IX at 50: The Lady Vols Experience
IX at 50: The Lady Vols Experience is an oral history that celebrates the work of legendary UT Coach Pat Summitt and the UT Women’s Athletics family in working towards greater equality for all women and girls, no matter where they were born.Each episode, co-hosted by Dr. Sarah J. Hillyer, founder of the Center for Sport, Peace, and Society, and Olympian LaVonna Martin Floreal (Class of 1989), will unpack how this UT story is also a global one, thanks to the careers and experiences of Lady Vol athletes, coaches, and administrators, and what the present-day implications are of UT’s unique role in Title IX’s global effect.
Episodes
12 episodes
Leadership and Risk Taking with Michelle “Spinderella” Marciniak
To close out Season One, Dr. Sarah and LaVonna speak with 1996 NCAA champion Michelle Marciniak. Known as “Spinderella,” this former All-American translated a legendary career playing basketball for UT into one on the WNBA hardcourt and coachin...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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40:19
The Original SID: Debby Jennings
In this ground-breaking episode, Dr Sarah and LaVonna welcome longtime UT women’s athletics Sports Information Director (SID) Debby Jennings (UT ‘77), who has been at the forefront pioneering Title IX’s sports provisions alongside the Lady Vols...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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46:35
Basketball Before and After Title IX: Joy Scruggs
This episode bridges the pre- and post-Title IX era as Dr Sarah and LaVonna welcome UT basketball’s Joy Scruggs, one of the first players to experience the game at UT on both sides of the divide. The 5’3” guard grew up in 1950s Chattanooga, an ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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37:36
Hoops Dreams: Bridgette Gordon
In this high-octane episode, Dr. Sarah and LaVonna welcome UT legend, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and 1988 Olympic gold medalist Bridgette Gordon. During Gordon’s time in Knoxville, she helped the Lady Vols capture their first two...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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37:15
Dandelions in Right Field: Madison Shipman
In this exciting chapter, Dr. Sarah and LaVonna welcome UT softball standout and former professional player Madison Shipman. While at UT, Madison scooped up records left and right as part of co-head coach Karen and Ralph Weekly’s teams, includi...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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29:36
88 on Title IX at 50: Raven Chavanne
In this exciting chapter, Dr. Sarah and LaVonna welcome UT softball standout Raven Chavanne. The 2011 SEC Champion helped UT softball to some of its finest seasons under co-head coaches Karen and Ralph Weekly, and also propelled Team USA to the...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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27:16
Striking Out Gender Inequality: Monica Abbott
In this exciting chapter, Dr. Sarah and LaVonna welcome two-time Olympic silver medalist, professional softball player, and one of the most decorated players in the history of college softball, Monica Abbott. While at UT, Monica became th...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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32:30
Champion on the Track and in eLife: LaVonna Martin Floreal
This chapter flips the script and turns the spotlight on two-time track and field Olympian, 1989 UT alumna, and IX at 50 co-host LaVonna Martin Floreal. For LaVonna, her time at UT helped enable her NCAA and Olympic dreams, including a silver m...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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37:05
Olympic Gold: Benita Fitzgerald Mosley
In this exciting chapter, Dr. Sarah and LaVonna welcome Olympic gold medalist and pioneering sports executive Benita Fitzgerald Mosley. An outdoor hurdles specialist, she became the first American woman to win gold in the 100-meter hurdles at t...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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42:32
Diamond Dynasty: Karen Weekly
In this exciting chapter, Dr. Sarah and LaVonna welcome UT softball coach Karen Weekly, who for more than two decades has inspired and inscribed a championship tradition among generations of Lady Vol softball players. Since 2002, Karen’s teams ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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42:51
The Foundational Track: Terry Crawford
This chapter continues to lay foundations, as Dr. Sarah and LaVonna welcome Terry Crawford, the first national title winner for any Lady Vols athletic team. A track and field specialist, Terry blazed a path as UT women’s track coach in the 1970...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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58:08
Origin Story: Joan Cronan
This chapter is about origin stories, as Dr. Sarah and LaVonna welcome legendary UT Women’s Athletic Director Joan Cronan. A former tennis player and multi-sport coach, Joan transitioned to sports administration and from 1983 through 2012 blaze...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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51:31
