The Love Down in Tennessee Is Great To See
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by user BigPPup
I like what’s going on down at the University of Tennessee. I’m not talking about the big win for the men’s basketball team over Florida or the second ranked Lady Vols. What I am talking about is how two talented coaches working at a top ranked school in a major conference have managed to put egos and images to the side and gone back to allowing athletics be what they were meant to be, fun.
About a month ago, the Lady Vols were taking on the Duke Blue Devils in a game that had implications on NCAA seeding, and the top ranking in the country. Without a doubt this was the biggest home game for the Vols all season. However, the entire game was nearly overshadowed by the appearance of men’s head coach Bruce Pearl. Coach Pearl brought his entire squad to the game and sat in the student section. To take it a level further Pearl went topless and painted his body orange with a large white T painted on his chest. The crowd went wild when they realized what Pearl was doing, and Coach Summit was more than happy to acknowledge and thank him for his support.
Last night, when Tennessee faced the talented Florida Gators it was Pat Summits chance to repay Bruce Pearl. Pat Summit decided it was time for her to return to her cheerleading roots and she came to the court dressed in a traditional cheerleader’s uniform. Summit went on to lead the crowd (which included alum Peyton Manning) in singing Rocky Top, before ascending to the top of the pyramid. Once again laughs and fun were had by all who were in attendance and who watched the game.
It is so refreshing to see to coaches at the top of their profession put their egos to the side to support each other, and the institution that they work for. So often we do not see this when you have two high profile coaches. Just look at UConn and I guarantee you would never see either of their coaches lend a helping hand to the other more or less go and cheer them on at a game. Too often coaches forget it’s not always about them, and they are not bigger than the institution that they represent.
Two talented coaches fighting for position in the post season, and they still take time out of their schedule to support one another. Its more than a mere publicity stunt, it is exactly what college athletics are supposed to be. I know there is a ton of money involved in college athletics now. The image of the athletes, the image of the coaches, keeping alumni happy and donors satisfied has become the most important part of the game rather than the results on the court.
Yet despite all of that these coaches down in Tennessee are having fun with what they do, and reminding their players that it’s okay to have some fun too. Is it corny? Yeah it may be, but that’s okay. Not everything has to be cool. Sometimes it’s okay to just have some innocent fun, and with all the money and politics that surround athletics it’s nice to see there is still a time where people don’t have to take themselves so seriously and just enjoys the game.
