University of Tennessee Athletics
World University Games Flashback
August 12, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Aug. 12, 2011
by Debby Jennings, Assoc. AD for Media Relations
While University of Tennessee Lady Vol basketball players Glory Johnson and Shekinna Stricklen wait to take their turn in the Opening Ceremonies of the 2011 World University Games in Shenzhen, China, on Aug. 13, let's turn back the clock...
In the summer of 1973, Pat Head was busy on the family farm, as usual.
"Cows never take a day off," she explained.
The recently-turned 21-year old was splitting time with her chores and keeping in basketball shape. Soon, she'd be returning to the University of Tennessee at Martin for her senior year with the Lady Pacers.
After that, she thought she might teach. Head had grown up with a great respect for education and her school teachers. Her daddy, Richard, made sure his children were in the school house and at church every time the doors were open. From kindergarten through high school graduation, she never missed one day of school.
Teachers were her mentors, but so were the basketball coaches who helped her develop her game from grade school to college. In fact, it was her UTM basketball coach, Nadine Gearin, who suggested that she try-out for the United States World University Games team that summer. The USA would be making its inaugural appearance in women's hoops at the "Universiade" being held in Moscow, USSR. Jill Upton of southern powerhouse Mississippi College for Women was the head coach, and she was to be assisted by Billie Jean Moore from Cal State at Fullerton. Jeanne Rowlands of Northeastern University (Mass.) would serve as the team manager.
The first WUG Trials for the U.S. women's team were held at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. For Head, who wondered if she would ever really leave the family farm, going to Iowa seemed so far away.
She had never participated in anything like that before, and Head was surprised when her name was called as a 5'10" forward/center to advance to the USA training camp at Northeastern University.
Looking back now, University of Tennessee head women's basketball coach Pat Head Summitt thinks she impressed the coaches at the trials with her love of defense and rebounding.
 Pat Head Summitt
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"I didn't have the greatest shot, but I worked hard at the two things I could control - defense and boards," said Summitt.
From tiny Henrietta and Ashland City, Tenn., Head was about to take the biggest trips in her lifetime: first to Boston for training camp and then half a world away to the Soviet Union.
"My mom and I cried all the way to the airport in Nashville," said Summitt. "We were both convinced that I would never make it home from behind the `Iron Curtain' and making that trip to the USA Training Camp in Boston was one of the biggest moments in my life."
The USA players were from everywhere - Texas, California, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Mississippi, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. The team had some size, five players over six-feet tall, and a stable of guards. As a small post player, Head found new friends in 6'1" centers Theresa Shank from Immaculata College and Marsha Mann from the University of North Carolina. Years later, Head would coach against Theresa Shank Grentz of Rutgers (and later Illinois), and try to convince Marsha Mann Lake's daughter, Shea Ralph, to attend the University of Tennessee to play basketball for the Lady Vols.
"Three of our players were already teammates at Wayland Baptist College (posts Cherri Rapp, Brenda Moeller and guard Janice Beach) and the rest of us were mostly juniors and seniors in a number of other colleges and universities," recalled Summitt. "Honestly, I don't think we really knew what we were getting ourselves into."
With the inclusion of women's basketball for the first time in the Olympic Games, just three years away in Montreal, Canada, the 1973 WUG squad would be the starting foundation for the eventual USA Olympic Team.
"I remember everything being so big and colorful at the Opening Ceremonies in Moscow," said Summitt. "I had never been in a crowd with so many people all at once. It was pretty overwhelming.
"I had a hard time adjusting to being so far away from home and I actually wondered if I'd ever get back to Henrietta," joked Summitt. "But no doubt about it, it turned out to be one of the best experiences in my life."
The eighth World University Games were held Aug. 16-24, 1973, as 4,200 participants from 63 countries filed into a jam-packed Lenin Stadium in Moscow. The pomp and pageantry came to a screeching halt as soon as the competition started in earnest.
Sixteen women's teams competed in basketball, and the USA drew the Soviet Union in its first preliminary round game.
"I just remember walking out on the court to guard an extremely talented Ulyana Semenova, the 7'0" Soviet center," said Summitt. "I knew I had to figure out a way to box her out, or I'd be sitting on the bench with the coaches."
The Soviet Union was a women's basketball world power, and it was child's play as the home standing team dispatched the Americans, 92-43. In order to stay alive and advance to the medals round, the USA had to win its next two games.
"I don't remember the games as much as I recall feeling that we had to win," said Summitt.
The USA advanced after defeating both France (54-43) and Mexico (52-47) and finished with a 2-1 record in prelim play.
"There was no letting up, because the competition kept getting better," said Summitt. "But fortunately for us, we were also coming together as a team and playing much better."
The first-round loss to the Soviets carried over, and it left the USA team with no margin for error if it wanted to come home with a medal. Tough wins over Bulgaria (57-50) and Romania (54-47) advanced the USA squad to the semifinals at 4-2. Then a come-from-behind victory over undefeated Cuba (59-55) gave the fledgling USA team another shot at the USSR for the gold.
"The gym was packed for the gold medal game," said Summitt. "We improved so much from the first game to the last against the USSR, but the Russians just overwhelmed us again (82-44). I don't think we even realized (at the time) how much we accomplished just bringing home the silver medal."
Since Head Summitt played in the 1973 World University Games, 14 of her Lady Vol players have been named to 10 USA World University Games Teams over the years including: Patricia Roberts, 1977, silver medal; Debbie Groover and Cindy Noble, 1979, gold medal; Lea Henry, 1981, gold medal; Shelia Collins, Lea Henry and Mary Ostrowski, 1983, gold medal; Bridgette Gordon, 1987, 5th place; Dena Head, 1991, gold medal; Peggy Evans, 1993, bronze medal; Latina Davis and Michelle Marciniak, 1995, silver medal; Kara Lawson, 2001, gold medal, and in the 2011 games in Shenzhen, China, current UT players Glory Johnson and Shekinna Stricklen will compete for a medal.
"I am so excited for Glory and Shekinna," said Summitt. "When they found out they had made the team, they both sent me texts and you could feel the excitement jumping out of their words.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for both of them to travel to China. I know they will each benefit from a basketball standpoint, but it is also a great educational and cultural 'once in a lifetime' experience.
"There is something really special about pulling on the USA jersey and representing your country," said Summitt. "It is a feeling that never leaves you."
Following WUG Opening Ceremonies, Johnson, Stricklen and the U.S. squad will look to defend the USA's gold medal from the 2009 Games, Aug. 14-21. The Red, White and Blue opens play on Aug. 14 against Brazil, will face Slovakia on Aug. 15 and caps preliminary round action against Great Britain on Aug. 16. Quarterfinals are slated for Aug. 18, medal semifinals will be played Aug. 19 and the finals will be held Aug. 21.
