I live in the FL Panhandle now, but I’m from East Tennessee. We live and breathe football—and basketball, since Pat came on the scene. The Lady Vols are an entity unto themselves, shaped by her. She’s won 18 championships, she coached the Olympic women’s basketball team.
I met her once (no introductions) standing in line at a favorite local buffet. She talks like anybody you’d run into at the grocery store. She knows your aunt, and she asks about her. She’s also hard as nails about basketball because she knows what it takes to be good, and she knows how to show that to the players.
I went to school with R.B. (Summit) her ex. He was a good guy, solid and astute. Same as Pat. Tyler looks a lot like him, with brushstrokes of Pat. R.B. and Pat have the same determined chin. But Tyler got R.B.'s eyelashes. lol
But now she has Alziemhers. (sp) Such a hard diagnosis for such a strong lady. But she’s meeting it the same way she’s faced every challange in her life; shoulders squared and chin up.
She’s a worthy role model for men and women alike. And no matter where I live, cut me and I bleed Orange. Go Vols.