As you probably already know, Pat Summitt just won her eighth national championship last night. What you may not know is that she has some local ties here in Hoots.
In a story from 2006, you are introduced to two women I absolutely adore. And they are the ones that knew Pat Summitt was something special back in the day.
TWO SPECIAL LADIES THANK LADY VOLS
After the Lady Vols defeated UT-Martin Tuesday night, an interesting thing happened in the Tennessee locker room.
Two elderly gray-haired women walked into the dressing quarters with Pat Summitt. One was Betty Giles. The other, Nadene Guerin. Giles was the athletic director at UT-Martin when Summitt played for the Skyhawks. Guerin was Summitt’s coach.
Some 32 years ago, they went to bat for Summitt, recommending her for the Lady Vols job, even though Summitt, age 22, had never coached before. Giles and Guerin saw something special back then in a special person.
Ms. Betty and Ms. Nadine are amazing. If you ever talk to Summitt, ask her about these two women. They are the two coolest people you’d ever meet, very much into philanthropy in the area and very supportive of young women. They opened doors for not only Summitt, but for people like, well, me.
They made things possible for a lot of women. More than can even be expressed in words on a blog.
Everyone needs mentors. You couldn’t ask for better role models than these two incredible women.
Newscoma 
Ms. Nadine and Ms. Betty are wonderful people. I wish everyone could see all the Lady Vols memorabilia Ms. Nadine has all over her walls. I can just see her grinning in receiving something new in the mail to put on the wall from one of her favorite former players. Darn it, though, I wish her yappy little dog hadn’t nipped me.
[…] Newscoma mentioned, Pat Summitt has some Hooterville ties. Her #55 jersey hangs from the roof of the University of […]
Though I care about as much for college sports as I do having the flu, Pat Summitt is one hell of a great lady. It seems she’s done a lot of good things for a lot of your people.
A true giver.
Correction:
Should read- “for a lot of young people”.