KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The 2010s have not been kind to Tennessee football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball.

Football has endured the Derek Dooley years, following the Lane Kiffin experiment and the Phillip Fulmer departure. Men’s basketball has seen four head coaches this decade, women’s basketball has seen the end of the Pat Summitt era with the diagnosis of her Alzheimer’s condition.

RELATED: John Crist reflects on Summitt’s legacy as SEC’s greatest coach

The 2010s have been a rough ride, but the decade does not overshadow the not-so-distant glory days when the three sports shined bright simultaneously. Summitt, who died Tuesday at age 64, was more responsible for that than anybody.

KNOXVILLE,TN - SEPTEMBER 05, 2008 - Portrait of Head Coach Pat Summitt with all eight of her NCAA National Championship Trophies at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Tennessee Athletics

Credit: Tennessee Athletics

In 1995, Fulmer had his Volunteers near perfect, going 11-1 and losing only to Florida. The same year, Summitt led her Lady Vols to national champion runner-up.

The two sports did not waiver from being a national powerhouse the rest of the decade. The Lady Vols reeled off three consecutive national championships (1996-1998) while the football program won back-to-back SEC championships in 1997 and 1998, including winning the inaugural BCS national championship in 1998.

Vols legend Peyton Manning, in an interview with ESPN, said Summitt loved Tennessee football and followed his career just as intensely after he turned pro.

“She loved watching Tennessee football games,” Manning told ESPN. “She went to all of my games when I was in school. My dad used to sit by her in the stands.”

The men’s basketball program joined Summitt and Fulmer in competing at high levels at the same time. Jerry Green came to Tennessee in 1997 from Oregon, and all Green did was win. Tennessee recorded four consecutive 20-win seasons and made the NCAA tournament all four years – advancing as far as the Sweet 16 in 2000.

While the men’s and women’s athletic departments were divided at Tennessee during this time, it did not preclude Summitt embracing the men’s sports and their coaches.

She embraced Bruce Pearl when he arrived at Tennessee in 2005, and Pearl did the same for her.

All three sports were stellar in 2006 and 2007 – the last time football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball all three had the accustomed energy around the programs.

Fulmer brought long-time Tennessee assistant David Cutcliffe back to Knoxville as his offensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007, winning 19 games in two seasons and an SEC championship game appearance.

Pearl made two Sweet 16 appearances in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons, also being ranked No. 1 in the nation in February 2007, while Summitt won the final two of her eight national championships.

Tennessee athletics have not experienced the same success since, and it’s time now to thank Summitt for not only her achievements in women’s athletics, but her support toward men’s athletics.

She raised the bar not only for women’s sports but for athletes everywhere.

“Every time I’d go back, when I was playing in pro ball, I would always see Pat,” Manning told ESPN. “She loved football. She was a great supporter of mine. … She made everybody around her feel good.

“I love her. I miss her very much. Like I said, it’s a very sad day.”

At Tennessee, in particular, she will be missed. She already is.