Troy University Athletics
What's the Difference, Part 2
11/26/2008 6:00:00 AM | Basketball (M)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Yes, I know...it's been a while. Seems the weekly thing is working out for me time-wise, but the fans want more....so here it is:
We've played three basketball games since the last time I wrote and are 2-3 overall since the win last night over Georgia State. It was a big time win over Georgia State! We finally put two halves together to make a whole game and it paid off. I am very proud of the team and how well they played. There was a small crowd at the game, which I can't complain about since a lot of students were already en route to their respective homes for Thanksgiving.
There were times, however, when I think the coaches' wives and I were the loudest people in attendance. Not as quiet as it was for our 1:30 tip-off against Alcorn State in Baton Rouge last weekend, but Sartain needed some oomph last night. The obvious difference between Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium and Trojan Arena/Sartain Hall is the maximum capacity. But, I have been in the Concrete Box when I couldn't hear myself think with fans cheering so loudly!
Fans are no better than horns on a bull frog if they don't cheer. I know it's a stretch to get out of those seats when they're so close together, but clapping doesn't require moving too much. And while you're at it, yell a little bit...get crazy! Partly so the referees won't hear me yelling at them, which occasionally happens. (For which I learned you can get a technical foul...who knew?)
The townspeople won't stare at you too badly the next day in the teller line at the bank if you actually do your part to cheer the Trojans on to a win! And if they do, it'll only be because they're jealous of you and your team spirit.
There is a little more than three weeks until the next men's home game on December 18 against Sunbelt Conference opponent Florida Atlantic. Go ahead and plan on being there to cheer us on to a Conference Championship. You never know what might happen if the Box gets loud and this spunky team gets on a roll...
The Holidays with basketball, men and women, are always interesting because we're the only ones actively practicing during the break from classes (unless, of course, there is a Bowl Game in our future).
Thanksgiving is just a taste of lonesome with only three days off from classes, of which we'll practice every day. Friday, we will leave for Baton Rouge for Round Two of the LSU Tournament with games against Northwestern State and good old LSU. Then it's off in the wild blue yonder to Dayton, Ohio, for a little early week basketball action.
The boys will be taking final exams with the rest of the student body when we return. Once finals are over, we will be alone for about three weeks with no students on campus for Christmas Break. I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to tell you about it when the time comes.
Last time I talked about some of the differences between football and men's basketball from my vantage point. If you remember they were related to staff numbers, equipment and my personal attire. Today, let's talk about the role of the elements and travel.
One difference was PERFECTLY clear during the football game against ULaLa Saturday: WEATHER! I don't have to check the weather constantly or worry about packing my rain boots or down-filled parka for basketball games. It was cold Saturday night in Troy and although I love the football atmosphere, I was more comfortable in my short-sleeved sweater, pants, and heels in the climate controlled atmosphere of Trojan Arena last night.
Something that is evident in the early part of the basketball season's schedule is the multiple games played in one trip. With a football flight trip, we're up and back in a little more than 24 hours and play one game: a charter plane is waiting on the tarmac for Trojans, and only Trojans, we get there, play football, and come home in similar fashion.
With basketball, we'll play three games in five days at two different venues in the coming week. We'll ride to Baton Rouge on a bus, fly commercial out of New Orleans to Dayton, return to Montgomery on a commercial flight, and ride a Trojan shuttle bus back to Troy, six days later. What a loop! Granted football players take a lot of pounding during 60 minutes once a week, but three 40-minute games in four days with a couple thousand miles of travel thrown in there makes for a challenge, to say the least.
We have added the use of a sleeper coach to the list of must-haves with travel in this conference. Last year was our first year with the Trojan RV (no, the University doesn't own one...it's chartered from a company in Starkville, Mississippi) and I must say it was well worth it on the first six hour ride back after a late game. There was a nausea quotient to which we all had to adjust, but once we all got our sea legs and lots of Dramamine, we were fine! Just ask Taylor Bryan in the Sports Information Department about the first trip. We talk about it every time we pull out of Troy on the sleeper...we laugh and laugh now, but it wasn't so funny then. Was it, Taylor?
The coach sleeps around 20 people comfortably, which is the most important feature for me. In addition to the sheer luxury of traveling with your legs stretched out for long period of time, the coach is basically an RV on steroids: nicely equipped with satellite TV, with two large TV's and one small one, the internet (sometimes), a potty, and a kitchen.
The best part of it all though is the ability to shut the boys in the back of the bus by closing the door! The staff rides up front, with room for seven to sleep, while the fellas sleep, watch film, play video games, or whatever else they do in the back all to themselves. I'd imagine it's a lot like an all-boy slumber party! We hardly even know they're back there.
The joys and sorrows of satellite TV lie in the fact that I don't get much say in the programs we watch. Joy for them, sorrow for me. I do get to hold the remote occasionally, and they let me change the channels sometimes. On this last trip the men were nice enough to let me choose what we watched on the trip out there: Rain Man. It's one of my all-time favorite movies. I was repaid with six hours of non-stop sports on the trip home, in addition to the three I had already watched in person at the game. Needless to say, I had my fill of sports that day.
I find it almost excruciating to watch sports in which I have no personal interest involved. Number four in a football jersey to me is Andrew Davis. The #4 on the Ball State team is NOT Andrew Davis and therefore I could have cared less if he caught the ball or dropped it against whoever it was they were playing Friday night. I'm routinely the object of blank stares when the men-folk are talking sports and big time players and I throw a "who's that?" into the conversation. I can't help it that I don't know Tim Duncan or Ray Allen. I know Demarcus Ware and Leodis McKelvin...surely that counts for something.
Next time, I'm thinking about dispelling some myths about sports. I don't want to share all the secrets, but I think you'll be interested to know how some things are like the movies and some aren't.
Before I forget, this week's Football Player of the Week is Boris Lee, one of the Four Horseman and Killer B's. He's been begging to be Player of the Week all season so he can be just like Bear Woods and finally came up with a legitimate injury: quad contusion. He did his time, politely of course, in the Athletic Training Room and will be duly rewarded with his picture on the bulletin board. There is a catch, though. The catch is that since he can't park in the proper parking spots outside the Stadium Towers, he doesn't actually get to partake in the liquid refreshment.
Lastly, a few personal sidenotes. First - and most importantly- is a "Very Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary" to my parents in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, Robert and Foye Gramley. They are my biggest fans and what parents are supposed to be - not always nice, but always loving! Thanks for everything and hope you enjoyed your day with your three lovely girls.
Congratulations to Evan Strother and the other members of the Pike Liberal Arts football team. They won the first ever state title in football for PLAS and I know they were most proud to do so in Movie Gallery Stadium in front of a large home crowd.
Lastly...to all of you: Happy Turkey Day! Enjoy Thanksgiving with your family, eating like there's no tomorrow, and sharing the time you have. Time doesn't last forever you know.
Thankfully,
GO TROJANS!
Alyson
