Summitt's followers band together

With longtime Tennessee basketball coach Pat Summitt announcing today that she was stepping down, it's worth taking another look at Howard sports editor Carol Gralia's moving tribute to her in late March.

*****

I've been wearing a purple and orange wrist band. Not my colors, not even my school colors.

The wristband was a gift from a University of Tennessee fan, hence the orange.

"Fierce Courage" is spelled out in bold letters on that side, and Pat Summitt's signature is etched on the other.

Monday night, Baylor eliminated Tennessee from the NCAA women's tournament. The Lady Vols were seeking a 19^th trip to the Final Four.

The game wasn't even close. Baylor, behind 6-foot-8 center Brittany Griner (23 points, 15 rebounds, nine blocked shots) and guard Odyssey Sims (career-high 27 points), was simply the better team, winning, 77-58.

But the outcome was sad, and not just because the season is over for Tennessee fans.

Many expect the game will be the final game for the winningest college coach of all time (male or female).

Before the season Summitt announced to a stunned public that she has early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. She turned over most of the game-day coaching to her longtime assistants, Holly Warlick and Mickie DeMoss.

Although she has remained on the sideline, she isn't the Pat Summitt we are used to seeing stalking up and down the edge of the court.

She sat.

Her face, the one known for its withering glare, was passive — even when the officials brought the coaches together to explain their decision following a scuffle with 40 some seconds left in the game.

Summitt and her family will meet to decide what her future is with the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team, but know this: she has left quite a legacy.

In 38 years she has won 1,098 games, 8 NCAA titles and an incredible amount of respect. She has also started the Pat Summitt Foundation to raise awareness of Alzheimer's and money to find a cure. That's where the purple and orange wristband is from

In looking at the Foundation website, I found Pat Summitt's Definite Dozen. The words bear reading; they explain why she is such a winner — both on the court and off it.

THE DEFINITE DOZEN

Respect Yourself and Others

There is no such thing as self-respect without respect for others.

Individual success is a myth. No one succeeds all by themselves.

People who do not respect those around them will not make good team members and probably lack self-esteem themselves.

When you ask yourself, "Do I deserve to succeed?", make sure the answer is yes.

Take Full Responsibility

There are no shortcuts to success.

You can't assume larger responsibility without taking responsibility for the small things, too.

Being responsible sometimes means making tough, unpopular decisions.

Admit to and make yourself accountable for mistakes. How can you improve if you're never wrong?

Develop and Demonstrate Loyalty

Loyalty is not unilateral. You have to give it to receive it.

The family business model is a successful one because it fosters loyalty and trust.

Surround yourself with people who are better than you are. Seek out quality people, acknowledge their talents, and let them do their jobs. You win with people.

Learn to Be a Great Communicator

Communication eliminates mistakes.

Listening is crucial to good communication.

We communicate all the time, even when we don't realize it. Be aware of body language.

Make good eye contact.

Silence is a form of communication, too. Sometimes less is more.

Discipline Yourself So No One Else Has To

Self-discipline helps you believe in yourself.

Group discipline produces a unified effort toward a common goal.

When disciplining others, be fair, be firm, be consistent.

Discipline helps you finish a job, and finishing is what separates excellent work from average work.

Make Hard Work Your Passion

Do the things that aren't fun first, and do them well.

Plan your work, and work your plan.

See yourself as self-employed.

Don't Just Work Hard, Work Smart

Success is about having the right person, in the right place, at the right time.

Know your strengths, weaknesses, and needs.

When you understand yourself and those around you, you are better able to minimize weaknesses and maximize strengths. Personality profiles help.

Put the Team Before Yourself

Teamwork doesn't come naturally. It must be taught.

Teamwork allows common people to obtain uncommon results.

Not everyone is born to lead. Role players are critical to group success.

In group success there is individual success.

Make Winning an Attitude

Combine practice with belief.

Attitude is a choice. Maintain a positive outlook.

No one ever got anywhere by being negative.

Confidence is what happens when you've done the hard work that entitles you to succeed.

Be a Competitor

Competition isn't social. It separates achievers from the average.

You can't always be the most talented person in the room, but you can be the most competitive.

Influence your opponent: By being competitive you can affect how your adversary performs.

There is nothing wrong with having competitive instincts. They are survival instincts.

Change Is a Must

It's what you learn after you know it all that counts the most.

Change equals self-improvement. Push yourself to places you haven't been before.

Take risks. You can't steal second base with your foot on first.

Handle Success Like You Handle Failure

You can't always control what happens, but you can control how you handle it.

Sometimes you learn more from losing than winning. Losing forces you to reexamine.

It's harder to stay on top than it is to make the climb. Continue to seek new goals.