Summitt a White House regular

Photo by Associated Press

President Ronald Reagan, middle, shows off a No. 1 Tennessee Lady Vols T-shirt in 1987 during a White House ceremony to commemorate UT’s first of seven women’s NCAA basketball championships. Former UT president Ed Boling is at left and women’s athletic director Joan Cronan at right.

Seven trips to the White House for a personal audience with the President would be a noteworthy achievement for a congressman or a foreign dignitary.

Imagine what it feels like for a women's basketball coach.

"That's amazing,'' said Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, who was born in Henrietta, Tenn. "The little girl from the cow pasture to the White House."

Summitt, who first visited with her team in 1987 when President Ronald Reagan was in office, will return this afternoon with her seventh national championship team to be honored by President George W. Bush.

Along with the years, these trips span four presidents, including two named Bush. President George H. Bush hosted the Lady Vols in 1989 and '91.

No matter the president or the circumstances, Summitt has noted a prevailing atmosphere.

"It hasn't been what I would call stiff, all business,'' she said. "It's been warm and sincere, very interactive with our student-athletes, even the secret service guys."

Summitt, who also has met President Jimmy Carter, has enough presidential experience to compare and contrast personalities. For example, her strongest recollection of President Reagan was his visit to her when she was the 1984 U.S. Olympic women's coach.

"He came to our training camp in Colorado Springs and sat on the bench for one of our games,'' Summitt said. "He had a lot of personality, but he was down to earth. He wanted to be an ordinary person talking to us."

The first President Bush was assisted by First Lady Barbara Bush in welcoming the Lady Vols. On the first trip, she donned a Converse jacket and took the players to see the family dog, Millie, who had given birth to puppies.

The First Lady also was gracious enough to accept an unusual gift from Lady Vol senior Bridgette Gordon, namely a Gordon poster.

" 'That's so Bridgette', That's what I was thinking," Summitt said.

Tennessee's last three visits were hosted by President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, whose Tennessee background enhanced the personal touch.

"I probably spent more one-on-one time with Clinton, especially with Al Gore,'' Summitt said.

Summitt met President George W. Bush as an official greeter on his brief visit to Knoxville in 2005.

"He got off the plane and I felt like I'd known him for years,'' Summitt said.

She has a definite memory from being hugged by the second President Bush.

"This guy must work out a lot,'' she thought. "He was so fit."

Today's trip will be different, if for no other reason than the presence of seven other collegiate championships teams. Summitt still thinks the gist of the experience, though, will remain unchanged.

"For me, it's like the exclamation point,'' she said. "It's something no one can take away from these student-athletes. They've earned it. It's the opportunity of a lifetime."

Dan Fleser covers women's basketball. He can be reached at 865-342-6288.