June 18, 2011
Fiercely competitive on the court, the head women’s basketball coaches at Vanderbilt and Tennesse uncommonly displayed a much lighter side of their relationship Friday, when Melanie Balcomb playfully roasted UT’s Pat Summitt during induction ceremonies at the Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame.
The interaction between Balcomb and Summit marked the first time each has publicly spoken candidly about the another.
In her tribute to the Tennessee coach, Balcomb described her as “the best”. From there, Balcomb scored with a series of one-liners, which Summit seemed to enjoy more than anyone.
“I tell Pat stories, but usually not when Pat’s in the room,” Balcomb told the audience of 200 or so guests. “There’s the story of the first time I met Pat and the first job Pat gave me.”
Balcomb wrapped up her remarks noting that she’d considered retiring, but she couldn’t until Summitt did, so that she could move into the coveted “best” slot of women’s college basketball.
“Your day will come,” Summitt told Balcomb. “You’re good.”
Balcomb was a special guest paying tribute as Summitt became the third person to have been inducted in the hall of fame sponsored by the Tennessee Economic Council on Women. One of the two previous inductees, Appellate Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey, is a graduate of both Vanderbilt and its law school.
The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to honor women in Tennessee who have made significant and enduring contributions in their field of endeavor, impacted the social, artistic, academic, cultural and economic well-being of Tennesseans, elevated the status of women and inspired others by their example.
