two cents
03-21-2002, 04:09 PM
I was disappointed about Baylor's loss Sunday night. I was at the Tech game and was happy about our win. During the post-game show, I heard Drake had beaten Baylor and it made our victory bittersweet. Assistant Coach Weese mentioned that he hated to hear of it as well. I was disappointed because I truly believed all 7 teams could advance to the Sweet Sixteen. And because I wanted fans around the country to be privileged to watch Lambert and Crockrom and Collins play in the regional tournament and perhaps beyond. And because the team's potential was a source of excitement to the players and their fans. Nobody wants a ride that fun to end.
Big12Bear mentioned that the Bears did not play their usual game, that they seemed tentative. I can understand that perspective. I've seen the same thing many times with the Lady Raiders whether in subregionals, regionals, or key games during the regular season. It is frustrating to watch, especially on the team's own court. You want the home crowd to be an advantage, but occasionally it's not. There is nothing you can do but keep cheering and hope they loosen up. Sometimes, as the game approaches the finish, the players just wind tighter. I did not see any of the Baylor game, but I saw Iowa State play and that's what happened with them.
I found it painful to watch the end of the Iowa State game. It was a poignant reminder of how Tech's season ended in 1998. As dem said about the Cyclones' loss, it was the worst defeat I've experienced as a fan of the Raiders. Tech struggled through a difficult season in 1997. The players came back the next year with a renewed commitment to the program. They had a great season losing only to #1 seeds Stanford and Old Dominion during non-conference play, and sailed through conference games with only 1 loss to upstart Iowa State. I remember that game. I was amused as much as I was annoyed by the loss. Who were those spunky Cyclones? I knew coming into the game that they had gotten themselves ranked for the first time in forever, but who would dare to think that they would challenge the mighty Lady Raiders that season. By the end of a snowy winter's night in Ames, they had proven themselves to be no fluke. I remember thinking after the game, "this team's going to be a nuisance for the next couple of years." If only I had known. Dadgum, if the same thing didn't happen with Oklahoma two years later, and Baylor another two years after that. Upstarts all around. This conference has gotten tough, hasn't it?
Nevertheless, the Lady Raiders moved on, winning the remainder of their conference games through the Big12 tournament. They earned a #1 seed. The golden path was set. Tech was hosting a regional that year. They merely had to win a subregional on their home court to earn the right to play in front of a home crowd on their way to the Final Four. The fans, the coaches, the players were all excited and confident. Expectations were high. ESPN's website ran the title: "Home Sweet Home." On their promotional show they talked about how Leon Barmore would not be happy bringing his #2 seeded Louisiana Tech team to play in front of 8000 screaming fans. The subregional featured Texas Tech, Grambling State, SW Missouri State with freshman Jackie Stiles, and Notre Dame with freshman Ruth Riley. The Grambling State coach talked boldly about the inevitability that someday a #1 seed would fall in the first round. Why not at the hands of his team? Little did he know that one night after his team would play, Stanford, without two key players, would be beaten by Harvard and the country's leading scorer. Despite the coach's bold talk, Grambling State was no match for Texas Tech. This was the sort of team Tech would typically beat by 30 or 40 points depending on how well the reserves played. That's not how it happened. The starters were in the game until the end of a contest won by 12 points. The lead was in single digits late in the 2nd half. The outcome was never really in doubt, but the Raiders couldn't shake the Tigers. The Lady Raiders came out tentative and stayed that way. Virtually every pass and shot was preceded by a half second of hesitation. Surely, they had gotten the jitters out of the way with that mediocre performance. Next up was Notre Dame who had beaten SW Missouri St.
Three years later, Notre Dame would prove to be the best team in the country, but in '98 they were not playing at the same level as Tech. In '96 the Irish lost to Tech in a Lubbock subregional. In '97, Beth Morgan led the Irish on a charge to the Final Four. But Morgan was gone and Riley was just a freshman. Tech was the better team, but if you didn't know that before the game began, you wouldn't know it by the finish. Riley committed two quick fouls to start the game and sat the remainder of the half. Riley was out of the game, but Tech's half second of hesitation was in the game, and the result was basically a deadlock at halftime. Riley played the 2nd half and scored at will. Tech's interior players did their best imitation of the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. They were frozen in place and never denied the entry pass. It was difficult to watch. Late in the game, I saw outstanding players make one uncharacteristic mistake after another. A couple of times I could not bear to watch the outcome of a botched play. I thought, "This can't be happening. They have worked too hard to let it slip through their fingers like this." As the clock wound down, the deficit ballooned to 15 points. Although it was disheartening to see them lose that way, it was just a game, and I put it in perspective by the time the final buzzer sounded. A few minutes later, I was broken hearted. As the band played the alma mater, I watched the players stand through the song futiley fighting back tears. It was frustrating to watch the players lose an important game. It was crushing to watch them struggling to cope with a defeat of that magnitude. That memory is etched in my mind. I think I have become a more dedicated fan since then.
Being a fan in this sport transcends being a fan of the game itself. I believe the bond between the players and the fans in wcbb is stronger than it is in any other major team sport, even for fans who never know any of the players personally. We read the profiles of the players and we see their interviews. We come to understand that, generally, these are good kids. We want them to succeed. I am not a big fan of pro sports. I like college athletics because it afford us an opportunity to watch the players progress in maturity and skill. Perhaps most importantly, these women wear their emotions on their sleeves. It is natural to feel happy for them when they are smiling and laughing in victory. It is natural to feel sad for them when they are distraught in defeat.
I felt bad for the Tech coaches after the loss, knowing they would have to be gracious hosts to four other teams in a tournament in which they expected to participate. A few days after the game, I heard Marsha Sharp glumly mention in an interview that the subregional loss was the toughest she had ever endured. The coaches performed their duties admirably and I was proud of them for that. The regional tournament teams were an interesting lot. Purdue with a backcourt of Stephanie White-McCarty and Ukari Figgs, coached by Carolyn Peck, was one year away from a national championship. Alabama, thanks to a home-grown timekeeper's "unintentional" mistake had defeated UCLA in a subregional on their home court. The obtuse referees left the court without recognizing or evaluating the situation, and after a couple of hours of conference calls with NCAA officials the game was ruled official. The Crimson Tide arrived in Lubbock under a cloud of controversy. Notre Dame was back for a second consecutive week. And, of course, La Tech was there to rule the roost which they did. Even with this interesting assortment of teams, it was difficult to muster enthusiasm for the games. During one of the games, Linden Weese and his family took some unoccupied reserved seats near where I was sitting. He looked utterly downtrodden.
I offer my sympathies to the fans of the Bears and the Cyclones. Both teams were quite capable of advancing further and expected to do so. Both teams will say goodbye to some beloved seniors. I didn't see much of the postgame events in Ames before ESPN switched to the studio. I did see Angie Welle briefly on camera. She looked dazed as she comported herself to congratulate her opponents, demonstrating class to the very end. I did not see what transpired after that, but I have a strong sense of what the fans must have felt watching the team leave the floor disconsolate. I am very sorry Iowa State will not be playing in the Midwest regional this week.
After the 1998 season, I wondered if it was a good idea to host a regional and subregional in the same year. It places a heavy psychological burden on the kids. They know they are expected, by the fans, to advance to the regional. They know about the publicity that has been associated with it. They know how many tickets have been sold in advance. I have never in my life had the degree of poise and composure that these kids exhibit throughout each season. And yet, it only takes a slight loss of composure to make a noticeable difference in performance. That's what I saw with my team a few years ago, and it is what I saw Monday night. I didn't want to mention this concern on the message board earlier this season, because I hoped the outcome would not repeat itself. I think Iowa State might have been better off being sent to another subregional where they could have focused on earning their way back home. Presumably, after this year, that's the way it will be for teams hosting a regional. Even hosting a subregional can be tough some years, particularly if it is the first one for a group of players. I am glad the Big12 came through as well as it did.
Because of the bond that the players develop for the fans, I sometimes get the sense that they do not want to disappoint us, as if they "owe" us specific victories or accomplishments. I wish they did not feel that way. I don't want them to have to overcome that particular type of pressure. We get a vicarious emotional experience from their wins and losses. I appreciate that aspect of being a fan, but they are not on the court to provide me with emotional support. Just the opposite. I'm there to cheer them on, to encourage and reward them for their commitment. At Tech, I'm glad the players have a sense of tradition. I do want them to feel that kind of pressure, because it pushes them to work hard and dedicate themselves to the program's success. They do owe me a great effort before and during games. If they play loose but hard, the games will be entertaining enough, and they will successfully achieve most realistic objectives. That's all I ask. This is college athletics, so one can hope that the victories and defeats will be educationally beneficial. I think they are. The players seem to be resilient and recover quickly. When they accept a scholarship, they cannot possibly anticipate how enriching the experience will be.
[This message has been edited by two cents (edited 03-22-2002).]
Big12Bear mentioned that the Bears did not play their usual game, that they seemed tentative. I can understand that perspective. I've seen the same thing many times with the Lady Raiders whether in subregionals, regionals, or key games during the regular season. It is frustrating to watch, especially on the team's own court. You want the home crowd to be an advantage, but occasionally it's not. There is nothing you can do but keep cheering and hope they loosen up. Sometimes, as the game approaches the finish, the players just wind tighter. I did not see any of the Baylor game, but I saw Iowa State play and that's what happened with them.
I found it painful to watch the end of the Iowa State game. It was a poignant reminder of how Tech's season ended in 1998. As dem said about the Cyclones' loss, it was the worst defeat I've experienced as a fan of the Raiders. Tech struggled through a difficult season in 1997. The players came back the next year with a renewed commitment to the program. They had a great season losing only to #1 seeds Stanford and Old Dominion during non-conference play, and sailed through conference games with only 1 loss to upstart Iowa State. I remember that game. I was amused as much as I was annoyed by the loss. Who were those spunky Cyclones? I knew coming into the game that they had gotten themselves ranked for the first time in forever, but who would dare to think that they would challenge the mighty Lady Raiders that season. By the end of a snowy winter's night in Ames, they had proven themselves to be no fluke. I remember thinking after the game, "this team's going to be a nuisance for the next couple of years." If only I had known. Dadgum, if the same thing didn't happen with Oklahoma two years later, and Baylor another two years after that. Upstarts all around. This conference has gotten tough, hasn't it?
Nevertheless, the Lady Raiders moved on, winning the remainder of their conference games through the Big12 tournament. They earned a #1 seed. The golden path was set. Tech was hosting a regional that year. They merely had to win a subregional on their home court to earn the right to play in front of a home crowd on their way to the Final Four. The fans, the coaches, the players were all excited and confident. Expectations were high. ESPN's website ran the title: "Home Sweet Home." On their promotional show they talked about how Leon Barmore would not be happy bringing his #2 seeded Louisiana Tech team to play in front of 8000 screaming fans. The subregional featured Texas Tech, Grambling State, SW Missouri State with freshman Jackie Stiles, and Notre Dame with freshman Ruth Riley. The Grambling State coach talked boldly about the inevitability that someday a #1 seed would fall in the first round. Why not at the hands of his team? Little did he know that one night after his team would play, Stanford, without two key players, would be beaten by Harvard and the country's leading scorer. Despite the coach's bold talk, Grambling State was no match for Texas Tech. This was the sort of team Tech would typically beat by 30 or 40 points depending on how well the reserves played. That's not how it happened. The starters were in the game until the end of a contest won by 12 points. The lead was in single digits late in the 2nd half. The outcome was never really in doubt, but the Raiders couldn't shake the Tigers. The Lady Raiders came out tentative and stayed that way. Virtually every pass and shot was preceded by a half second of hesitation. Surely, they had gotten the jitters out of the way with that mediocre performance. Next up was Notre Dame who had beaten SW Missouri St.
Three years later, Notre Dame would prove to be the best team in the country, but in '98 they were not playing at the same level as Tech. In '96 the Irish lost to Tech in a Lubbock subregional. In '97, Beth Morgan led the Irish on a charge to the Final Four. But Morgan was gone and Riley was just a freshman. Tech was the better team, but if you didn't know that before the game began, you wouldn't know it by the finish. Riley committed two quick fouls to start the game and sat the remainder of the half. Riley was out of the game, but Tech's half second of hesitation was in the game, and the result was basically a deadlock at halftime. Riley played the 2nd half and scored at will. Tech's interior players did their best imitation of the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. They were frozen in place and never denied the entry pass. It was difficult to watch. Late in the game, I saw outstanding players make one uncharacteristic mistake after another. A couple of times I could not bear to watch the outcome of a botched play. I thought, "This can't be happening. They have worked too hard to let it slip through their fingers like this." As the clock wound down, the deficit ballooned to 15 points. Although it was disheartening to see them lose that way, it was just a game, and I put it in perspective by the time the final buzzer sounded. A few minutes later, I was broken hearted. As the band played the alma mater, I watched the players stand through the song futiley fighting back tears. It was frustrating to watch the players lose an important game. It was crushing to watch them struggling to cope with a defeat of that magnitude. That memory is etched in my mind. I think I have become a more dedicated fan since then.
Being a fan in this sport transcends being a fan of the game itself. I believe the bond between the players and the fans in wcbb is stronger than it is in any other major team sport, even for fans who never know any of the players personally. We read the profiles of the players and we see their interviews. We come to understand that, generally, these are good kids. We want them to succeed. I am not a big fan of pro sports. I like college athletics because it afford us an opportunity to watch the players progress in maturity and skill. Perhaps most importantly, these women wear their emotions on their sleeves. It is natural to feel happy for them when they are smiling and laughing in victory. It is natural to feel sad for them when they are distraught in defeat.
I felt bad for the Tech coaches after the loss, knowing they would have to be gracious hosts to four other teams in a tournament in which they expected to participate. A few days after the game, I heard Marsha Sharp glumly mention in an interview that the subregional loss was the toughest she had ever endured. The coaches performed their duties admirably and I was proud of them for that. The regional tournament teams were an interesting lot. Purdue with a backcourt of Stephanie White-McCarty and Ukari Figgs, coached by Carolyn Peck, was one year away from a national championship. Alabama, thanks to a home-grown timekeeper's "unintentional" mistake had defeated UCLA in a subregional on their home court. The obtuse referees left the court without recognizing or evaluating the situation, and after a couple of hours of conference calls with NCAA officials the game was ruled official. The Crimson Tide arrived in Lubbock under a cloud of controversy. Notre Dame was back for a second consecutive week. And, of course, La Tech was there to rule the roost which they did. Even with this interesting assortment of teams, it was difficult to muster enthusiasm for the games. During one of the games, Linden Weese and his family took some unoccupied reserved seats near where I was sitting. He looked utterly downtrodden.
I offer my sympathies to the fans of the Bears and the Cyclones. Both teams were quite capable of advancing further and expected to do so. Both teams will say goodbye to some beloved seniors. I didn't see much of the postgame events in Ames before ESPN switched to the studio. I did see Angie Welle briefly on camera. She looked dazed as she comported herself to congratulate her opponents, demonstrating class to the very end. I did not see what transpired after that, but I have a strong sense of what the fans must have felt watching the team leave the floor disconsolate. I am very sorry Iowa State will not be playing in the Midwest regional this week.
After the 1998 season, I wondered if it was a good idea to host a regional and subregional in the same year. It places a heavy psychological burden on the kids. They know they are expected, by the fans, to advance to the regional. They know about the publicity that has been associated with it. They know how many tickets have been sold in advance. I have never in my life had the degree of poise and composure that these kids exhibit throughout each season. And yet, it only takes a slight loss of composure to make a noticeable difference in performance. That's what I saw with my team a few years ago, and it is what I saw Monday night. I didn't want to mention this concern on the message board earlier this season, because I hoped the outcome would not repeat itself. I think Iowa State might have been better off being sent to another subregional where they could have focused on earning their way back home. Presumably, after this year, that's the way it will be for teams hosting a regional. Even hosting a subregional can be tough some years, particularly if it is the first one for a group of players. I am glad the Big12 came through as well as it did.
Because of the bond that the players develop for the fans, I sometimes get the sense that they do not want to disappoint us, as if they "owe" us specific victories or accomplishments. I wish they did not feel that way. I don't want them to have to overcome that particular type of pressure. We get a vicarious emotional experience from their wins and losses. I appreciate that aspect of being a fan, but they are not on the court to provide me with emotional support. Just the opposite. I'm there to cheer them on, to encourage and reward them for their commitment. At Tech, I'm glad the players have a sense of tradition. I do want them to feel that kind of pressure, because it pushes them to work hard and dedicate themselves to the program's success. They do owe me a great effort before and during games. If they play loose but hard, the games will be entertaining enough, and they will successfully achieve most realistic objectives. That's all I ask. This is college athletics, so one can hope that the victories and defeats will be educationally beneficial. I think they are. The players seem to be resilient and recover quickly. When they accept a scholarship, they cannot possibly anticipate how enriching the experience will be.
[This message has been edited by two cents (edited 03-22-2002).]