by uofdfan1983 » Sun May 19, 2019 3:04 pm
I was at Northwestern yesterday. Softball stadium is tucked in by their football and basketball venues. One interesting thing we noticed is they don't have softball lights either. They brought in portable lights just for the NCAA Tourney. I wonder if the NCAA paid that bill?
We could have/should have beaten the Salukis, but that takes nothing away from this team of over-achievers. They are the most enjoyable team I have ever been around. They truly enjoyed every minute together. You could choose to label their non-stop cheering and support of each other as "grade school" or as an act of showing their emotions outwardly, which has become unacceptable behavior in today's collegiate Div I culture. To smile, laugh, hug, cheer, act like you are enjoying the competition....has become uncool behavior. You have to act cool and unattached every second. These girls do not care for that culture and play for the love of the game and the love of each other. They got the most out of every second of this ride together and I support that.
The Seniors on this team, with some help from some excellent coaches and former players such as Savvy Ferstle, changed a moribund Program into a winner. I heard yesterday that applications to replace Conway poured in from everywhere this week. Funny how people like a winner and want to jump on board after the hard work has already been put in, isn't it? These ladies will go down in U-D history as Program Changers. JJ/Bacari/Rashad/Hayes etc. did that in 1997-1999. It isn't easy but it can be done. First thing you have to do though, is place your personal ego behind the team's mission. After you've done that, you can make a positive impact. From stars to benchwarmers, that's what happened this year.
Tom Buysse
Classes of 1983 and 1987