Tony Vitello honors Tennessee legend Pat Summitt in a special way before the College World Series finals.
Ahead of the College World Series finals in Omaha, Tennessee Vols head coach Tony Vitello honored UT legend Pat Summitt in a special way on Friday.
When asked by the media who he would choose to throw out the first pitch at the College World Series if given the chance, Vitello initially mentioned former Tennessee baseball coach Rod Delmonico. However, a few questions later, he clarified that the true answer would be the late Pat Summitt.
“If you get one pick, it’s Pat Summitt,” said Vitello. “Frank (Anderson) and I once had lunch with a former employee who assisted the women’s basketball team. The only topic we were allowed to discuss was Pat stories.
“As time goes on, the banners are impressive, but that’s not what people focus on. It’s about how she conducted herself and the character she instilled in her players. That’s truly remarkable. Her legacy isn’t just the championships but the values she instilled, which led to a lot of wins because she was a winner.”
There will never be another college basketball coach like Summitt. She was, and remains, the gold standard in college basketball.
Tony V deserves credit for acknowledging Summitt on the eve of the biggest series of his coaching career. It wasn’t expected, but it’s something lifelong Tennessee fans will certainly appreciate.
