Pat Summitt recieves outpouring of support as health declines

Pat Summitt"s Family Is Reportedly "Preparing For The Worst"

Published: Mon, June 27, 2016 @ 12:05 a.m.

Associated Press

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.

Pat Summitts family said Sunday that the last few days have been difficult for the former Tennessee womens basketball coach as her Alzheimers disease progresses.

Amid reports of Summitts failing health, her family issued a statement asking for prayers and saying that the 64-year-old Summitt is surrounded by the people who mean the most to her. It also asked for privacy.

The statement was posted on the Pat Summitt Foundations website and was issued by Erin Freeman, a spokeswoman for the Summitt family.

Former Tennessee player Tamika Catchings was flying to Knoxville to visit the coach instead of returning to Indiana with the WNBAs Fever. Other former players were issuing support on Twitter through the PrayForPat hashtag. Phoenix Mercury center and Tennessee alum Isabelle Harrison said former Lady Volunteers players were keeping up with Summitts situation in a group text-message chain.

There are like 30 of us in a group chat right now talking, and people are flying into Knoxville and trying to see her, Harrison said Sunday after the Mercurys victory over the New York Liberty. You just didnt expect any of this to happen. Everyones trying to fill each other in with any information they have.

Harrison said she often went to Summitts home and rehabbed with her last year while recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament that ended the post players senior season at Tennessee prematurely. They also occasionally went to practice together.

I was at practice one day watching some of the girls, [and a] freshman took a fast shot, Harrison said. [Summitt] looked at me and was like, What was wrong was that? I was like, She shot too quick. [She said], Yeah, thats right. [Summitt] still had it.

The update about Summitts condition brought a flood of support from throughout the sports world.

An outpouring of concern on social media came from rival coaches such as South Carolinas Dawn Staley, Notre Dames Muffet McGraw and Vanderbilts Stephanie White. Other sympathetic tweets came from sports figures as varied as Billie Jean King and Steve Spurrier.

Summitt stepped down as Tennessees coach in 2012, one year after announcing her diagnosis of early onset dementia, Alzheimers type. She went 1,098-208 with eight national titles. She has the most career wins of any Division I mens or womens basketball coach.

Since her diagnosis, Summitt has played a leading role in the fight against Alzheimers. She launched the Pat Summitt Foundation, which is dedicated to researching and educating people about the disease while also providing services to patients and caregivers. The Pat Summitt Alzheimers Clinic is scheduled to open at the University of Tennessee medical center in December.

Source: http://www.vindy.com/news/2016/jun/27/pat-summitt-receives-outpouring-of-suppo/?newswatch

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Pat Summitt family: "Past few days have been difficult" for legendary coach

Geno Auriemma on Pat Summitt"s Impact - SportsCenter (04-19-2012)

Dan Fleser, USA TODAY SPORTS NETWORK 2:29 p.m. EDT June 26, 2016

The legendary University of Tennessee coach stepped down as the Volunteers" head coach after being diagnosed with dementia. Video provided by Newsy Newslook

Tennessee Lady Volunteers head coach Pat Summitt in 2013.(Photo: Randy Sartin, USA TODAY Sports)

Pat Summitts family released a statement late Sunday morning regarding the health of the former University of Tennessee womens basketball coach, acknowledging: "the past few days have been difficult for Pat as her early onset dementia, Alzheimers Type progresses."

The statement from Erin Freeman of Ackermann Public Relations also said, "She is surrounded by those who mean the most to her and during this time, we ask for prayers for Pat and her family and friends, as well as your utmost respect and privacy. Thank you."

Five hours earlier, a source told the News Sentinel that Summitt was "struggling" and those close to her were "preparing for the worst."

"I dont think anybody knows whether she will last a day, a month, or a year," the source said.

Summitt announced in August 2011 that she had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers disease.

As of late Saturday, Summitt, 64, had not been moved from the retirement center where she has been living since late January, the source said.

Summitts family and some former players were with her during the weekend and preparations were made to make public statements on her condition when necessary. ESPN reported that Los Angeles Sparks star Candace Parker flew to Knoxville on Friday. Indiana Fever star Tamika Catchings told the News Sentinel that she visited Summitt. She came after the Fevers game in Dallas on Saturday night and has returned to Indianapolis.

Social media was buzzing with prayer wishes for Summitt and her family. Among the well wishers was Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who tweeted early Sunday morning: "Praying for Coach @patsummitt and her family tonight!"

Incoming womens basketball freshman Kamera Harris also tweeted: "My thoughts and prayers are with @patsummitt and her family!#PrayForPat"

Later on Sunday, Lady Vols forward Diamond DeShields tweeted, "Shes The reason why Im even here man. #PrayForPat hang tight in there coach. We got your back."

Fellow Lady Vol Andraya Carter tweeted "My thoughts are with the greatest coach of all time and her wonderful family. Keep fighting @patsummitt!"

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley advised her Twitter followers "to lock hands and #PrayForPat."

Despite her diagnosis, Summitt coached the 2011-12 season before stepping down. She concluded her storied 38-year career with 1,098 victories and eight national championships.

Summitt, known for her icy glare on the sideline, was hired as the Lady Vols head coach as a 22-year-old in 1974. Two years later she was co-captain on the silver-medal winning U.S. Olympic team. In 1984 she coached the Olympic team to a gold medal.

Basketball factored into almost every aspect of her life, including the birth of her son, Tyler, in 1990. Even though her water had broken she finished a recruiting visit in Pennsylvania, then urged pilots not to stop on the way home so her son could be born in Tennessee.

Her all-time record was 1,098-208 (.840). She coached 47 percent of her games against ranked opponents and also had a .913 winning percentage at home (504-48).

The court at Thompson Boling Arena, where the Lady Vols and Vols play, is called "The Summitt."

The "We Back Pat" campaign began almost immediately after Summitts medical announcement. Fighting Alzheimers became her cause before her coaching career ended as well. In November 2011, Summitt and Tyler announced the formation of the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund, with proceeds going toward Alzheimers research.

President Barack Obama announced she was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in April 2012.

ESPN recognized her accomplishments with the documentary "Pat XO" in July 2013.

In November 2013, the Pat Summitt Plaza, which included a statue, was dedicated on campus.

Dan Fleser writes for the Knoxville News-Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY SPORTS NETWORK

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Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaw/2016/06/26/pat-summitt-tennessee-lady-vols-ncaa-championships-dementia/86402446/

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