Sports world reacts to death of Pat Summitt

Steve Petrella

Sports world reacts to death of Pat Summitt image

Pat Summitt's statistical achievements are hard to miss. She won 1,098 games, the most in Division I history, and eight national titles with Tennessee women's basketball.

But her true mark on the game and women's athletics are reflected through tributes passed down from the sports world on Tuesday after she died at age 64 following a battle with Alzheimer's.

MORE: Remembering Summitt's greatness, by the numbers

Peyton Manning is probably the most successful athlete from Tennessee, and said he sought out her advice when deciding to return to college for his senior season. Manning said Summitt could have coached any sport or gender, because she could "flat out coach."

Geno Auriemma, the legendary UConn coach Summitt faced off with in Final Fours for years, delivered this gem of a line on SportsCenter Tuesday morning.

Phillip Fulmer spent more than 30 years as Summitt's colleague, leading the Vols' football team from 1992-2008 after serving as an assistant since 1980 and a graduate assistant before that. 

Holly Warlick played at Tennessee for Summitt from 1976-1980 and served as an assistant on her staff from 1985-2012 before taking over as head coach following Summitt's retirement. 

Abby Wambach, among the greatest women's soccer players in United States history and a female sports pioneer herself, said she looked up to Summitt.  

President Barack Obama lauded Summitt as a role model, including for his daughters.

Other coaches, players and athletes offered their thoughts and condolences on the loss of Summitt. Here are some of those:

 

Steve Petrella