Nostalgia

[Norm Peterson]

I haven't been a season ticket holder for women's hoops but, back when their games were broadcast on NET, I used to watch them all the time. 

 

Paul Sanderford was an affable guy with his southern drawl and had improved the program's standing in the league over what his predecessor had done.  He had some pedigree, too, having taken Western Kentucky to a final four.

 

But his last two seasons, we just sucked out loud.

 

We had a gigantic center, 6'5" transfer from Illinois IIRC, who was immobile.  We had that volleyball player, Cepero, trying her hand at hoops.  We even had the girls' version of a McDonald's AA (wasn't called that then) out of South Sioux City.  And the girls were just baaaaad. 

 

We had talent but they weren't disciplined.  And they played like their heads were in a fog.  They made incomprehensible, unforced errors, like inbounding the ball to someone who isn't looking and the ball ricochets out of bounds off of Nebraska.  That kind of thing.

 

So Steph Jones calls it quits; KC Cowgill transfers; and Katie Robinette decides to eat a year of eligibility and go to Iowa State.  And, with his program hemorrhaging players, Sanderford decides to resign for health reasons.  Can't say I blame him.

 

Enter Connie Yori.

 

And, honestly, I was like WTH?  Connie Yori?  Why are we hiring HER?  She's done OK at Creighton, but, y'know, nothing jumping off the page at you.

 

And Connie arrives, decides she will NOT try to bring any of her Creighton recruits with her, and promptly dismisses a couple of Sanderford recruits from the team.  Shannon Howell violates team rules?  GONE.  Same thing with the cute blond girl who spotted up for corner threes (see I'm doing this all from memory.)

 

Next thing you know, we have a brand new coach and a shell of a team.  Things could not have been much more challenging for Connie Yori starting off a new job as the Husker women's basketball coach.

 

But 8 years later, we had an undefeated regular season and a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

 

I know there've been some struggles the last couple of years, culminating in the troubles we saw this season.  And rumors were swirling starting a couple of weeks ago that she was gone.

 

But I still have to take my hat off to Connie and give her the props she richly deserves.

 

I'm sure this isn't how she wanted to go out.  I suspect she still has some coaching left in her when she gets her personal situation back on track.  But that magical run we had in 2010 was unforgettable and, for the way she turned this program around and brought it out of the abyss, she deserves our undying respect as fans.

[colhusker]

Spot on Norm

[Cazzie22]

I haven't been a season ticket holder for women's hoops but, back when their games were broadcast on NET, I used to watch them all the time. 

 

Paul Sanderford was an affable guy with his southern drawl and had improved the program's standing in the league over what his predecessor had done.  He had some pedigree, too, having taken Western Kentucky to a final four.

 

But his last two seasons, we just sucked out loud.

 

We had a gigantic center, 6'5" transfer from Illinois IIRC, who was immobile.  We had that volleyball player, Cepero, trying her hand at hoops.  We even had the girls' version of a McDonald's AA (wasn't called that then) out of South Sioux City.  And the girls were just baaaaad. 

 

We had talent but they weren't disciplined.  And they played like their heads were in a fog.  They made incomprehensible, unforced errors, like inbounding the ball to someone who isn't looking and the ball ricochets out of bounds off of Nebraska.  That kind of thing.

 

So Steph Jones calls it quits; KC Cowgill transfers; and Katie Robinette decides to eat a year of eligibility and go to Iowa State.  And, with his program hemorrhaging players, Sanderford decides to resign for health reasons.  Can't say I blame him.

 

Enter Connie Yori.

 

And, honestly, I was like WTH?  Connie Yori?  Why are we hiring HER?  She's done OK at Creighton, but, y'know, nothing jumping off the page at you.

 

And Connie arrives, decides she will NOT try to bring any of her Creighton recruits with her, and promptly dismisses a couple of Sanderford recruits from the team.  Shannon Howell violates team rules?  GONE.  Same thing with the cute blond girl who spotted up for corner threes (see I'm doing this all from memory.)

 

Next thing you know, we have a brand new coach and a shell of a team.  Things could not have been much more challenging for Connie Yori starting off a new job as the Husker women's basketball coach.

 

But 8 years later, we had an undefeated regular season and a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

 

I know there've been some struggles the last couple of years, culminating in the troubles we saw this season.  And rumors were swirling starting a couple of weeks ago that she was gone.

 

But I still have to take my hat off to Connie and give her the props she richly deserves.

 

I'm sure this isn't how she wanted to go out.  I suspect she still has some coaching left in her when she gets her personal situation back on track.  But that magical run we had in 2010 was unforgettable and, for the way she turned this program around and brought it out of the abyss, she deserves our undying respect as fans.

Well said Norm!  I do think Angela Beck did a nice job at NU.  The new coach needs to be a good one.

[whoopdeedoo]

 

I haven't been a season ticket holder for women's hoops but, back when their games were broadcast on NET, I used to watch them all the time. 

 

Paul Sanderford was an affable guy with his southern drawl and had improved the program's standing in the league over what his predecessor had done.  He had some pedigree, too, having taken Western Kentucky to a final four.

 

But his last two seasons, we just sucked out loud.

 

We had a gigantic center, 6'5" transfer from Illinois IIRC, who was immobile.  We had that volleyball player, Cepero, trying her hand at hoops.  We even had the girls' version of a McDonald's AA (wasn't called that then) out of South Sioux City.  And the girls were just baaaaad. 

 

We had talent but they weren't disciplined.  And they played like their heads were in a fog.  They made incomprehensible, unforced errors, like inbounding the ball to someone who isn't looking and the ball ricochets out of bounds off of Nebraska.  That kind of thing.

 

So Steph Jones calls it quits; KC Cowgill transfers; and Katie Robinette decides to eat a year of eligibility and go to Iowa State.  And, with his program hemorrhaging players, Sanderford decides to resign for health reasons.  Can't say I blame him.

 

Enter Connie Yori.

 

And, honestly, I was like WTH?  Connie Yori?  Why are we hiring HER?  She's done OK at Creighton, but, y'know, nothing jumping off the page at you.

 

And Connie arrives, decides she will NOT try to bring any of her Creighton recruits with her, and promptly dismisses a couple of Sanderford recruits from the team.  Shannon Howell violates team rules?  GONE.  Same thing with the cute blond girl who spotted up for corner threes (see I'm doing this all from memory.)

 

Next thing you know, we have a brand new coach and a shell of a team.  Things could not have been much more challenging for Connie Yori starting off a new job as the Husker women's basketball coach.

 

But 8 years later, we had an undefeated regular season and a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament.

 

I know there've been some struggles the last couple of years, culminating in the troubles we saw this season.  And rumors were swirling starting a couple of weeks ago that she was gone.

 

But I still have to take my hat off to Connie and give her the props she richly deserves.

 

I'm sure this isn't how she wanted to go out.  I suspect she still has some coaching left in her when she gets her personal situation back on track.  But that magical run we had in 2010 was unforgettable and, for the way she turned this program around and brought it out of the abyss, she deserves our undying respect as fans.

Well said Norm!  I do think Angela Beck did a nice job at NU.  The new coach needs to be a good one.

 

agree with the others! post of the season!!!