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Melanie Zink Visits the Lady Vols
As I approached the door to the University of Tennessee women's Basketball office, I could feel the excitement grow. Could this really be... What would I say to Coach Pat Summitt if she were there? I was in Kansas City and saw the Lady Vols win their third straight NCAA championship in 1998. This was an excitement in itself and little did I know I would end up in this successful coach's office. It was the 1999 Odyssey of the Mind World finals that brought me to the University of Tennessee. What an awesome campus! The spirit of the school's sports programs surrounded us as we visited various campus athletic stores (which sold orange U. of Tennessee emblem cell phones) and campus bakeries who were suppliers of spirit with their basketball cakes and even U. of T. crispy bars! I decided to speak to a few campus employees about Pat Summitt. After visiting with some of the staff, I felt comfortable enough to try and locate Coach Summitt as they had all expressed how personable and friendly she is to visitors.
To the right was the
reception desk where I talked to two young ladies. I was informed
that Coach Summitt was out of town; however, I was greeted in a very
welcoming manner. They answered questions and let me go into Coach
Summitt's office for a picture. "When you ask
yourself 'Do I deserve to succeed?' Make sure the answer is
yes."
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The entrance to
the women's basketball office said it
all with the basketball embedded carpet and her pride, pictures of her
national championship teams on the wall. As I opened the door, my
mouth dropped with awe. Right in
front of me was a beautifully lit trophy case with her NCAA championship
trophies and three Waterford Crystal basketballs sponsored by Sears
for each of the national championships.
So how does it feel to sit in the world's most successful women's
basketball coach's chair? It was
like a dream. One of her quotes came to mind:
