Links: Reactions To Pat Summitt Announcement From SB Nation To The U.S. Senate Floor

Pat Summitt's announcement that she is stepping down as head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols might have been expected, but definitely made an impact in the sports world and beyond.

• Chris Pendley of SB Nation's Rocky Top Talk writes that Pat Summitt is an institution and her retirement from the head coach's spot won't change who she is or what she's accomplished. Holly Warlick will be the first coach of the Lady Vols not named Summitt in his - and many people's - lifetime. Read more >>>
• SBN's SEC site Team Speed Kills writes that it's harder to find some kind of accomplishment that Summit hasn't won in addition to the gaudy list of things she has accomplished. Read more >>>
• Jimmy Toscano of SBN's CelticsBlog wrote about Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers getting a little emotional when discussing Pat Summitt's retirement. Read more >>>

• The Alzheimer's Association sent out an email honoring Summitt, with a reminder that they'll be presenting her and her son, Tyler Summitt, with its Sargent and Eunice Shriver Profiles in Dignity Award at its National Alzheimer's Dinner in Washington, D.C. Per their website (www.alz.org), the "award pays tribute to the spirit of compassion and generosity embodied by the Shrivers, who dedicated their lives to improving the lives of others." Read more >>>
• Liz Clarke of the Washington Post had her article recommended by the Alzheimer's Association, which provided some information about how NCAA rules will shape her new role as "head coach emeritus". The main restriction is that she won't be able to sit on the bench for games. But like Pendley said, who's going to tell her no anyway? Read more >>>
• CBS has a video interview with actor and Alzheimer's advocate David Hyde Pierce, who discusses the impact of the disease on family and caretakers. Yet as sad as he is about it, he sees hope because when his father and grandfather suffered from it, "There was a stigma. In many parts of this country there still is. When somebody like Pat steps forward, as she does in coaching the basketball, this is the opponent, we're going to face them head on." Read more >>>
• While people are obviously focused on her rivalry with Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn) - former University of Tennessee president - and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn) also shared thoughts on Summitt's announcement on the senate floor on Wednesday afternoon. Alexander said that the Summitt statistic he valued most was that, "every single one of Pat Summitt's athletes who have completed their eligibility with her have graduated from the University of Tennessee." Read more/see video >>>
• President Barack Obama has announced that Summitt is the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the nation's highest civilian honor. Read more >>>
• Tennessee's news conference to formally announce Pat Summitt stepping down will be on ESPNU and online at WatchESPN.com today at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

For more reactions around the women's basketball world from yesterday, visit Jessica's post with the original announcement.