Spring Break
In someone else's sneakers
Heather Sprigler
Issue date: 1/12/09 Section: Forum
Every game is more-or-less the same. Brumagin is carrying this team and suffering because of it. I constantly wonder what it is like to be him. He is the only senior on a team full of rookies. He shows excellent leadership potential. He makes his free-throws, scores most the points, does everything he can.
Coach Brown keeps him on the court most of the game, but it really seems to almost be a negative deal. When the players came back out on the court after half-time on Saturday, Dane looked exhausted.
How could he not? Can you even imagine the stress it must bring to carry so many grown men? And there doesn't seem to be any relief in sight.
The athletics department keeps "their" students in this huge protective bubble. The media can't contact any of the players on any team (including ping-pong if we had it) without prior consent from them-which we will never get.
Then they have the right to censor us on what we ask the players. If I were to go to a post-game press conference and ask Dane what it was like to be him, to have to lead a team that comes just short of victory every game and still stay strong and positive, you could bet your ass they would ban me from the conference rooms indefinitely.
I may be banned just for writing this article. They may even pull my press pass and refuse to allow me to take pictures of their teams again.
What's wrong with letting a player vent? How can it be legal to keep these guys under such tight lock and key?
I can understand damage control. Trying to convey to students that they represent their schools 24/7 and everything they do reflects upon their team.
But I don't see any of these gentlemen spitting on a hooker in a nightclub anytime soon.
I am hopeful Dane's persistent dedication and continual leadership will kick the team into high gear before the Summit League tournament in South Dakota this year.
I would like to be able to proudly publish photos of our team playing so well this year, and actually look forward to seeing them play.
I know it must be hard to be the only senior on the team, and building comradery does take time. Now we really need to get it together. Play as a team, and not just any team, but a great team.
We have so much potential, and it's all just warming the bench.
If nothing else, I want everyone to know that I have warmed up to sports and will be writing more about them this semester.
But be prepared for some serious commentary. I want to convey the feel for the game: good, bad or indifferent.
Best of luck to you all.
hsprigler@unews.com
Coach Brown keeps him on the court most of the game, but it really seems to almost be a negative deal. When the players came back out on the court after half-time on Saturday, Dane looked exhausted.
How could he not? Can you even imagine the stress it must bring to carry so many grown men? And there doesn't seem to be any relief in sight.
The athletics department keeps "their" students in this huge protective bubble. The media can't contact any of the players on any team (including ping-pong if we had it) without prior consent from them-which we will never get.
Then they have the right to censor us on what we ask the players. If I were to go to a post-game press conference and ask Dane what it was like to be him, to have to lead a team that comes just short of victory every game and still stay strong and positive, you could bet your ass they would ban me from the conference rooms indefinitely.
I may be banned just for writing this article. They may even pull my press pass and refuse to allow me to take pictures of their teams again.
What's wrong with letting a player vent? How can it be legal to keep these guys under such tight lock and key?
I can understand damage control. Trying to convey to students that they represent their schools 24/7 and everything they do reflects upon their team.
But I don't see any of these gentlemen spitting on a hooker in a nightclub anytime soon.
I am hopeful Dane's persistent dedication and continual leadership will kick the team into high gear before the Summit League tournament in South Dakota this year.
I would like to be able to proudly publish photos of our team playing so well this year, and actually look forward to seeing them play.
I know it must be hard to be the only senior on the team, and building comradery does take time. Now we really need to get it together. Play as a team, and not just any team, but a great team.
We have so much potential, and it's all just warming the bench.
If nothing else, I want everyone to know that I have warmed up to sports and will be writing more about them this semester.
But be prepared for some serious commentary. I want to convey the feel for the game: good, bad or indifferent.
Best of luck to you all.
hsprigler@unews.com
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