Former Lady Vol Edwards back as Alcorn coach

Tonya Edwards

Tonya Edwards typically makes her return trips to Knoxville without any notice.

The former Tennessee women's basketball guard is apt, as she said, to "sneak into town" to see some friends and depart in similar fashion.

Her latest visit won't be so low-profile.

As Alcorn State's head coach, she will lead the Lady Braves (0-3) into a game against No. 20 Tennessee (3-1) today at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tip-off is at 2 o'clock. Although the game will not be televised, it can be viewed online at utsports.com.

Tennessee coach Holly Warlick, who was an assistant during Edwards' UT career (1986-90), said that today's game was scheduled with Edwards in mind.

"She brings back great memories," Warlick said. "She was probably one of the first impact guards we signed. ... As they called her 'Ice' she was smooth, but she got things done. She helped us get the ball rolling."

Although she played on two national championship teams, Edwards, who's from Flint, Mich., played different roles in both cases. As a freshman, she was named the Final Four's most outstanding player for UT's first national championship in 1987. Two years later, she was more inspiration than catalyst for title No. 2. She was sidelined after suffering a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament in a game at Texas on Jan. 31.

The knee injury cast a shadow over Edwards' senior season. She used to load her knee brace onto airplanes as luggage, hoping that the bulky contraption would get lost. The season ended in heartbreaking fashion with UT finishing one victory short of playing in a Final Four on its home court.

"I was definitely a little bit drained at the time," Edwards said.

She recharged her love for the game by playing professionally for more than 10 years. She also has coached at every level from high school to the pros. Ed

wards is in her fifth season at Alcorn, where she was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference coach of the year in 2011.

Overall, Edwards thinks that her resume reflects her intention to "march to a different beat."

"I think for me, it's not about me anymore," she said. "It's trying to be someone to someone else. Can you get these young ladies to believe in themselves and have that drive and determination?"

Today's game is personal in the sense that Edwards will see her former coach, Pat Summitt, in her new role as head coach emeritus.

"The only thing I've been thinking about is Pat and not seeing her on the sideline," Edwards said. "What will it be like not seeing her on the sideline?"

Edwards said that she was "deeply saddened" in August of 2011 when Summitt announced that she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia Alzheimer's type. She stepped down after last season. Edwards said that her father has dementia. So she's familiar with the brain disease and its impact.

"You always wonder: Why, why, why?" Edwards said. "How could this happen to such a powerful woman? She's a woman who's always been in control."

Edwards said that the lone chance of her becoming "an emotional wreck" today involves seeing Summitt.

The moment might melt some "Ice."

Notebook: Fans who donate a toy or a sport item get free admission today as part of the annual Mission of Hope toy drive.