At the Lady Vols victory celebration on Wednesday, Shannon Bobbitt stood at a podium, reached up - way up - and pulled the microphone down - way down - to her face.
Through her glasses, and for the last time, the 5-foot-plus-maybe-a-little-more senior point guard looked at a big crowd of fans in Thompson-Boling Area.
To her right was the 2008 NCAA trophy for women's basketball, brought from Tampa by Bobbitt and her teammates after defeating Stanford in the title game Tuesday night.
"My two years here were great," she said. "Hard, but great. I wouldn't trade them for anything. Once a Lady Vol, always a Lady Vol."
Next up was Alberta Auguste, who, like Bobbitt, was a junior college transfer and could play only two years for the Lady Vols. She started to speak of the team's great fan support. But just as she got the words "thank you" out of her mouth, many in the crowd shouted the words back at her.
It was the eighth time the Lady Vols have won a national championship, the second time they have won two consecutive titles.
"I've never seen a team more focused on winning a championship," Coach Pat Summitt said. "And can you believe that on ESPN, no one picked us to win?"
"Don't ever, ever bet against the Big Orange; you will lose," said Assistant Head Coach Holly Warlick.
Missing from the celebration were players Candace Parker and Alexis Hornbuckle, who remained in Tampa for the WNBA draft process.
The victory celebration had all of the usual stuff - pep band, cheerleaders, spotlights, accolades, politicians with proclamations. And Mercedes-Benz convertibles for the coaches, complete with a one-year lease.
But this time, there was something extra. Jenny Moshak, the team's chief trainer, was also given a Mercedes to drive for a year. When asked by a reporter to describe her reaction and feelings, she slowly tried several different words.
"Floored," she said first. Then, "flabbergasted." And finally, "I am honored."
Moshak has been the team's trainer for most of the last 21 years - "the best in the business," Summitt has often said.
During this year's Final Four, she probably became the most famous athletic trainer in America, because of all the media attention given to superstar Parker's shoulder injury. A lot of that attention spilled over to Moshak, who spent much time with Parker on the short-term-but-extensive rehabilitation that allowed her to play.
"Candace knew what her goals were, we knew what we had to do, and we did it," Moshak said.
Lady Vols fans in attendance included Gordon Blessing, 73, and his wife Jean, who drove down from Kingsport. They are season-ticket holders but were unable to travel to Tampa, and they decided to make up for it by attending Wednesday's celebration. She had to work Tuesday night, so he taped the game for her.
"I got up this morning and told him we were going to Knoxville for this," she said.
"I just told her, 'Well, change your clothes, then, and let's get going,' " he said. "We both just love seeing this team."
Jim Balloch can be reached at 865-342-6315.
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Comments » 20
TK writes:
"Once a Lady Vol, always a Lady Vol." hmmm maybe someone needs to remind someone who had on a cardnial red blazer of that.
pabashia#208095 writes:
All of you who are so "hurt" about Kara Lawson picking Stanford need to get over yourself. Are you still in High School? After Tennessee's performance in the semi and Stanford's against UConn, there was no reason to pick the Lady Vols.
Lawson is just as much a Lady Vol today as she was when she played. Thankfully, she has the professionalism to put her allegiances aside when acting in an analyst role.
Those who have a problem with her picking Stanford need to grow up.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Kudoes again, Pat and minions. Good read on op-ed view at www.paloaltodailynews.com. Class act, Stanford.
camoman270#222859 writes:
Yes, i am glad kara picked the cardinal, for in so doing fired up our ladies even more!!!
Great inadvertent way of giving us even more motivation!!
Looking at that game with our best player way under her best health anyone would have thought the cardinal would have been unstoppable but again you cant measure the true heart and competitive spirit and determination of these great Lady Vols and the coaching staff!!!!!
Go Lady Vols!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I agree that some of us have been WAY too hard on Kara. No one BUT a die-hard Lady Vol partisan could have picked us to win on the evidence. I AM a die-hard Lady Vol fan, but I was afraid we were going down. My heart led me to cheer, to hope, and to dream, but my head said that, with an injured Candace and our recent offensive ineptitude, we would be in trouble. An analyst is supposed make judgments objectively, not emotionally. Besides, Stacy Dales, who presumably did NOT have an emotional stake in the game, DID pick us to win.
volboy81#211803 writes:
Nicky Anosike wasnt able to be there either! You left her out of your article, Jim! Without her, there IS no article about an 8th championship! Thanks to all 5 seniors and all the underclassmen as well. Get well soon, Vicki!
mun4life#454315 writes:
pabashia, did she have to wear a cardinal red blazer??? now thats messed up. its okay to not pick the lady vols to win but to wear another team's color. man
mun4life#454315 writes:
even pat summit pointed out that kara lawson shouldnt go against us
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I hear you, mun4life, but you know that Kara would be the first to say that she was glad she was wrong, and you know that Pat will still greet her with a smile and a hug the next time they meet. I think Kara does an excellent job as an analyst and I am proud to claim her as an ex-Lady Vol.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Does anybody have any Baugh updates?
ontario28#400237 writes:
Awesome & Explosive Starting Five! Pat challenged them to bring it & they brought it! Nicky, your Defensive Tenacity was Superb! Shannon, your 3-Pointers were Amazing! Alberta, your Defense on Wiggins was phenomenal! Alexis, your Disruptive Work was Magnificent! And Candace, your Ofense was simply with Finesse and Defense Outstanding! These ladies brought a championship attitude & mentality with them to Tampa. I'm so happy for the senior roster & the entire Lady Vols Team! They definitely brought something fresh & new to the program, but yet consistent in their winning ways of Tennessee Basketball. Alot of their character reminded me of the teams from previous years. Determination & Battle until Mission Accomplish! Ladies thanks for keeping the interest high for Women's Basketball. You will certainly be missed wearing the Great Crush Orange! Much Success To All of You!
volfan#207874 writes:
In yesterday's KNS one sportswriter had a brief synopsis of our incoming freshmen recruits. Today I cannot find the article. Does anyone have any information as to the new recruits and their stats (height, position, hometown, etc.) I do remember that ALL of them were high school All-Americans.
Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.
scoreboardreview writes:
Watch the Lady Vols win it all!
Click on the following links:
http://www.ioffer.com/i/46546256
http://www.ioffer.com/i/46549521
Congrats to Coach Summitt on #8
volchiq writes:
pdhuff- I agree that was a very classy article. Here is the direct link:
www.paloaltodailynews.com/article/2008-4-9-stanford-womens
Relishing the moment, but looking forward to next year! Go Lady Vols and good luck to our seniors!!
LadyVolFanForever writes:
THANK YOU LADY VOLS !!!
What a class act and what a "team" !!!
Best of luck to the seniors. You have certainly made the most of your 4 years here and we are very proud of you and what you have added to our program.
Angie & Vicki - what a first year and 3 more great years to follow ! Work in the gym this summer as the next season will be here before you know it. Help the 6 new girls adjust. We will all look to you and Alex to be our leaders and help this new team gel into a real team like this year.
Always heard you get out of something what you put into it.......drive, determination, sweat, heart & hustle.....this year showed it to be right once again !!!
ICorangeP writes:
Sorry for the late input but I am in the first stages of VOL WITHDRAWAL! Dr. said I will get better late this year or early next.
On a serious note did anyone notice the players during the National Anthem? All of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers had their hand over their heart. Only ONE Stanford player did so. Pat and Stanford coach both showed the proper respect with their hand over their heart. I think the Stanford players (except one) were sending out a message and believe me I got it. It is a sad commentary for the players to show such disrespect for our country. It is another reason I am a proud Tennessee Lady Volunteer fan and it also shows how Pat teaches her players respect.
MillisaAnn writes:
I seen that to ICorange and I totally agree with you.
ICorangeP writes:
In keeping with the latest postings click on this link and listen to a great girl team sing our National Anthem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKCVS5...
We should send it to all of the Stanford players.
jsc1973#233920 writes:
"After Tennessee's performance in the semi and Stanford's against UConn, there was no reason to pick the Lady Vols."
There was also no reason to pick against them, based on one game's performance out of 37, against a team that could write a book on how to play us. LSU is about the worst possible matchup Tennessee could have faced, and they still won.
Any analyst worth their salt should know you don't form a prediction on the basis of one game. I don't really have a problem with her picking Stanford, but I'm glad she got egg on her face for it.
98reax writes:
"As good as Tennessee has been on defense, the Lady Vols aren't going to hold this Stanford team to fewer than 50 points. The bottom line is that Tennessee needs to score more.Tennessee will be hard-pressed to win a second consecutive national title."
by Charlie Creme, ESPN
Isn't it entertaining to go back in the archives and read the asinine predictions of these so-called experts?
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