Recollections from a great trip to Tennessee Tech this past weekend (the one-point overtime loss not withstanding) for the Men’s Basketball ESPN Bracketbuster game:
*Right out of the gate, the trip started out on an auspicious note as a mix-up left us waiting for a bus that was not going to arrive. Clint Eastwood once uttered the words “Adjust, Acclimate, Overcome” and that’s what everyone did, loading up in cars and heading to the beautiful, new Alexandria International Airport terminal.
*For the record, these road trips are “business trips.” Yes, there are light and fun moments but the schedule – travel, meals, practice, everything – is designed to put the team in a position to win a basketball game. Making arrangements – bus, meal, practice, hotel – takes time and precision. Coach McConathy – and he would credit his staff, especially Coach Mark Slessinger – do a marvelous job in this area.
*The team practiced on Friday morning on the Vanderbilt University auxiliary court. As we exited through the main arena, little did we know that the Commodores would hand top-ranked Florida its first SEC loss the next day.
*Had breakfast with Tennessee Tech AD Mark Wilson. Class guy. It is always good to talk with counterparts about the ups and downs we face as administrators.
*Nice NSU contingent at the game. Trey Gilder’s brother from Atlanta attended and his presence must have been inspirational as Trey had a real nice game. I chuckled as one of Trey’s young nephews tapped me on the shoulder during the game and asked if I was “yelling for Uncle Trey’s team.” I gave him “five” and he reciprocated. Robert and Dot Scott traveled to the game from Natchitoches and were joined by five family members. Former Lady Demon volleyball player Jeanette Baldwin was there. So, too were the familiar encouraging cheers from Connie McConathy, among others, to make the team feel a little bit at home.
*The snow referenced in a previous blog made at least two travelers – Chicago native and current Demon Luke Rogers and yours’ truly, a native Ohioan – feel at home.
*I have always been a big believer in the power of marketing as it relates to wearing NSU apparel. I cannot begin to recount the number of people who, because they saw the team and other travel party members wearing Northwestern State apparel, wanted to know more about the program. Of course, I was quick to tell them that we were the team that beat Iowa last year in the NCAA Tournament and they quickly put two and two together. Can’t measure it but there is undoubtedly value in this type of exposure.
*I wish administrators, faculty, staff, and students alike would have the opportunity to see how well these players represents not just themselves, but the University, during trips of this nature. Whether it is in a restaurant or in an airport, they carry themselves well and often receive admiring glances from onlookers.
*What a game – 17 ties and 20 lead changes. One of the best college basketball games I have ever watched. While the loss indeed stings, the benefits of this game may be beneficial at the SLC Tournament in Houston in early March.
*And last, but not least, the Jermaine Spencer moment of the trip. The gregarious fifth-year senior from New Iberia had the Tennessee Tech cheerleaders, pep band, and student section rolling over the following – as he flew out of bounds after being fouled on a fast break shot attempt, he stumbled through the cheerleaders….trying to keep his balance, he hopped up on a three-foot platform occupied by the pep band……he steadied himself against an eight-foot table, straightened up with a chocolate chip cookie in hand from the cheerleaders stash on the table, took one bite, put the cookie down, hopped down off of the platform, and proceeded to the foul line for two shots (he made the first, still chewing on the cookie!). Laughter erupted from everyone who had a birds-eye view of the impromptu moment from the live-wire guy who is truly one of the leaders of the Demon team.
Here’s to hoping that I get to make another trip with the Demons sometime around mid-March!
