'Strength in numbers': Former coaches, players make pilgrimage to Pat Summitt

KNOXVILLE — Nikki Fargas sat at her desk last Wednesday in Baton Rouge, La., with a full calendar of events to consider.

The LSU women’s basketball coach had a team camp scheduled for the weekend, recruits visiting and then a flight scheduled to Spain to watch the U.S. Under-17 team. With so much to think about, Fargas was struck by one thought.

"I wouldn’t be sitting here without her," she said. "I’m not even in the position to do these things without her."

Fargas was referencing former Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt, who’s in failing health. She was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2011. Fargas played for Summitt and was an assistant on her coaching staff, when she was known as Nikki Caldwell.

So, Fargas wiped her slate clean and bought a one-way airplane ticket here. She was joined by LSU assistant Mickie DeMoss, who served two tours of duty on Summitt’s staff and coached Fargas.

Pat Summitt’s statue stands for more than 1,098 wins and 8 national titles

They are part of a Lady Vol alumni pilgrimage to be at Summitt’s side. Debby Jennings, the former Lady Vols associate athletics director for media relations, said 30 former Lady Vols players and coaches have visited since Thursday.

"She can feel us there; she can feel the love," DeMoss said. "We feel it back from her. You feel it back from her."

Tyler Summitt’s pastor, Chris Stephens, appeared on the Hallerin Hilton Hill radio show on NewsTalk 98.7 WOKI on Monday afternoon, and addressed visitation privileges. He said Summitt’s son no longer was allowing visitors to see his mother. Stephens said Summitt’s death will occur "in the next few days." Later in the interview, Stephens added that "doctors are saying it’s very imminent."

Stephens couldn’t be reached by the Knoxville News Sentinel for comment.

Summitt family spokeswoman Erin Freeman said she couldn’t confirm the accuracy of Stephens’ comments and said via text message that he "wasn’t an official spokeswoman for (Summitt’s) family or her condition."

Pat Summitt's family, friends convene around ex-Lady Vols coach 'preparing for the worst'

A person who is familiar with the situation told the News Sentinel that visitation was being "limited" because Summitt is staying in a retirement facility. The person who spoke to the News Sentinel was not authorized to represent the family and therefore requested anonymity.

Former Lady Vols player Cierra Burdick, who’s been with the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, visited Summitt on Sunday. She could relate to the sense of urgency felt by Fargas and DeMoss.

"I haven’t been able to sleep or think about anything else," Burdick said Monday afternoon.

Burdick said she called Dream coach Michael Cooper at 2 a.m. Sunday, asking permission to travel to Knoxville.

"I feel much more at peace now that I’ve seen Pat and was able to tell her that I love her," Burdick said.

Later Monday, Burdick was waived by the Dream. Burdick said via text message that she didn’t think the roster move had anything to do with her Knoxville trip.

Burdick’s whirlwind visit was a reminder of what she experienced as a freshman in 2011-12 when Summitt announced her diagnosis. A pilgrimage ensued then and lasted throughout what turned out to be Summitt’s final season.

"It was pretty cool to see women who were 10 years older than you that have all been touched by the same woman," Burdick said. "It didn’t matter if you knew each other or if you had ever met. You hugged. It was love already."

The latest gathering has featured an array of emotions. Burdick said tears were shed but the mood lightened during dinner Sunday night when stories of enduring Summitt’s "peaks and trenches" ensued.

"When we got together it was more like a celebration of a great life," Burdick said.

The togetherness was especially important to DeMoss, who said, "I’d be in a bad place if I wasn’t with all these people rallying around each other."

The strength in numbers has helped DeMoss deal with an experience she described "as the most difficult thing I’ve gone through in my life."

DeMoss thinks she’s better off for coming to Knoxville and seeing Summitt. DeMoss doesn’t think she’s alone in feeling that way.

"It’s hard to accept the reality of it," she said. "I think people are accepting the reality of it. It’s given them peace of mind in a weird sort of way."

Dan Fleser writes for the Knoxville News Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.