Keyboard Quarterbacks

By Karen Bailis

Never let it be said that Pat Summitt is not a woman of her word. When men’s coach Bruce Pearl painted his chest orange and emblazoned it with a V to spell out “Go Vols” with other members of his staff as the women’s team took on Duke, Summitt promised to reciprocate.

The intense stalker of the sidelines and berater of point guards came through, some would say with flying colors -- orange and white, that is. When the Tennessee men took on No. 5 Florida last night (and won, 86-76), Summitt made her entrance during halftime – in a cheerleading uniform and feathered hat and singing “Rocky Top.” She’d hinted the previous day that her demonstration would be “out of character.” And it was. She stood atop a pyramid of assistant coaches Holly Warlick and Dean Lockwood. It was far from her trademark icy glare.

Summitt had been a cheerleader in seventh and eighth grades. Now, she’s the winningest coach in NCAA history – men or women – with 940. She’s also a heckuva cheerleader for college athletes – women in particular.

Geno Auriemma says she has no sense of humor. Let’s see him don a cheerleading skirt and sing “Rocky Top” during halftime. Uh, let’s not. Well, only if he loses a bet on the outcome of the tournament.