Public service for Summitt taking place on Tennessee campus

Volunteers picked up the flowers from Thompson-Boling Arena, deconstructed the arrangements and created 372 bouquets that were delivered to Alzheimer’s and memory care patients in East Tennessee.

“Imagine how different our lives would be if we chose to play anywhere except here”, former player Tamika Catchings said Thursday night.

At one of the school’s most notable campus landmarks – a rock where people often paint various messages – Tennessee student Payton Miller painted a picture of Summitt’s face with a basketball and a Tennessee logo serving as a backdrop.

Peyton Manning says Pat Summitt “almos single-handedly made women’s sports relevant” during celebration of her life. She worked with Pat Summitt in the UTM Alumni Association.

A daughter, mother, coach, teacher, leader, inspiration, hero and God-fearing Christian, Summitt died far too early.

Summitt’s greatest accomplishments went beyond winning games and graduating players. “That’s something nobody will ever take away from me”.

The ceremony at Thompson-Boling Arena gave the public a chance to pay tribute to Summitt, who won eight national titles and 1,098 games in her 38-year tenure.

The fans in Knoxville along with the fans in Bristol remembered a coach and her personal touch.

“Anyone can be just like her if they try”, said Crow.

Summitt was a Tennessee Treasure and a person beloved by many in Tennessee and around the country.

Current Lady Vols head coach Holly Warlick offered many amusing stories of Summitt. Words that show what a positive person she was.

Among American female icons, she always has to be mentioned. “If you’re not leading, and you’re not following, than you’re not doing anything, and I really don’t have time for you”, DeMoss said. “. I’m excited that we have a plan that will allow us to move forward quickly with the installation of the statue here and continue to build this plaza in Pat’s honor over the next few years”. After Summitt’s passing last month, Manning put out a heartfelt statement about her impact on his life, and the friendship the two shared.

Manning spoke about how Summitt once “mesmerized a room full of crusty football coaches” at Tennessee’s annual spring clinic.

Summitt gained a reputation for her at times no-nonsense demeanor. “This is not a goodbye but an until-we-meet-again”.

“One day we were sitting at lunch and I was teasing her and I said, ‘Pat, let’s arm wrestle!’ And believe me, there was no competition whatsoever”, she recalled.