Summitt scandal only bad for Tyler, not his mom
For 38 years, Pat Summitt did nothing but win games and championships - all while staying squeaky clean.
You didn't have to like Summitt, the legendary Tennessee women's basketball coach who tallied more than 1,000 career wins and 8 national titles. But you had to respect her. Her players graduated and her program avoided controversy.
Summitt's son, Tyler, on the other hand, has had a much different experience in coaching.
In two years as head coach at Louisiana Tech, the younger Summitt won nothing of significance, and just admitted to a motherload of a scandal.
Last week, the 25-year-old Summitt, who became one of the youngest head coaches in NCAA history when he took over at Louisiana Tech in 2014 at the age of 23, resigned his position due to an "inappropriate relationship." According to reports, Summitt, who is married, impregnated one of his players.
Not good.
But let's be clear. This is not good for Tyler Summitt, the man and the coach.
Those who have gone a step beyond that and have insisted that this scandal also isn't good for Pat Summitt and her legacy are reaching, and are perhaps downright delusional.
The sins of the son are not the sins of the mother.
Pat Summitt worked tirelessly for her name, her reputation and her legacy. Tyler Summitt's current transgressions have nothing to do with that. My opinion of Pat Summitt is the same today as it was last week: a class act.
More dirt?
As if the Summitt story wasn't enough, there has been a strange ending to the tenure of another women's basketball coach: Connie Yori at Nebraska.
Yori stepped down this week after 14 years following an in-house investigation into the alleged mistreatment of players. She has denied the allegations.
Just two years ago in 2014, Yori won her second straight Big Ten coach of the year award.
Draft day:
The WNBA Draft is coming up on Thursday, with coverage beginning at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
With the 10th overall pick, the Chicago Sky will miss out on the Connecticut triumphant. Many experts believe that UConn seniors Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson and Morgan Tuck, the ones who led the Huskies to their fourth straight national title last week, will be the first three picks in the draft. Stewart is the consensus projected No. 1 pick.
The Sky begins its 11th season in mid-May. Last year, the Sky went 21-13 and earned a third straight playoff appearance.
Red Stars starting up:
It's almost soccer season again.
The Chicago Red Stars, one of the longest tenured women's clubs in North America, kick off their 10th season on Saturday in Houston. The team will play its first home game at Toyota Park the following Saturday, April 23 (6 p.m.).
Tickets can be purchased at www.chicagoredstars.com or by calling (773) 697-8699.
pbabcock@dailyherald.com
Follow Patricia on Twitter: @babcockmcgraw