Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 4B
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS • THE COMMERCE NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016
Get the out
Cloe Teets prepares to throw a runner out at
first during the BCPRD’s youth softball camp
last Thursday.
Future Leopards
The Banks County Parks and Recreation Department held its first annual youth softball camp last
week. The camp was instructed by Kelly Cronic. Photos by Cameron Whitlock
Madison Co.'s most decorated player remembers coaching legend
(Editor’s Note) Women’s basketball coaching legend Pat
Summit! passed away this week at the age of 64. Madison
County’s most renowned basketball player, Shelia Collins,
starred for Summit! in Knoxville In the early 1980s. This feature
was originally published in The Madison County Journal in 2012
after Summitt’s retirement. It is reprinted this week with some
edits.
Madison County’s She
lia Collins remembers the
day she tore her ACL at the
University of Tennessee and
coach Pat Summitt broke
from hertough-as-nails perso
na, showing a different side.
Collins, who led Madison
County to the 1981 state
championship, earned
numerous accolades as a
freshman for Summitt as
Tennessee upset the Cher
yl Miller-led USC women to
advance to the NCAA Final
Four.
But Collins suffered a dev
astating knee injury in an
instra-squad scrimmage as a
sophomore. And her stellar
career seemed in jeopardy.
“They took me to the doc
tor and Pat said, ‘I think this
is it. I don’t know if they can
fix this knee. It’s just torn
up so bad,”’ said Collins.
“And I remember, it was
the first time I’d ever seen
her act like a human. She
was emotional. She wasn’t
screaming. She was just like,
‘I am so sorry.’ And I told
her then. I looked into those
blue eyes and I said, ‘You
know what? I’m playing. I’m
going to play again and I’m
going to be good.’”
Collins said Summitt
“babied” her as she recov
ered for several months.
“She babied me, because
I went from being a basket
ball player to being a person
that was hurt,” said Collins.
“Playing for Pat is just hard,
because she expects so
much out of you. And you
don’t put being nice in that
person’s category, but she
was (after the injury), and
she would make sure I had
a way to class. And it helped
me with her, because I knew
there was that side of her.”
Summitt retired in April
2012 as the head coach of
the Tennessee Lady Vols
after 38 years. Her career is
legendary. She finished with
eight NCAA titles, 16 SEC
regular season crowns, 16
SEC tournament titles, seven
“National Coach of the Year”
awards and a 1,098-208
(.841) career record.
Summitt, who took the job
in 1974, coached the 2011-
12 season after announcing
that she has early on-set Alz
heimer’s disease. She died
this past week after suffering
a stroke.
Collins, along with many
other players and coach
es, are grieving this week.
The former Red Raider and
Vol star stayed close with
Summitt over the years and
has many memories of her
beloved coach from her
playing days and beyond.
Collins remembers that early
injury in her career and
Summitt’s empathy.
The former Lady Raid
er did battle back from
the knee injury, going on
to earn “All America”
honors in the process.
Of course, that game against
USC in freshman year —
prior to the injury — is one of
the highlights of her career.
The Lady Vols faced Cher
yl Miller, one of the most
famous and accomplished
women’s basketball players
of all time.
The game went to over
time and Tennessee trailed
by one point with 12 sec
onds to go. Summitt called
timeout.
“She (Summitt) looked
me in the eyes and said, “We
need the ball,”’ said Collins.
“We had the ball and we
went down and missed the
shot. And so they had a few
seconds left. And they threw
a lob pass in and I saw the
ball come in and I jumped
for it. I don’t know how high
I was, but I know I was up
there. And I tipped it, and
went in and scored a layup
and we won.”
The victory marked Sum
mitt’s first-ever NCAA tourna
ment Final Four appearance.
Collins’ momentous steal in
the USC game was in line
with Summitt’s teaching,
which emphasized a relent
less pursuit of the basketball.
“Her biggest thing was,
‘What can you do without
someone passing you the
ball? If you’re not waiting on
the guard to pass you the
ball, what can you do on the
floor?”’ said Collins. “She
values offensive rebounding.
Because you have to go find
that ball. She thinks those
are the greatest players in
the game. And she’s right.
That’s what she would do
with a lot of us. She’d say
‘Look, I want you to go get
the basketball and not wait
on someone to pass you the
ball.’ So steals and offensive
rebounds are the two ways
you can get the basketball
without someone passing it
to you.”
Collins took the advice to
heart. She is one of only
two players to record a tri
ple-double at Tennessee
under Summitt, record
ing 16 points, 10 rebounds
and 10 steals against Flor
ida State her senior year.
Of course, that Lady Vol
tenacity mirrored the
coach’s toughness. Collins
laughs now, noting that her
former coach “got a lot soft
er” over the years.
She recalled the story,
now legendary at Tennes
see, when the Lady Vols
suffered a humiliating defeat
to cross-state rival Vander
bilt. Summitt didn’t allow
the team to eat afterwards.
She got them off the bus
and back in the gym, made
them put on their uniforms
still wet with sweat and had
them practice till about 5:30
or 6:30 a.m. Collins said she
had a class that morning at
7:50.
“I called my mama after
that,” she said.
But she joked, too, with
Summitt, telling her she
could take her hard prac
tices, saying, “You’re not
meaner than my mama.”
The former Lady Vol said
Summitt never settled for
sub-par performances. And
she didn’t get that from Col
lins either. While Summitt is
Tennessee’s biggest sports
legend, Collins is consid
ered pretty legendary her
self in women’s basketball.
She is in the school’s Hall of
Fame and a large tribute to
Collins is on display on the
main floor inside Thomp
son Boling Arena where the
teams play.
“She is a perfectionist at
everything and it could be
the least little thing — and
she drills that in your head,”
said Collins. “She makes you
believe you can do anything
if you want to do it and put
in the work. Her philoso
phy has been the same ever
since the day I met her.”
As Collins reached her
senior year, she was the
clear leader of the team,
which included a lot of
freshman and two other
seniors, both walk-ons.
Summitt entered that sea
son having just served as
the U.S. women’s Olympic
basketball coach.
“Of course, everybody
that didn’t make the Olym
pic team thought they
should have,” said Collins.
“These kids were teed off
that they didn’t make the
Olympic team. So they were
going to show her by trying
to score 30 or 40 points on
Tennessee every night.”
Collins was coming off
knee surgery prior to her
last season. She played her
junior year in a knee brace.
“Pat said, ‘you’re going
to have to carry this basket
ball team,” said Collins. “I
remember that she let us
come home two days for
Christmas and I had a card
waiting at home (from Sum
mitt) and it said, ‘We ain’t
going to do nothing, unless
you do it for us.’”
Collins said she returned
to Knoxville after Christ
mas and went on a tear
and Tennessee won 22
straight games. She led the
team to the SEC title, scor
ing a conference record
90 points in three games
in the SEC tournament.
The standout senior season
marked the end of a remark
able career at Tennessee.
That career began
with Summitt’s recruit
ment of the MCHS star.
A Cherokee High School
coach had a daughter play
ing for Tennessee and that
coach informed Summitt
that she needed to check
out Collins.
“Well they (Tennessee)
got on me kind of late,” said
Collins, noting that Georgia,
Clemson, South Carolina
and Florida had all been
recruiting her. “So, she
came in and said ‘I think
you might be able to help
us. But I want you to do one
thing before you sign with
anybody. I want you to come
up to Knoxville.’”
Collins did make the
trip, along with sister,
Cynthia, who was play
ing at Georgia at the time.
Collins said the trip clinched
the deal. She loved the
mountains and felt she
would fit in well with the
team.
“I didn’t sign before I left,”
said Collins. “I remember
she (Summitt) put a Tennes
see pencil in my back pock
et. And she said, ‘When you
go to class, you write with
this every day.’ And I did.
I carried that pencil every
where.”
Collins signed the
following Sunday.
After Madison County
captured the state title
in 1981, Summitt came to
Madison County to speak
at the basketball banquet.
She brought a #30 Tennes
see jersey for Collins, who
had already committed to
the Lady Vols, to try on.
Collins said her relationship
with Summitt was great for
many years.
“She’s known for stay
ing in touch,” said Collins.
“It’s always about others,
not about her. She wants
to know what you’re doing
and how you’re being a pos
itive role model for kids. And
if you’re not, she’ll let you
know it too.”
Collins said she felt like
was still being coached by
Summitt for the rest of her life.
slassjfjeps
Run your classified ad In 124+ Georgia newspapers
reaching over 1 million readers for only $3SO
Call Georgia Newspaper Service - 770-454-6776
We do not knowingly accept
advertisements that discriminate,
or intend to discriminate, on any
illegal basis Nor do we knowingly
accept employment advertise
ments that are not bona-fide job
offers. All real estate advertise
ments are subject to the fair
housing act and we do not accept
advertising that is in violation of
the law The law prohibits discrimi
nation based on color, religion,
sex. national origin, handicap or
familial status.
STATEWIDE CLASSIFIEDS
FOR THE WEEK of 06/26/16
AUCTIONS
ADVERTISE YOUR AUCTION
in over 100 newspapers for only
$350. Your 25-word classified ad
will reach more thanl million read
ers. Call Bruce Washington at the
Georgia Newspaper Service. 770-
454-6776.
AUCTION-ONLINE AUCTION
3737 SINCLAIR RD at
Milledgeville Country Club.
Bidding Ends July 14th. 2016 @
7:00PM EST www Breco.com
for bidding terms & conditions
GAL# AU-C003044 GARE#: 75054
706.342.3355
DRIVERS
DRIVERS-AMAZON Meet &
Greet for Small Camers/Fleet
Owners June 30th and July 1st.
10 00AM-2 00PM Arrow Truck
Sales. 3233 Moreland Avenue.
Conley. GA 30288 If you can't join
us. call usl 855-8-AMAZON.
EXPERIENCED OTR FLATBED
DRIVERS-Eam 50 up to 55cpm
loaded. $1000 sign on to qualified
drivers. Good home time. Call
843-266-3731 www bulkJoghiway.
com EOE
ATTN: CDL Drivers—Avg. 560K+7
yr $2k Sign-On Bonus. Family
Company w/Great Miles. Love
Your Job and Your Truck. CDL-
A-Req (877) 258-8782 dnve-
4meltoncom
MISCELLANEOUS
SAWMILLS from only $4397.00-
MAKE & SAVE MONEY WITH
your own bandmill-Cut lumber
any dimension In stock ready
to ship! FREE Info/DVD: www
NorwoodSawrmlls.com 1-800-578-
1363 Ext 300N
AT&T U-Verse Internet starting at
$15/ month or TV & Internet start
ing at $49/month for 12 months
with 1 year agreement. Call 1-800-
475-8695 to learn more.
SELL your structured settlement
or annuity payments for CASH
NOW. You don't have to wait for
future payments any longer! Call
1-800-481-0635.
VACATION RENTALS
ADVERTISE YOUR VACATION
PROPERTY, to more than 1 mil
lion Georgia newspaper read
ers. Your 25-word classified ad
will appear in over 100 Georgia
newspapers for only $350. Call
Bruce Washington at the Georgia
Newspaper Service at 770-454-
6776 or online at www.gapress.
org/georgia newspaperservice.html
Finding Senior Housing can be
complex, but it doesn’t have to be.
The Family Gourmet Huffri
2 (5 oz.) Filet Mignons
2 (5 oz.) Top Sirloins
2 Boneless Chicken Breasts (.5 lb. pkg.)
2 (4 oz.) Boneless Pork Chops
4 (3 oz.) Kielbasa Sausages
2 (4.5 oz.) Stuffed Sole with Scallops and Crabmeat
12 oz. pkg. All-Beef Meatballs
4 (3 oz.) Potatoes au Gratin
4 (4 oz.) Caramel Apple Tartlets
Omaha Steaks Seasoning Packet
46191FJN Reg. $200.90 I Now On ly $ 49"
Call 1-800-261-0746 ask for 46191FJN
www.OmahaSteaks.com/great82
Limit 2 pkgs Free gifts must ship with #46191. Standard S4H will be
added Expires 1V3Q/16 2016 QCG I 606B120 I Omaha Steaks. Inc.
FOR ONLY $5 PER MONTH,
YOU CAN LIST YOUR GROUP'S MEETINGS!
Let your members know when your group is meeting!
Call (706) 367-5233 to advertise your meeting time, place and date in...
• The Jackson Herald
• The Commerce News
• The Braselton News
• The Banks County News
1 The Madison County Journal
JEFFERSON 310
W AMERICAN LEGION
Post 56 • Each 3rdTues., 6:30 p.m.
Gene Bennett, Commander
Phone (706) 757-2288
www.albertgordonpost56.org
Tri-County
V Shrine Club
3" Thurs. of each month • 7 p.m.
Rockwell Lodge 191
For more info contact
Lonnie 770-503-5949 Pd 121
JEFFERSON AREA
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
www.jaba-ga.org
Meets 3rd Thurs. • 11:45 a.m.
Jefferson City Clubhouse
302 Longview Drive
JACKSON COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Meetings at 6:30 p.m.
^August 18 & October 20
Jefferson City
^ Clubhouse
I Meeting is open to all who wish to attend. I
706-367-4361 pj. 12
ATHENS AMERICAN -
© LEGION
Post 20
Meets each 4th Tues., 6:30 p.m.
Thomas W. Remar, Past Commander |
Home (706) 549-2799 • Cell (630) 886-1936
email: TKRemarOaol.com Pd. 12 I
JEFFERSON ROTARY CLUB
Meets Tuesdays
Jefferson City Clubhouse
12:30 p.m. *(727) 488-4100
Joseph Morgan. President w
THE MADISON COUNTY RETIRED |
EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
meets September - June on the second Tuesday
of the month at 11 tun. at the Ila Restaurant in
lla. There is no local meeting in Juh and August.
President: Karol Scarborough
678-617-4101 pa.
j m in i
Madison County
Democratic Party
Conolus Scoff Jr. - Committee Chairman
706-789-3336
Meeting fourth Sat. of each month.
| Miditon Co. Govt. Complex Other Mwling Room |
www.madisoiKoimtygademocrats.org
Pilot Club of Jefferson
Meets 3rd Tuesday of
each month, 6:30pm
Jefferson City Clubhouse
706-367-9313 or
706-693-4715 t W
ROCKWELL I
LODGE F & A.M.
No. 191,Hoschton,GA
2nd Tuesday at 7:30 p.m, • Dinner at 6:30 pm.
www.rockwellbdge191.com
Two blocks behind Larry’s Garage
West Broad at Hall Street
^ BANKS COUNTY
M AMERICAN LEGION |
Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In Homer, GA at the
American Legion Building on
Historic Highway 441 u it
BANKS COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY. INC.
meets first Monday each month
7:00 p.m. in Ihe Banks Co. Historical
Courthouse at 105 U.S. Hwy. 441
North in Homer w.8
JEFFERSON LIONS CLUB
Meets 2nd & 4th Monday
Jefferson City Clubhouse
6:30 p.m. *(706) 654-5693
Gay Bradley. President M ,,
St. Catherine Laboure
Catholic Mission
Mass Schedule: Fri. 9 a.m.. Sat. 4:00 p.m.,
Sun. 11:00 a.m., Thurs. 12:10 p.m.
First Friday Adoration 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Website: www.stcatherinelabourega.org
706-367-7220
UNITY LODGE
F&A.M.
No. 36, Jefferson, GA
1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Tom Hays *678-316-7492
Borders SI. behind Tabo’s tw
^ BANKS COUNTY
t ) AMERICAN LEGION
v AUXILIARY- Post 215
Meets each 3rd Thursday, 7 p.m.
In the American Legion Building
at 1350 Historic Homer Hwy.,
Homer, GA Pd. 5/17
Call
(706) 367-5233
for all your
printing needs!