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Russo: 900 wins and still at top of her game

She is the quintessential conqueror leading her troops through college basketball history with a relentless and confident approach. Coach Pat Summitt has withstood the test of time and the evolution of a game she helped mold and develop as both a player and teacher.

Not many people can say they've been a part of the same job or organization for better than 30 years. Bob Barker comes to mind, and thanks to Coach Summitt, the price has been right for Lady Vol fans for some time.

You hear 900 wins and you might think of an old white-haired coach watching the sun set on a career or game which may have passed them by. That couldn't be further from the truth for Coach Summitt. After leading the program to its first national title back in the 1980s, I can remember her fielding questions about retirement. Well, as we've all come to see, the winningest NCAA Division I coach of all time was just getting started. Six national championships and hundreds of wins later, the coach remains at the top of her game, "her" being the operative word.

One of the most-difficult things to do is to adapt to changing times and a younger generation which may do things a little differently. Pat's been able to do just that while getting the players to buy into her philosophy, which allows her to continue to reach, dare I say, for the summit -- and who knows, soon victory No. 1000.

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