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Fabulous five say goodbye
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Tennessee's seniors begin their good-byes tonight and the ceremonial start to the process will take some time.
Five Lady Vols will be honored before the final regular-season women's basketball home game, against Florida (16-11, 5-7 SEC) at 7 o'clock at Thompson-Boling Arena. For No. 3 Tennessee (25-2, 11-1), Candace Parker, Alexis Hornbuckle, Nicky Anosike, Shannon Bobbitt and Alberta Auguste comprise the largest senior class since 1983-84.
Add the accompanying family members and the court figures to be very crowded. Hornbuckle's mother, Quandora, will sing the national anthem. Anosike's older brother, Ifesinachi, will see her play for the first time.
UT officials will supply a script and a schedule to organize the evening. It will be up to the seniors, though, to sort through all of their thoughts and emotions. They're hoping that project takes more time, as much as the season will allow, and that they don't have to settle for any sense of remorse.
"We don't want to leave with any regrets,'' Hornbuckle said. "I wish I would've done this my senior year. I wish that we could've turned it around before a loss in the NCAA tournament or what not. You have to realize this is your last opportunity to be a Lady Vol. You have to step it up."
The players who climbed to the top of a step ladder in Cleveland, Ohio, last April after helping win the program's first national championship in nine seasons were part of the group that marched to the top row of the arena Monday afternoon. They were sent there by the coaches to contemplate a fan's view after the season's largest crowd, 20,249, witnessed Tennessee's relatively lackluster 72-46 victory over Mississippi State on Sunday.
"We haven't had a terrible season if you look at the win-loss column,'' Hornbuckle said. "But if you just watched our games, yes it has not been a good season."
From the lofty vantage point, Hornbuckle and the other seniors had a better view of last season's championship banner. It hangs from the rafters next to the other six, symbolizing the mark the seniors have left on the program and broadening the perspective on this group. They've been good for UT.
"They've kept Tennessee as one of the top programs in the country,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said. "That 2007 national championship, we waited a long time for it."
This class initially arrived as the most ballyhooed recruiting class in women's history, the celebrated "six pack."
Since then, Alex Fuller has been splintered from the group by multiple knee surgeries her freshman season. Parker, who sat out her first season for the same reason, rejoined the class, forgoing an extra season of eligibility.
Junior college transfers Auguste and Bobbitt joined as a hoops version of a rescue squad after the transfers of six-pack members Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood and Sybil Dosty.
Parker summed up all the personnel changes under the philosophical heading "everything happens for a reason." In this case, she had a pretty good reason.
"I don't think we win a national championship without Shannon or (Alberta) last year,'' Parker said.
Bobbitt and Auguste, both highly decorated junior college players, will take a bow tonight for putting the team concept before any personal ambitions.
"They were humble; they were appreciative,'' Summitt said. "They took nothing for granted. It was great."
The upgrade from junior college to UT was pretty good for them, too. Leave it to assistant coach Dean Lockwood to imagine a comparable context.
"They were like stepchildren,'' he said. "The second set of foster parents had just died, so they knew they were living upstairs in someone's garage. And now all of a sudden you give them a home and three squares a day and a closet full of clothes and they're like, 'Holy cow. Are you kidding me?' ''
He might have overstated the situation. On the other hand, there's no overestimating the importance of the other three seniors forging a working relationship. Summitt dubbed Parker, Hornbuckle and Anosike "the big three" before last season and hitched the team's fortunes to the merger of their talents and leadership.
"I think they came in, quite frankly, as three individuals and now they've become three team members who are very much tied together with the accomplishments of the team,'' Lockwood said.
"... The journey has been quite significant, the three of them together. You go through that, it can't help but bring you closer together."
What those three saw from the top of Thompson-Boling Arena on Monday afternoon wasn't any more important than what they still see in each other.
"I hope at some point, even if it's over a Coke somewhere for 10 minutes, they sit and talk about that,'' Lockwood said, "and they look in each other's eyes and say, 'This is it. Let's do this one more time and make it special.' Because I think that's what it takes."
Taking the time - while they still have the time.
"I think the first thing we need to concentrate on is finishing out the season with no more losses,'' Anosike said, "And then once we get into SECs, I think we all three need to sit down and just recap what we want to do and how we want to do it."
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by anthony on February 27, 2008 at 10:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I want it to happen also!!
Posted by donniedem on February 27, 2008 at 11:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
These departures will leave the Lady Vols with multiple shoes to fill. With what returns next year and the incoming freshman class, how good can the Lady Vols be next year?
Posted by Piledriver on February 28, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
After watching M. Moore and EDD coming, it looks like uconn is gonna have 2 CP3's. They be better. We be Q mark. Oh Glory!
Posted by anosikefan on February 28, 2008 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How about this...let's not worry about next year just yet! We still have a season to finish and these ladies need us! They can do this...it is virtually the same team, a better team really. They just need to get it together and I believe they will. Hopefully senior night will put everything in perspective for these fine young ladies! I believe in them.
Tonight is going to be very emotional. It should be a celebration of their accomplishments at Tennessee as well as what lies ahead in their future. They will be greatly missed.
THANK YOU TO THE SENIORS! GO LADY VOLS...8 in 08!!! I LOVE YOU ALL AND I BELIEVE IN YOU!
Posted by orangeblood1966 on February 28, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said Anosikefan, and amen.
Posted by pdhuff on February 28, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Miss Pat will be doing some serious coaching again next year. Good luck ladies and thanks.
Posted by marc_ash on February 28, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This will be a big task for the upcomming year. I hope we can get some ladies in to fill some big shoes.
By the way KSN, Parker isn't a senior technically.
Posted by RockyTop1 on February 28, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have been disappointed in the drive and hunger from our seniors this year.They "willed" themselves to a Championship last year and I have not seen that fore this year froom Hornbucle or Bobbitt? Or did I miss something? Hope they turn it on for the SEC tournament..I WILL BE THER and I want to see them beat LSU!!!
Go Lady VOLS!!
Posted by johnlg00 on February 28, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, come on, marc_ash. Only by exclusively defining "senior" as "fourth year as an active roster player" is Candace NOT a senior. She is in her fourth year as a college student; she has academic status, in terms of credit hours earned, as a senior; and she will earn her degree at the end of her fourth year in college. IMHO, she certainly deserves to call herself a senior, and even be recognized as one by the KNS, and be honored by the fans along with her long-time teammates--or would you deny her that over a "technicality"? CONGRATS TO OUR BELOVED SENIORS!!! Another national championship would be a suitable parting gift to both yourselves and us! GO LADY VOLS!!!
Posted by 98reax on February 28, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Saying goodbye is bittersweet. I'm putting it off until after the 2008 National Championship is ours. The best bball is yet to come.
Posted by jh43 on February 28, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Icertainly hate to see these gals leave. They have given us some good moments. Of course, they chose Tennessee because they know one national championship is not enough. We appreciate the championship, but we know this group has the ability to win another one. They know that also, and they will always look back and regret it if they do not give their all to win another one. Starting tonight, I hope they will give 40 minutes of effort in every game. If they do, we will hang another banner. If they don't, then we will only think of what could have been.
Have a great life girls. We are thankful and proud that you chose to be Lady Vols!
Posted by VolnFlorida on February 28, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
UCONN handled LSU rather easily. They seem to be the team to beat and playing the best ball now.
It worries me how LSU thumped the Lady Vols. If it happens in the SEC tourney, kiss the one seed good bye.
Posted by adimatteo on February 28, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
they came here highly touted, and they won a National Championship. They are all graduating as well.
Cant top that, they had a great ride and so have we.
Still more left to season, lets enjoy the rest, I have no doubt they will give their all for the remaining games, and thats all that counts...
Posted by HotlantaVol on February 28, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Leave it all out there on the court. Build up a good lead and let CP3 dunk once last time for the home crowd.
Then take that momentum into the tourneys.
Posted by marc_ash on February 28, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
johnlg00,
Relax. I think you took my sentence way too seriously and spent a lot of time on a post that wasn't necessary.
I never insinuated she didn't deserve the respect and recognition for one second. Of course she does. That doesn't change any of the facts though.
Thank you for your service to the Vols Candice. You have made us proud while being on Rocky Top.
Posted by johnlg00 on February 28, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No problem, marc_ash--I type really fast(;-P)! It's just that some others, probably less informed and insightful than you usually are, seemed to be saying that Candace was claiming a status not rightfully hers, saying in effect that she did not "deserve" to be honored in that way since she was "running out" on us. I'm sorry if I overreacted to you. Regarding your third-to-last sentence, however, you are still defining "senior" too narrowly; there is a difference between "facts" and "truth". I always enjoy hearing from you anyway.
Posted by ladyvolsrock on February 28, 2008 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For pity's sake. Leave the poor thing alone. She has been at UT for 4 years, she will graduate this spring. If she wants to get on with her life let her get on with it. SHE IS A SENIOR! Other great players have come and gone at Tennessee. More will follow. The thing they all have in common is Pat Summit. The only thing I am concerned about is this year I have seen some games that they have not really seemed to be there. But always a lady vol fan.
Posted by donniedem on February 29, 2008 at 12:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am also very proud of this senior class. They have acheived great things. I am concerned that UConn is a better team right now. I also know that these ladies can win another championship, but they don't look hungry enough to me. Wow! It just makes what happened in 96, 97, and 98 that much more incredible. I also feel that if we play LSU again, this Lady Vols team will come out on top! Go Lady Vols!
Posted by 98reax on February 29, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The powers that be will not allow such a travesty. UConn is going down. Geno is not someone little girls need to look up to. He is such a time bomb on court. The vulgarities he spews on the sidelines at his players. I have NO respect for that man. Too bad that sort of thing is tolerated at this level. I've never seen any other D1 Women's coach behave in such a putrid manner, thank goodness. I'm so thankful Pat and Lady Vols staff made the decision to end regular season contests with the likes of such indecency. We certainly do not need to see that.
Posted by 98reax on February 29, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anosiki willed that run thru NCAAs last year. So why would we think she would not will a repeat? I choose to believe she will. Has this class won an SEC Tourney title yet? Sorry, I haven't done my homework. I'll just expect them to win this one. Why not?
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