walk to End Alzheimer’s button above this post (if you are on your computer). Or, if you’re on your phone (or on your computer, but don’t want to scroll up), click here. Thanks!