“The Way You Do the Things You Do”

Going to Las Vegas has its Temptations, even if it’s a business trip.

First-year Lady Demon volleyball coach Brittany Uffelman found that out Thursday.

Flying out of Houston to watch prospects play at a big tournament in Las Vegas, Coach B saw a fellow passenger fumble his French fries while waiting near the gate. Being the sweet person she is, and because for a volleyball player it’s second nature to hit the floor, Uffelman dove in and helped the gentleman try to clean up the spill and salvage anything that hadn’t been ruined.

So now the legendary Motown group The Temptations – yes, the group inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with Dion, Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones and Stevie Wonder in 1989 -- knows all about NSU and Lady Demon volleyball.

“Can I Get a Witness?” That had to be the question on Coach B’s mind when she quickly sent a text message trying to find out anything she could about the group. After all, she’s 24, and The Temptations are five years past their 40th anniversary.

Thanks to her kindness and outgoing personality, and a long flight delay, on Thursday evening, Uffelman was “My Girl” for middle tenor Otis Williams, the only surviving original Temptation, and his song mates.

The group, Grammy-nominated as recently as 2002, was extremely cordial and interested, she said. It didn’t hurt that she was wearing some NSU volleyball gear and she had Lady Demon schedule cards to hand to each Temp.

Perhaps if they someday make a match, they might root for a “Ball of Confusion” by NSU’s opponent. Picture the Temptations doing “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” between games 2 and 3 of a Saturday night match at Prather Coliseum, for their buddy, Coach B, and her girls.

Can you dig it? We’d all be on “Cloud Nine.” I can’t help it, I “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” although I know that’s “Just My Imagination.”