Last November, Cuonzo Martin was standing on the court at Thompson-Boling Arena. His Missouri State basketball team was about to play Tennessee.
A woman approached and introduced herself.
She needed no introduction. Her name was written in orange script on the court on which Martin's team was getting ready to play.
Little did either of them know they would tip off the following season with offices down the hall from each other.
"She came on the floor and introduced herself to me,'' Martin recalled Wednesday night. "Obviously, I knew who she was.
"That was impressive. She didn't have to do that.''
Martin and Pat Summitt were in the same room Wednesday night for a reception thrown by the East Tennessee Tipoff Club.
I wondered if Summitt could count how many UT men's basketball coaches she has introduced herself to on her watch.
"No, I can't,'' she said.
Nine.
Some things never change at UT. Like Summitt. She's beginning her 38th year as head coach of the Lady Vols.
Other things change too often for the program's good. Like the name on the door of the men's head coaching office.
Contrary to common knowledge, there was women's basketball at UT before Summitt. She just put it on the map.
She took over in 1974, when toddler Cuonzo Martin was watching "Sesame Street" at home in East St. Louis.
Ray Mears was coaching the men's program then. After Cliff Wettig's interim year, Don DeVoe arrived. Summitt already had 87 wins.
She had 385 when he left, and two national titles. She won a third during Wade Houston's term.
Kevin O'Neill was a favorite of Summitt's. She won her 600th game and two more NCAA titles before the dramatic night when she (among others) futilely attempted to talk him out of bolting to Northwestern.
Jerry Green arrived in time for her 39-0 season and sixth national title in 1997-98. Win No. 800 came during the Buzz Peterson era.
Bruce Pearl was another favorite.
"Bruce and I had a great relationship,'' she said. "Everybody knew that. He was like a big brother to me.''
Pearl painted himself orange and cheered for Summitt. He watched her win two more NCAA crowns, plus her 900th and 1,000th games. She sang "Rocky Top" for Pearl while he took the men to new heights.
Now, Martin, who has made a good first impression. Summitt approves of his demand for toughness and defense. It's a page from her own playbook.
"He has a purpose in everything he does,'' Summitt said. "He's very meticulous, and I like that.
"That's why I think regardless of the talent, he's going to bring out the best in each and every one of those guys.''
Martin admired Summitt's teams and their tenacity from afar.
"I'm a fan of the game,'' he said. "I watched her all the time.''
Now he has her cell number or can stroll down the hall.
"Her door has always been open,'' he said. "She's gone out of her way to make herself accessible to me.''
It's what she does. When the new guy moves in, she opens her door and begins on a new relationship.
"We haven't any bad ones,'' she said, thinking back over the years.
"If they're bad, we make it good.''
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/strangemike44 and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/strange.
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Comments » 35
VolunteerLifer writes:
Summitt is just class. Pure class.
ACWLY writes:
The greatest coach in Tennessee history!
EmbarrassedVolFromTampa (Inactive) writes:
She'll undoubtedly outlast this bargain basement job Martin also.
dwa7#337691 writes:
early predict:
Lady Vols ranked 2 in first poll.
allvol8 writes:
Awesome! Would love to get another crown for Pat! Go Lady Vols!
Theo writes:
Good God are you over here as well. It's bad enough we have to listen to your stupidity on the men's threads please don't defile the women's area as well. Freakin' troll.
I can imagine what Pat would say to you regarding your comment. Gives you an idea of where you stand.
Millisa writes:
Go Lady Vols!!! And Pat Summitt :) :) :)
FWBVol writes:
Martin has received Pat's seal of approval and that's enough for me.
The guy hasn't been to his first media day yet and you are declaring him a loser and only a loser would do something so stupid.
Martin comes from the coaching tree as several big time coaches. He's had success at Missouri State and I think he will do well at Tennessee.
I know it's a free country and I believe in the First Amendment, but if you can't get behind the Tennessee coaches why don't you just go find a school that has perfect teams for you to cheer for?
PureOrange writes:
Pat is definitely the best. So proud she is a VFL!
Pat is, and always has been, the real deal.
Great person, who just happens to be the best coach ever.
SummittsCourt writes:
If Pat likes Coach Martin, that's good enough for me. Go Vols and Lady Vols! Lets win some games!
BigRMan writes:
Coach Summitt always has the best interests of the University of Tennessee at heart
98reax writes:
[[[ EmbarrassedVolFromTampa writes:
She'll undoubtedly outlast this bargain basement job Martin also. ]]]
You sound like a real Tennessee fan.....NOT!!!
timetotellthetruth writes:
The most embarrassing thing about UT athletics is a "fan" like you. I know that rocks may be in short supply in the greater Tampa area, but with a little effort, I am sure that you can find one to crawl back under.
Juan47 writes:
Your embarrassing TAMPA!! Show some class!!
barefoot43 writes:
Idiot
amyinsparta writes:
Many treasures have been found in bargain basements. Don't be so negative. It makes you ugly, inside and out.
westknoxrepub writes:
No. . .she did not care for Green.
hatethevols writes:
Odds of this happening were good years ago but now very low. There is just too much competition out there in women's college basketball now. A young lady does not have to come here to win a Championship anymore.
Noogaorange writes:
All true Vols are embarressed by you and your name! Get a life and go pull for another team you are definitely not a Vol!! GBO
mikkim writes:
You name says it all. We are ALL embarrassed by you. Get off this board. I am sure you are the epitome of a sidewalk alumni who could never be allowed to even peer into a classroom on the hill. This guy has tremendous credentials and needs a chance. Unlike football, mid major coaches have a long history of success at large conference universities. You are a certified IDIOT.
orangecountyvols writes:
Vols,
Well said friends in reference to your classy comments concerning Pat.
Also, pretty accurate comments about this troll
who yes, is embarrassing Tampa, FL.
We can conclude that this is one sick individual,
the troll known as EmbarrassedtrollfromTampa.
It would be an embarrassment to the University of Tennessee to have ever believed this clown was a fan of the Vols.
Volunatic writes:
Butler made it to the Nat'l Championship game two years in a row without any 4* or 5* players. Cornell made it to the Final Four without any athletic SCHOLARSHIP players.
Good coaching can go a long way. Based on his record so far, there's a good reason to think that Cuonzo Martin can have some success with the players on the roster right now.
orangecountyvols writes:
Vols,
How do you like that screen name...........HatetheVols???????
We can see immediately this troll will be a popular loser on this site.
Pat, you just keep on doing what you've always done and the envy-plagued trolls
can eat their hearts out.
huntined#565710 writes:
Great write-up on Coach Summitt in FLORIDA TODAY paper today. Should be a great year for her and the LADY VOLS. Before Pearl I think a lot of years our Lady Vols could have beaten our men's team.
Lane_Kiffins_Daddy_Wears_Diapers writes:
Replace "Tennessee" with "College Basketball" and you will be correct.
tennrich1 writes:
Really what's more embarrassing is our folks who would waste time responding to this and not see it for what it is.....JUST BE A WEE BIT DISCERNING...NOT MUCH...JUST A WEE BIT..
slb#1351874 writes:
also makes him / her or what ever it is a stupid individual and most likely a crack head from Yabor city.
shoalcreekvol writes:
Not to nitpick, but to clarify the talent level that Martin has to work with: Golden, McRae, Hall, Woolridge and Tatum were all Scout 4-star signees. There are no five stars left with Hopson and Harris gone.
The cupboard is not bare. The problem IMO is that under Pearl (who I supported wholeheartedly) it was more about the system and less about developing individual skills and building on the talent, so talented players show up and tend to not progress (cough cough SCOTTY cough cough) at the level that they should. The relaxed disciplinary environment also contributed to the lack of progress during their tenure. Now these FIVE four-star players are here and most of them are still considered raw talent and undisciplined potential too far into their tenure.
I am encouraged by Martin's focus on discipline and strength (as opposed to an overload of focus on conditioning and system work) as the foundation of a solid program. I am optimistic that we will finally get to see a strong, tough team that is less mentally and physically fragile and more focused on fundamentals.
GO VOLS. Coaches Pearl & Martin are both VFL.
NeylandWest writes:
CCM was watching Sesame Street when CPS took over the Lady Vols in '74. That's a cool stat. Talk about putting things into perspective.
givehim6 writes:
Even though he makes himself look like a vol he is a troll. To the ones that though it best Pat retire, SHES BACK! And the Lady Vols will be Nat. Chaps again!
IndyVolFan writes:
People like you make me embarrassed to say I'm from Tennessee. I've met people from New York that really thought we don't wear shoes. It's people like you that give the ridiculous stereotype images of Tennesseans to the rest of the world. Have you been on Springer yet? How many times? You're probably a regular.
TheRealDragonSlayer writes:
Check this out...Pat Summitt said this about our women's team for this year:
"This team right now is at a different level," Summitt said. "I think they're very focused. I think their leadership has been solid. I think we'll be disappointed if we don't cut down the nets this year."
That to me is just exciting. For coach Summitt to show such confidence in the team says a lot. This will be another banner year for our Lady Vols!
patsvolsrgr8 writes:
Wish there were more gals like Pat. She's the best....what an icon and role model.
rockypop writes:
They'll both outlast your appearance on this board.
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
Let's review: Coach Martin has a vote of confidence from the greatest basketball coach in the history of the game.
Who do you trust?
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