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TAMPA, Fla. -- Staying in a hotel before Tennessee's NCAA tournament opener in West Lafayette, Ind., last month, senior Nicky Anosike continually kept getting up and turning on the light.
She couldn't sleep. New ideas kept popping in her head. New promises to add to her list, a list that she would present to each team member to sign.
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| Signed, sealed, delivered: The Volunteers deliver on a promise they made to each other. (AP) |
On Tuesday night, the Lady Vols kept their promises, dominating Stanford 64-48 for their second successive NCAA title.
Right before the Rocky Top rout began, the starters were introduced on the St. Pete Times Forum's video board. Like all great players, Candace Parker called her shot: "We're going to win the national title back to back for the second time in school history."
After all, Parker and her teammates had made that promise to each other three weeks ago.
Check this box if you agree to all of these terms. That's what Anosike wrote in the top right corner of each contract followed by the seven championship commandments.
1. Never give up or let up on a play @ any point in time throughout this tournament.
Two years ago, Alexis Hornbuckle broke her wrist diving for a loose ball. Yet, in the Midwest Region semifinal against Notre Dame, Hornbuckle went into the stands chasing after a loose ball. She didn't stop until she went through a barrier and landed on a chair.
She survived. Tennessee's opponents didn't -- Hornbuckle hit the winning bucket with 0.7 seconds remaining in a one-point semifinal victory against LSU on Sunday.
2. Speak up if @ any time I witness a Lady Vol letting the rest of the team down.
Parker joked that she was surprised her team still had confidence in her after missing 21 of 27 shots Sunday. Two nights later, she earned Most Outstanding Player honors for a second successive year after her 17-point, nine-rebound, four-steal, one-guarantee night.
3. Listen to advice that may potentially help the team win a championship.
Even though the Lady Vols were the defending champions, most of the so-called experts were picking Stanford. They all loved scoring machine Candice Wiggins, and it appeared Parker's tank was empty.
Someone doubted Tennessee? This fact was not lost on Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, who brought it up to her team for motivation. "We like going in as the underdog and coming out as the top dog," she said.
4. Refrain from any selfishness or non-teamlike behavior.
On Monday, UT's Alberta Auguste said she would do whatever was necessary to stop Wiggins. "If she goes to the restroom, I'll follow her in the restroom," Auguste vowed.
Auguste didn't follow Wiggins into the locker room but harassed her into an off night: only 14 points and six turnovers.
"My job was to stop Candice Wiggins tonight," Auguste said. "And that's what I did."
5. Put the success of the team before any personal agendas or goals I may have.
Trailing LSU on Sunday by one point with seven seconds left, Parker raced up the court. A selfish player, playing possibly the final game of her college career, would have forced a bad shot.
Not Parker. She dished to Anosike, who misfired, but Hornbuckle put in the rebound.
6. Do any & everything in my power to ensure that the Lady Vols become the 2008 National Champions!!!
After playing the past 2½ games with a twice dislocated left shoulder, Parker walked off a college court for the final time with 1:01 remaining. Parker felt no pain as she reached the bench.
She stopped and hugged every coach, every teammate, every manager and especially trainer Jenny Moshak, who worked miracles on Parker's shoulder.
When the final horn sounded, sophomore Cait McMahan jumped into Parker's arms. The teammates turned around and folded their arms as Parker shouted "back to back, baby."
That's right: back to back, baby. Tennessee had the best player and the best team -- again.
And the best coach.
After every player and assistant made the traditional climb up the ladder, Summitt reached the top of the ladder to cut down the net for a record eighth time at an NCAA final.
It actually took Summitt a few seconds to cut the final two strands -- the net gave Summitt more trouble than Stanford. Summitt finally waved the net above her head and blew a kiss to the delirious Tennessee fans, documenting every move.
7. Crush anyone who is brave enough to stand in the way of our championship!
As the Lady Vols walked off the court, having completing their championship commandments, one UT fan remained in the Forum taking pictures of anything in Orange with one hand and holding up her homemade sign in the other.
It read: "On the 8th day, God said, "Let it be #8 for Pat & the Lady Vols. Next year is #9. Go Vols."
Amen.