Update: Tennessee relied on its stingy defense and a strong third quarter to remain undefeated at home against Vanderbilt, improving to 31-0 all-time in Knoxville against the Commodores with a 58-49 victory Thursday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
KNOXVILLE — Tennessee (11-6, 2-2 SEC) and Vanderbilt (13-4, 2-2 SEC) meet for the 74th time on Thursday night, as the #18/22 Lady Vols play host to the annual “We Back Pat” game at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
UT fans are encouraged to attend the game, wear their We Back Pat shirts and show the nation how Big Orange Country supports the UT Head Coach Emeritus. If fans don’t have a We Back Pat shirt but would like one, those will be available for purchase at the Vol Shop locations on the concourse.
The Southeastern Conference, in cooperation with its 14-member institutions, is once again observing “We Back Pat” Week. The week-long initiative is focused on bringing awareness and recognition to The Pat Summitt Foundation, a fund of East Tennessee Foundation, and its fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
SEC member institutions will support The Pat Summitt Foundation during their home basketball games, January 17-25. During the women’s games slated for the week, various efforts will be made to increase awareness of The Pat Summitt Foundation.
Lower level and upper level tickets to the UT-Vandy game are available for purchase at uttix.com or by calling 865-656-1200. Group discounted tickets are available for groups of 15 or more.
The first 1,500 fans to enter receive a mini Pat Summitt replica banner. The first 5,000 fans to enter receive a We Back Pat hand fan, sponsored by the Y. Additionally, the baseball team will serve as greeters and hand out Beat Vandy stickers to the first 500 fans.
At halftime, the F-M Acro Team will perform. The group was voted the No. 1 halftime show in the NBA, the F-M Acro Team has been bringing crowds to their feet since 1969 with their high flying acrobatic show. The performance includes power tumbling, synchronized mini tramping and hand balancing.
Three check presentations will take place, including pregame gifts to the Pat Summitt Foundation by the 2015 Taste of Turkey Creek and Forget Me Not 5K fundraisers as well as an end of the first quarter check from the UT Medical Center supporting the Pat Summitt Alzheimer’s Clinic. A video message from SEC coaches will be played before the game as well.
Fans attending the game can take to social media to show their support. Stop by the Pat Summitt Plaza prior to entering the arena and snap a photo with the Pat Summitt statue. Tweet that photo using #webackpat for a chance to be featured on the videoboard.
The Pat Summitt Foundation was launched November 27, 2011 by Pat & Tyler Summitt after her diagnosis of early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type at the age of 59.
Following the 2011-12 season, on April 18, 2012, Summitt announced she was stepping down as head coach after a 38-year tenure at the helm of the Lady Vols that saw her post a 1,098-208 overall record. Her teams won eight NCAA titles and 32 combined SEC regular season and tournament championships and proudly maintained a 100-percent graduation rate for players who completed their careers at Tennessee.
-UT Athletics
