On Wednesday night April 9th, Mayor Haslam, local officials, the UT band, citizens of Knoxville and Lady Vol fans from around the area attended a welcome home celebration for the National Champions Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball Team at the Thompson Boling-Arena.

The Lady Vols won the NCAA National Championship on Tuesday, April 8th and a hard fought match with Stanford University with a score of 64-48.

Throngs of orange-clad fans, Smokey, and UT Cheerleaders cheered as the Lady Vols entered the building.

Mayor Haslam presented Coach Pat Summitt and her team a proclamation declaring the day UT Lady Vols Basketball Team Day and encourage all citizens to join in the observance.
The proclamation read as follows:

A PROCLAMATION
On Behalf Of The People Of
THE CITY OF KNOXVILLE
By His Honor The Mayor
BILL HASLAM
To Publicly Recognize

The University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers Basketball Team
WHEREAS: The 2007-2008 Lady Volunteers have added yet another glorious chapter to the history of UT Women’s Basketball by winning the 2008 NCAA Division I National Championship on April 8, 2008 in Tampa, Florida; and

WHEREAS: By winning back-to-back national championships the Lady Vols have now won an unprecedented eight NCAA Women’s Basketball titles since 1987 in addition to appearing in 18 NCAA Final Fours and 13 NCAA National Championship games since 1982; and

WHEREAS: The Lady Volunteers are led by Coach Pat Summitt who has coached her teams to so many great victories while teaching her players lessons that will benefit them throughout their lives and she is ably supported by Assistant Coaches Holly Warlick, Nikki Caldwell and Dean Lockwood; and

WHEREAS: The 2007-2008 Lady Vols Basketball team played not only with skill but also with great heart during the 2008 NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament battling through an injury to Candace Parker in another memorable title run where all the players stepped up and won as a team including a last second win over LSU before overwhelming Stanford 64-48 in the national championship game; and

WHEREAS: The players on the UT Lady Volunteers Basketball team are champions not only on the court but also in the classroom, in the community, in life, and most importantly, in our hearts. We are proud that the University of Tennessee and this great team are located in Knoxville.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bill Haslam, Mayor of the City of Knoxville, Tennessee, do hereby proclaim April 9, 2008 to be:

UT Lady Vols Basketball Team Day in our city and urge all citizens to join in this observance.

Given under my hand and affixed with the Seal of the City of Knoxville, Tennessee, This Ninth Day of April, 2008