"No pity party": Pat Summitt celebration of life a beautiful thing

In Thompson-Boling Arena, that holds the floor which bears her name, about 7,000 turned out today for the Pat Summitt Celebration of Life.

It was no pity party.

She was remembered for her achievements on and off the court.

Tennessee coach Holly Warlick discusses the event.

UT students painted “the rock” on campus in her honor.

Here are the speeches from the celebration.

My heart aches for her mother, Hazel Head.

I loved how the stool sat on the stage during the service. I took a picture of that stool when Pat brought her Lady Vols to play UCLA in 2007.

Coaches and former coaches in attendance included Tara VanDerveer, Lin Dunn, Gail Goestenkors, Jody Conradt, Lin Dunn, Carol Ross, Jim Foster, Nell Fortner, and Geno Auriemma.

It looked like every one of her Lady Vols who are still with us were also in the house. The part where Tamika Catchings had them stand, and the audience gave them a standing ovation, made me tear up.

Here’s the full service.

Beautiful indeed.