So many ways to start. Probably best that I just list what I experienced.
1. The event was as fan friendly as any athletic event I can remember at the Hall.
2. Going into Walsh I was greeted by many young men and women dressed in SHU gear. Starting at the front door, signing up on a computer (great for reaching out in the future to attendees), being greeted in the athletic hall foyer, and then directed into the gym where you could sit anywhere in Walsh.
3. Walsh is gorgeous. Well lit, brightly painted, everything is blue, seats are now comfortable, the court is beautiful, on one side is the scorers table and directly across is a similar structure for the media. Wondering if the stage, which used to seat the media will still be opened? The overhanging scoreboard is top notch. And the LED structures on each side of the stage equally as impressive.
4. The school gave out a pictured roster of every player on the team with bio information on each. In short, minus the long hair covering the backs of the women you were instantly able to identify the 14 players until you recognized them without the benefit of seeing their numbers.
5. You also received a multi page description of what to expect during the 3 hour practice.
6. During warm-ups for the team Tony, microphone in hand, spoke to the fans in the stands about the team (10th practice) and the practice coming up, which was going to include paid refs.
7. Before every practice starts 3 women are chosen to shoot from halfcourt. If any shooter hits the shot there is some sort of reward for the team down the road.
8. Then the team meets at halfcourt and 1 player is chosen to note a favorite saying of hers.
9. Then the team bows their heads for a silent prayer led by Tony. And then the workout begins.
10. Tony tells the fans that speed is what he wants in the drills and he isn't kidding. Started to wonder if I was at a track meet or watching a BB practice. Various fast breaks continued for about 18 minutes broken into times of 6 minutes, calculated on the overhead scoreboard.
11. Then halfcourt/full court scrimmages between the team, the team and the male managers (who were ballers), mixing up 4 men against 4 women, 4 men against 5 women and then 5 on 5. The men did not hold back as they were top of the line intramural players and gave Tony's team a great workout.
12. Then a full court women's scrimmage with two official refs.
13. After that was over, Tony, mike in hand, talked to the fans in the stands. First asking the fans questions on what they saw and who most impressed them, as a roving manager had a mike and went up to each respondent. Then Tony took questions from the fans. Finally Tony chose about 5-6 women, talked about each, and then had the fans asked them questions.
14. When that was completed he invited all the fans onto the court to talk to his staff and the team.
15. That lasted 15 minutes and then we were asked to leave as the men came out and the gym was closed to everyone.
1. The event was as fan friendly as any athletic event I can remember at the Hall.
2. Going into Walsh I was greeted by many young men and women dressed in SHU gear. Starting at the front door, signing up on a computer (great for reaching out in the future to attendees), being greeted in the athletic hall foyer, and then directed into the gym where you could sit anywhere in Walsh.
3. Walsh is gorgeous. Well lit, brightly painted, everything is blue, seats are now comfortable, the court is beautiful, on one side is the scorers table and directly across is a similar structure for the media. Wondering if the stage, which used to seat the media will still be opened? The overhanging scoreboard is top notch. And the LED structures on each side of the stage equally as impressive.
4. The school gave out a pictured roster of every player on the team with bio information on each. In short, minus the long hair covering the backs of the women you were instantly able to identify the 14 players until you recognized them without the benefit of seeing their numbers.
5. You also received a multi page description of what to expect during the 3 hour practice.
6. During warm-ups for the team Tony, microphone in hand, spoke to the fans in the stands about the team (10th practice) and the practice coming up, which was going to include paid refs.
7. Before every practice starts 3 women are chosen to shoot from halfcourt. If any shooter hits the shot there is some sort of reward for the team down the road.
8. Then the team meets at halfcourt and 1 player is chosen to note a favorite saying of hers.
9. Then the team bows their heads for a silent prayer led by Tony. And then the workout begins.
10. Tony tells the fans that speed is what he wants in the drills and he isn't kidding. Started to wonder if I was at a track meet or watching a BB practice. Various fast breaks continued for about 18 minutes broken into times of 6 minutes, calculated on the overhead scoreboard.
11. Then halfcourt/full court scrimmages between the team, the team and the male managers (who were ballers), mixing up 4 men against 4 women, 4 men against 5 women and then 5 on 5. The men did not hold back as they were top of the line intramural players and gave Tony's team a great workout.
12. Then a full court women's scrimmage with two official refs.
13. After that was over, Tony, mike in hand, talked to the fans in the stands. First asking the fans questions on what they saw and who most impressed them, as a roving manager had a mike and went up to each respondent. Then Tony took questions from the fans. Finally Tony chose about 5-6 women, talked about each, and then had the fans asked them questions.
14. When that was completed he invited all the fans onto the court to talk to his staff and the team.
15. That lasted 15 minutes and then we were asked to leave as the men came out and the gym was closed to everyone.
