Saturday, December 14, 2019: FIRST DAY JITTERS!! (CSU vs Lander)
Today was the first day of my mentorship. The Clayton State Women’s Basketball team hosted their first home opener game and following the game was an outside event hosted by a men’s semi-professional basketball team. Prior to the start of the game, Brittany and I briefly discussed the two student-athletes that she was considering pairing me with (See Projects). The first player we discussed was Destinee Davis. Destinee is a freshman from Raleigh, North Carolina. The second player we discussed was Praise Russell. Praise is from Jacksonville, Florida, a junior on the basketball court and a graduate student in the classroom. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Savannah State University in Criminal Justice. One thing I found to be interesting about Praise was that she was able to graduate in 2.5 years taking anywhere between 20 to 27 hours a semester, plus attend summer school, maintain at least a 3.5 GPA, and she was a student-athlete there as well. After conversing with Brittany (assistant coach), she asked me to focus on growing the girls on and off the court. Some of the tasks she wanted me to concentrate on included strengthening their confidence on and off the court, improving their decision-making skills on the court, and increasing their overall basketball IQ. While I was extremely nervous about this opportunity and experience, I was equally excited. Not only do I get to measure my personal progress through their success, but it is an opportunity to watch them develop their skills, learn different aspects of the game, and grow as individuals. After the game, I formally introduced myself to Destinee and Praise as well as exchanged contact information with both girls. I also shared some quick facts about my basketball career at Clayton State and a few things I have going on in my professional career. I assured both athletes that I exist to ensure they get what they need and that they could contact me whenever. My overall goal is to provide them with as much knowledge as possible to ensure they are successful in their respective position, as well as use this experience as a minor coaching opportunity. I plan to attend all of their home games, watch film with them in my free time, and discuss good plays, bad plays, and ways they can improve their game. Lastly, I hope to instill in them life skills and characteristics that will be beneficial to them for a lifetime. Overall, I did not get my hands into too much.
Today was the first day of my mentorship. The Clayton State Women’s Basketball team hosted their first home opener game and following the game was an outside event hosted by a men’s semi-professional basketball team. Prior to the start of the game, Brittany and I briefly discussed the two student-athletes that she was considering pairing me with (See Projects). The first player we discussed was Destinee Davis. Destinee is a freshman from Raleigh, North Carolina. The second player we discussed was Praise Russell. Praise is from Jacksonville, Florida, a junior on the basketball court and a graduate student in the classroom. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Savannah State University in Criminal Justice. One thing I found to be interesting about Praise was that she was able to graduate in 2.5 years taking anywhere between 20 to 27 hours a semester, plus attend summer school, maintain at least a 3.5 GPA, and she was a student-athlete there as well. After conversing with Brittany (assistant coach), she asked me to focus on growing the girls on and off the court. Some of the tasks she wanted me to concentrate on included strengthening their confidence on and off the court, improving their decision-making skills on the court, and increasing their overall basketball IQ. While I was extremely nervous about this opportunity and experience, I was equally excited. Not only do I get to measure my personal progress through their success, but it is an opportunity to watch them develop their skills, learn different aspects of the game, and grow as individuals. After the game, I formally introduced myself to Destinee and Praise as well as exchanged contact information with both girls. I also shared some quick facts about my basketball career at Clayton State and a few things I have going on in my professional career. I assured both athletes that I exist to ensure they get what they need and that they could contact me whenever. My overall goal is to provide them with as much knowledge as possible to ensure they are successful in their respective position, as well as use this experience as a minor coaching opportunity. I plan to attend all of their home games, watch film with them in my free time, and discuss good plays, bad plays, and ways they can improve their game. Lastly, I hope to instill in them life skills and characteristics that will be beneficial to them for a lifetime. Overall, I did not get my hands into too much.
Saturday, December 21, 2019: SHORT NOTICE!! (CSU vs Georgia College)
Today was my second day as an intern. Dantez (Director of Game Operations and Promotions) reached out to me on Wednesday, December 18 to converse about Saturday’s events. Through text messages, we verified my attendance, discussed different options about where I wanted to work, and the time frame concerning different events. Friday, December 20, Dantez contacted me again asking me if I was comfortable operating the music for the games. I said yes, but I was hesitant because I thought to myself, “Where is the DJ? We’ve had the same DJ for years.” Needless to say, I was the DJ for both games. Yet, I was still able to help with the women’s basketball team and float around in other areas as well. Upon my arrival, Dantez handed me a Game Day Script that contained a list of sequential events. Even with the script, we experienced issues with the equipment that played music. Additionally, the athletes were unhappy with the choice of music. In my opinion, the women’s basketball game was trial and error. I attempted to follow the script as best I could, but for the most part it did not happen that way. Eventually, I started playing music just to have something playing.
Unfortunately, the current DJ resigned because of a parking dispute with CSU’s Public Safety. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. He even increased his hourly rate from $50 an hour to $90 an hour. We made it through the women’s game and they won. Whew! The men’s game was much better. I too was better prepared and I think I did a good job of “saving” the music so that it wasn’t repeatedly being played. Time outs were swift, half time we played a CD, and the special presentation was a success as well. One cool thing that happened was I finally met the new athletic director. I had never formally met him face-to-face. As I’m introducing myself, he interrupted me and said that he has already heard everything about me. He even stated that I’m arguably the most decorated player to ever come through the program. Overall, today was full of “short notices.” Crazily enough, earlier in the year I attended a career expo at the Atlanta Falcons Mercedes Benz Stadium and one keynote speaker stated that in sports you have to be extremely flexible. You can plan everything from A to Z, but those plans can change the day of the event. Lastly, I suggested making a playlist for both teams so that it’ll be easier and more convenient to play music.
In the picture above, you can see that today's game was a promotional game. However, the attendance was not reflective of a promo game. So, in my opinion, the opportunity to grow the fan base was a BUST! Community Day was supposed to be an engaging event for the community members surrounding the university and the chance to collaborate with the athletic department. Residents living in Clayton County were given free entry with identification into both games (men's and women's). Yet, I do not know if the athletic department truly advertised for the event. There were no extra fans in the stands other than the player's friends and families, faculty and staff members, and a few students. In fact, the attendance was extremely low due to the closing of school for the semester break. I believe that in order to grow the fan base and attempt to generate revenue, the groundwork has to be done. Everyone has to buy in and do the dirty work by passing out flyers, getting into the surrounding neighborhoods, visiting nearby schools (elementary, middle and high schools), getting to know the owners of local businesses, constantly inviting friends and family, etc. Community Day is a great idea, but more work has to be done to promote the event.
Today was my second day as an intern. Dantez (Director of Game Operations and Promotions) reached out to me on Wednesday, December 18 to converse about Saturday’s events. Through text messages, we verified my attendance, discussed different options about where I wanted to work, and the time frame concerning different events. Friday, December 20, Dantez contacted me again asking me if I was comfortable operating the music for the games. I said yes, but I was hesitant because I thought to myself, “Where is the DJ? We’ve had the same DJ for years.” Needless to say, I was the DJ for both games. Yet, I was still able to help with the women’s basketball team and float around in other areas as well. Upon my arrival, Dantez handed me a Game Day Script that contained a list of sequential events. Even with the script, we experienced issues with the equipment that played music. Additionally, the athletes were unhappy with the choice of music. In my opinion, the women’s basketball game was trial and error. I attempted to follow the script as best I could, but for the most part it did not happen that way. Eventually, I started playing music just to have something playing.
Unfortunately, the current DJ resigned because of a parking dispute with CSU’s Public Safety. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true. He even increased his hourly rate from $50 an hour to $90 an hour. We made it through the women’s game and they won. Whew! The men’s game was much better. I too was better prepared and I think I did a good job of “saving” the music so that it wasn’t repeatedly being played. Time outs were swift, half time we played a CD, and the special presentation was a success as well. One cool thing that happened was I finally met the new athletic director. I had never formally met him face-to-face. As I’m introducing myself, he interrupted me and said that he has already heard everything about me. He even stated that I’m arguably the most decorated player to ever come through the program. Overall, today was full of “short notices.” Crazily enough, earlier in the year I attended a career expo at the Atlanta Falcons Mercedes Benz Stadium and one keynote speaker stated that in sports you have to be extremely flexible. You can plan everything from A to Z, but those plans can change the day of the event. Lastly, I suggested making a playlist for both teams so that it’ll be easier and more convenient to play music.
In the picture above, you can see that today's game was a promotional game. However, the attendance was not reflective of a promo game. So, in my opinion, the opportunity to grow the fan base was a BUST! Community Day was supposed to be an engaging event for the community members surrounding the university and the chance to collaborate with the athletic department. Residents living in Clayton County were given free entry with identification into both games (men's and women's). Yet, I do not know if the athletic department truly advertised for the event. There were no extra fans in the stands other than the player's friends and families, faculty and staff members, and a few students. In fact, the attendance was extremely low due to the closing of school for the semester break. I believe that in order to grow the fan base and attempt to generate revenue, the groundwork has to be done. Everyone has to buy in and do the dirty work by passing out flyers, getting into the surrounding neighborhoods, visiting nearby schools (elementary, middle and high schools), getting to know the owners of local businesses, constantly inviting friends and family, etc. Community Day is a great idea, but more work has to be done to promote the event.
Friday/Saturday, December 27-28, 2019: EYA SOUTH ATLANTA INVITATIONAL!!
Today I worked alongside Brittany (Assistant Women's Basketball Coach) overseeing a high school girl's and boy's basketball tournament. Basically, myself, Brittany and some 5th year graduate assistants served as site facilitators over the course of two long days. This particular tournament was hosted by Braderious "Coach Brad" Martin. Coach Brad is a neighborhood local who founded EYA Sports. EYA Sports focuses on individual player skill development, hosting scouting and recruiting clinics, and hosting show case events for middle and high school athletes along with professional athletes. Upon arrival to the gym, I begin helping Brittany with setup because the first game was set for noon. Setup included making a section for a live DJ and all her equipment, setting up various promo tables around the facility, making space for the media interns to host post-game interviews, and set up an alternate location for the players, coaches, college recruiters and referees to check-in. Once everything was setup for Brad, we had to prepare the concession stand ourselves. The money collected in the concession stand would directly benefit the athletic department. Snacks and candy had to be transferred from the storage closet to the concession stand, prices had to be displayed, and we had to cook several packs of hot dogs. Also, fresh popcorn had to be cooked along with picking up pizza from the local pizza joint, Rocky's. When the concession stand was complete, we left the graduate assistants in charge and grabbed lunch. Even with all the commotion going on, I really enjoyed working on Friday because Brittany and I were able to watch some extremely talented athletes that would be attending Notre Dame University, Oregon State University, and many other D-I schools. One thing I wasn't so thrilled about was taking out the trash, spot cleaning the bathrooms, and sweeping the floor. Because this tournament was held during the holiday break, the campus was closed which means faculty and staff members were off. Therefore, we had to be personal custodians as well. On average we hosted more than 500 fans, spectators, players and coaches between both days, especially when nationally-ranked teams were playing. If seemed as if the trash in the women's restroom was constant and the dropped popcorn made us feel as if we were always sweeping. I wish we could have prevented people from eating in the gym because it was disgusting. Although we did not have to clean the gymnasium, it was filthy until the cleaning crew were due back on Monday morning.
Overall, I was exhausted after the first day because the event lasted literally all day. One thing I found to be interesting is the number of people that left the gymnasium to watch the college football playoff game. On Saturday, during the boy's tournament, LSU and Oklahoma played in the Fiesta Bowl to advance to the National Championship game. The lobby was jammed packed with spectators watching the football game, almost as if we were at a sports bar. At some point, the lobby would eventually clear out because LSU took a huge lead in the first half. Prior to the night ending, I asked Brittany if I could review the contract between Coach Brad and the Clayton State Athletics Department because he was constantly asking for additional pieces. For example, he would ask if we could make copies for him, which was not apart of the contract. Everything that was written in the contract, we provided for him.
Today I worked alongside Brittany (Assistant Women's Basketball Coach) overseeing a high school girl's and boy's basketball tournament. Basically, myself, Brittany and some 5th year graduate assistants served as site facilitators over the course of two long days. This particular tournament was hosted by Braderious "Coach Brad" Martin. Coach Brad is a neighborhood local who founded EYA Sports. EYA Sports focuses on individual player skill development, hosting scouting and recruiting clinics, and hosting show case events for middle and high school athletes along with professional athletes. Upon arrival to the gym, I begin helping Brittany with setup because the first game was set for noon. Setup included making a section for a live DJ and all her equipment, setting up various promo tables around the facility, making space for the media interns to host post-game interviews, and set up an alternate location for the players, coaches, college recruiters and referees to check-in. Once everything was setup for Brad, we had to prepare the concession stand ourselves. The money collected in the concession stand would directly benefit the athletic department. Snacks and candy had to be transferred from the storage closet to the concession stand, prices had to be displayed, and we had to cook several packs of hot dogs. Also, fresh popcorn had to be cooked along with picking up pizza from the local pizza joint, Rocky's. When the concession stand was complete, we left the graduate assistants in charge and grabbed lunch. Even with all the commotion going on, I really enjoyed working on Friday because Brittany and I were able to watch some extremely talented athletes that would be attending Notre Dame University, Oregon State University, and many other D-I schools. One thing I wasn't so thrilled about was taking out the trash, spot cleaning the bathrooms, and sweeping the floor. Because this tournament was held during the holiday break, the campus was closed which means faculty and staff members were off. Therefore, we had to be personal custodians as well. On average we hosted more than 500 fans, spectators, players and coaches between both days, especially when nationally-ranked teams were playing. If seemed as if the trash in the women's restroom was constant and the dropped popcorn made us feel as if we were always sweeping. I wish we could have prevented people from eating in the gym because it was disgusting. Although we did not have to clean the gymnasium, it was filthy until the cleaning crew were due back on Monday morning.
Overall, I was exhausted after the first day because the event lasted literally all day. One thing I found to be interesting is the number of people that left the gymnasium to watch the college football playoff game. On Saturday, during the boy's tournament, LSU and Oklahoma played in the Fiesta Bowl to advance to the National Championship game. The lobby was jammed packed with spectators watching the football game, almost as if we were at a sports bar. At some point, the lobby would eventually clear out because LSU took a huge lead in the first half. Prior to the night ending, I asked Brittany if I could review the contract between Coach Brad and the Clayton State Athletics Department because he was constantly asking for additional pieces. For example, he would ask if we could make copies for him, which was not apart of the contract. Everything that was written in the contract, we provided for him.
Saturday, Janauary 4, 2020: FRUSTRATED!! (CSU vs Augusta University)
Today's game was against Augusta University. The Clayton State women lost in double overtime 95-81 and the Clayton State men fell 98-81. The women's match was very engaging and the crowd was really in tune with the game. Again, I was the DJ and playing music for the women's game was fun because the kids in the stands were up dancing, the opposing team fans were cheering and roaring for their team, and the Laker fans enjoyed the hype music that I was playing. Plus, both teams had a decent amount of fans to attend the game. However, I found myself getting frustrated during the men's game. The frustration was not because of technological issues or any dysfunctions at at the table, but I was frustrated by watching the athletes. The Clayton State Men's Basketball team is not entertaining, they play slow, and they are boring to watch. Before the conclusion of the halftime, I asked Theo (CSU Radio Alumni, professional DJ, and announcer) to play music from the CD player. The CD player at the scores table is a 6-disc changer with various types of music. The music ranges from Elvis Presley to Jackson 5 to the most recent music. After the conclusion of the game, I contacted Dantez (Director of Game Operations and Promotions) and informed him that he would have to find a DJ ASAP. I do not mind working the women's game, but the men's game is a non-negotiable. Other than that, I did not have many duties because Dantez was absent and he had all other vacancies filled such as the ticket gate, concession stand, and referee watch.
Despite my frustration, I was able to meet and host a Clayton State Women's Basketball legend. Candi Wyatt, a member of the 1991 inaugural women's basketball team, brought her high school basketball team (Madison County Girl's Basketball) to the game. Prior to their arrival, I just assumed the girl's were from a local school and visiting the game, but Candi is a 2016 Clayton State University Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee. After reading about her past history, I found out that Candi paved the way for many players like myself, in terms of success. Candi was the first person to score 1,000 points (1,315), second athlete ever to earn All-GAC Second Team honors, and hold the record for most games started. Her record for most games started (1st) and her scoring title (3rd) still remains after 20 years. After the game, I gave the Madison County girl's a tour of the facility, they met a few of the players and the coaches, and they got a chance to go inside the locker room. Also, I enjoyed hearing about their season and watching the Madison County girls interact with the Clayton State players.
Today's game was against Augusta University. The Clayton State women lost in double overtime 95-81 and the Clayton State men fell 98-81. The women's match was very engaging and the crowd was really in tune with the game. Again, I was the DJ and playing music for the women's game was fun because the kids in the stands were up dancing, the opposing team fans were cheering and roaring for their team, and the Laker fans enjoyed the hype music that I was playing. Plus, both teams had a decent amount of fans to attend the game. However, I found myself getting frustrated during the men's game. The frustration was not because of technological issues or any dysfunctions at at the table, but I was frustrated by watching the athletes. The Clayton State Men's Basketball team is not entertaining, they play slow, and they are boring to watch. Before the conclusion of the halftime, I asked Theo (CSU Radio Alumni, professional DJ, and announcer) to play music from the CD player. The CD player at the scores table is a 6-disc changer with various types of music. The music ranges from Elvis Presley to Jackson 5 to the most recent music. After the conclusion of the game, I contacted Dantez (Director of Game Operations and Promotions) and informed him that he would have to find a DJ ASAP. I do not mind working the women's game, but the men's game is a non-negotiable. Other than that, I did not have many duties because Dantez was absent and he had all other vacancies filled such as the ticket gate, concession stand, and referee watch.
Despite my frustration, I was able to meet and host a Clayton State Women's Basketball legend. Candi Wyatt, a member of the 1991 inaugural women's basketball team, brought her high school basketball team (Madison County Girl's Basketball) to the game. Prior to their arrival, I just assumed the girl's were from a local school and visiting the game, but Candi is a 2016 Clayton State University Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee. After reading about her past history, I found out that Candi paved the way for many players like myself, in terms of success. Candi was the first person to score 1,000 points (1,315), second athlete ever to earn All-GAC Second Team honors, and hold the record for most games started. Her record for most games started (1st) and her scoring title (3rd) still remains after 20 years. After the game, I gave the Madison County girl's a tour of the facility, they met a few of the players and the coaches, and they got a chance to go inside the locker room. Also, I enjoyed hearing about their season and watching the Madison County girls interact with the Clayton State players.
Saturday, January 18, 2020: Venue Manager!!
As an intern, I never saw today coming. If I must admit, my assignment today was nerve-wracking. My mentor, Coach Mead, reached out to me on Thursday, January 16, 2020, via email to see if I could step in and fill a last-minute position. Of course, I said yes without knowing the full details. Anyhow, Coach Mead asked me to serve as the venue manager for Utopia’s Kids, who were hosting a middle school girls’ basketball tournament. Usually, Utopia’s Kids host their games on Friday nights, but at the last minute, they asked to have a tournament Saturday morning. Coach Mead explained to me that he would have overseen the event, but the track and field team are competing out of town this weekend, as well as the men’s and women’s basketball team. Initially, I was supposed to serve as the venue manager from 8:45 am – 3:30 pm, but was relieved by the second intern who agreed to serve as the venue manager for the SW Warriors Men’s Semi-Pro basketball team. Serving as the venue manager was not as bad as I thought it would be. The only thing that freaked me out was being responsible for an athletic building that is newly remodeled and being responsible for about $300.00 worth of keys. In addition to those two responsibilities, I had to ensure the graduate assistants were taken care of, but in reality, they probably knew more than I did. Prior to my arrival, Coach Mead opened the doors for them and assisted them with their general setup. He then introduced me to the gentleman, Coach Harris, that was supervising and overseeing the event. Once I realized I knew Coach Harris, there was a sigh of relief. As an employee for the Student Activities Center at Clayton State University in 2013-2014, I used to manage some of Coach Harris’ tournaments.
For the most part, my shift as the venue manager was smooth. The only downside was not having direct contacts for emergencies. For example, one of the stalls in the women’s restroom was completely trashed and I did not have direct access to the custodial staff. Coach Mead stated that they were scheduled to clean the athletic facility, but he did not know what time they would arrive. So, I had to hear complaint after complaint regarding the restroom. Another issue I had was answering several questions asked by the campus police officers that I did not have the answer to. Because the event was added last minute, there was no scheduled police presence. The officers explained to me that they were on regular patrol and saw several vehicles parked outside. The sergeant even threatened to shut the event down, but I insisted that the event was under control, the crowd were mostly parents and coaches, and I had previous police experience. I thought shutting the event down was excessive, but after we talked and I explained my history with the program, he felt better about leaving me in control. Once the event concluded, I did some spot cleaning in the gym near the bench areas, I swept the court for the next game, and I also assisted the graduate assistants with cleaning up the concession stand. The keys were turned over to the other intern. Afterward, I called Coach Mead and did a follow up with him regarding how the overall shift went.
As an intern, I never saw today coming. If I must admit, my assignment today was nerve-wracking. My mentor, Coach Mead, reached out to me on Thursday, January 16, 2020, via email to see if I could step in and fill a last-minute position. Of course, I said yes without knowing the full details. Anyhow, Coach Mead asked me to serve as the venue manager for Utopia’s Kids, who were hosting a middle school girls’ basketball tournament. Usually, Utopia’s Kids host their games on Friday nights, but at the last minute, they asked to have a tournament Saturday morning. Coach Mead explained to me that he would have overseen the event, but the track and field team are competing out of town this weekend, as well as the men’s and women’s basketball team. Initially, I was supposed to serve as the venue manager from 8:45 am – 3:30 pm, but was relieved by the second intern who agreed to serve as the venue manager for the SW Warriors Men’s Semi-Pro basketball team. Serving as the venue manager was not as bad as I thought it would be. The only thing that freaked me out was being responsible for an athletic building that is newly remodeled and being responsible for about $300.00 worth of keys. In addition to those two responsibilities, I had to ensure the graduate assistants were taken care of, but in reality, they probably knew more than I did. Prior to my arrival, Coach Mead opened the doors for them and assisted them with their general setup. He then introduced me to the gentleman, Coach Harris, that was supervising and overseeing the event. Once I realized I knew Coach Harris, there was a sigh of relief. As an employee for the Student Activities Center at Clayton State University in 2013-2014, I used to manage some of Coach Harris’ tournaments.
For the most part, my shift as the venue manager was smooth. The only downside was not having direct contacts for emergencies. For example, one of the stalls in the women’s restroom was completely trashed and I did not have direct access to the custodial staff. Coach Mead stated that they were scheduled to clean the athletic facility, but he did not know what time they would arrive. So, I had to hear complaint after complaint regarding the restroom. Another issue I had was answering several questions asked by the campus police officers that I did not have the answer to. Because the event was added last minute, there was no scheduled police presence. The officers explained to me that they were on regular patrol and saw several vehicles parked outside. The sergeant even threatened to shut the event down, but I insisted that the event was under control, the crowd were mostly parents and coaches, and I had previous police experience. I thought shutting the event down was excessive, but after we talked and I explained my history with the program, he felt better about leaving me in control. Once the event concluded, I did some spot cleaning in the gym near the bench areas, I swept the court for the next game, and I also assisted the graduate assistants with cleaning up the concession stand. The keys were turned over to the other intern. Afterward, I called Coach Mead and did a follow up with him regarding how the overall shift went.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020: RIVALRY NIGHT!! ("The Real CSU" vs CSU)
Introduction:
Prior to today’s game, the women’s basketball team has lost their last two games and the men’s basketball team is 3-12 overall. Not only is today’s game HUGE, but it is a rivalry game for “The Real CSU” title. So, winning is the ONLY thing that matters! This game is very similar to how I feel about my Atlanta Falcons. I would be perfectly content with the Falcons losing every game of the season except the two rivalry games against the New Orleans "Aints." So, losing is NOT an option! If we lose, well I'll be highly upset.
Game Time:
For starters, both teams (men and women basketball) lost. The women fell 87-66 and the men could not outlast Columbus, with a 77-72 heart breaker. Once again, I served as a DJ because they have yet to hire a full-time person. I suppose it is more convenient and less expensive to utilize an intern. Anyways, I was only able to work the women's game so my presence was short-lived. The game was slightly packed with an attendance rate of 347 (that's a little over the average attendance). In addition to it being a rivalry game, it was also Georgia's Own Credit Union Night, which is a sponsor of the Clayton State University Athletic program. However, I do not know what the promo night entailed. Also, the Alumni Association was present along with the Career Services Department. Other than watching the women's game and operating the music, there wasn't much to report or any extra duties.
Introduction:
Prior to today’s game, the women’s basketball team has lost their last two games and the men’s basketball team is 3-12 overall. Not only is today’s game HUGE, but it is a rivalry game for “The Real CSU” title. So, winning is the ONLY thing that matters! This game is very similar to how I feel about my Atlanta Falcons. I would be perfectly content with the Falcons losing every game of the season except the two rivalry games against the New Orleans "Aints." So, losing is NOT an option! If we lose, well I'll be highly upset.
Game Time:
For starters, both teams (men and women basketball) lost. The women fell 87-66 and the men could not outlast Columbus, with a 77-72 heart breaker. Once again, I served as a DJ because they have yet to hire a full-time person. I suppose it is more convenient and less expensive to utilize an intern. Anyways, I was only able to work the women's game so my presence was short-lived. The game was slightly packed with an attendance rate of 347 (that's a little over the average attendance). In addition to it being a rivalry game, it was also Georgia's Own Credit Union Night, which is a sponsor of the Clayton State University Athletic program. However, I do not know what the promo night entailed. Also, the Alumni Association was present along with the Career Services Department. Other than watching the women's game and operating the music, there wasn't much to report or any extra duties.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020: NO MORE DJ!! (CSU vs Flagler)
In the photo posted on January 22, 2020, one can see how my space at the scores table was set up. In the journal entry from January 23, I also mention how the music was pre-selected on a laptop and how I had to learn to conserve the “good” songs for hype moments and play music according to the flow of the game. Well, I can finally say that I am no longer the DJ. Before the game today, I reached out to my former teammate, Shadawn Clanton. Shadawn played with me during my junior and senior years (2011-2013). I sent Shadawn a last-minute message on Instagram asking her if she was interested in DJ’ing some basketball games at Clayton State. With arms open wide, she accepted the request and was able to show up for today’s game with such short notice. Once Shadawn arrived, we greeted one another and I immediately started allowing her to set up her belongings. Shortly after tip-off, she was connected and ready to rock and roll. Before leaving the gymnasium, I introduced Shadawn to Dantez, who oversees all game-day operations. During the introduction, I was sure to confirm Shadawn’s compensation for DJ’ing.
In the photo posted on January 22, 2020, one can see how my space at the scores table was set up. In the journal entry from January 23, I also mention how the music was pre-selected on a laptop and how I had to learn to conserve the “good” songs for hype moments and play music according to the flow of the game. Well, I can finally say that I am no longer the DJ. Before the game today, I reached out to my former teammate, Shadawn Clanton. Shadawn played with me during my junior and senior years (2011-2013). I sent Shadawn a last-minute message on Instagram asking her if she was interested in DJ’ing some basketball games at Clayton State. With arms open wide, she accepted the request and was able to show up for today’s game with such short notice. Once Shadawn arrived, we greeted one another and I immediately started allowing her to set up her belongings. Shortly after tip-off, she was connected and ready to rock and roll. Before leaving the gymnasium, I introduced Shadawn to Dantez, who oversees all game-day operations. During the introduction, I was sure to confirm Shadawn’s compensation for DJ’ing.
Saturday, February 8, 2020: LONG DAY!!
Helen Ruffin Regional Reading Bowl (8am – 12:45pm)
As I entered the athletic center, there were people everywhere and I could see the frustration on Coach Coleman’s (Head Women’s Basketball Coach) face. I was shocked to see her and the women’s team because their shoot-around time was not listed on the finalized email outlining the weekend list of events. Nonetheless, she was upset because the spectators for the reading bowl were interfering with their shoot-around by walking across the basketball court and talking on the microphone. Actually, I think the overall ambience of distractions were infuriating. Somehow, Coach Mead (my mentor) overlapped the times while creating the schedule. Once their shoot-around concluded, I began to oversee the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl event. The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl featured elementary, middle and high students from Southeast Georgia. Luckily for me, the athletic center served as the meeting location, but the actual reading bowl competition took place in another building on campus. Once the reading bowl committee directed everyone to their designated locations, the athletic center was empty for approximately three hours. During that time, I closed the concession stand, allowed the gentlemen working in the concession to leave and I left to watch the competition. A few of my current middle school students were competing, so I was able to support them. Around 11:30am, the reading bowl began wrapping up the final rounds and spectators and school personnel started trickling back into the athletic center. At this time, I opened the concession stand back up and the reading bowl committee continued with their presentation of awards. Unfortunately, none of my students placed to advance to the state round.
Although there were hundreds of people, the event was fairly easy to supervise. One thing I thought Coach Mead did well was incorporating breakfast foods in the concession stand. He brewed fresh hot coffee, purchased bananas, muffins, breakfast bars, and much more. I also told him that he could have sold Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuits since they are a sponsor.
Helen Ruffin Regional Reading Bowl (8am – 12:45pm)
As I entered the athletic center, there were people everywhere and I could see the frustration on Coach Coleman’s (Head Women’s Basketball Coach) face. I was shocked to see her and the women’s team because their shoot-around time was not listed on the finalized email outlining the weekend list of events. Nonetheless, she was upset because the spectators for the reading bowl were interfering with their shoot-around by walking across the basketball court and talking on the microphone. Actually, I think the overall ambience of distractions were infuriating. Somehow, Coach Mead (my mentor) overlapped the times while creating the schedule. Once their shoot-around concluded, I began to oversee the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl event. The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl featured elementary, middle and high students from Southeast Georgia. Luckily for me, the athletic center served as the meeting location, but the actual reading bowl competition took place in another building on campus. Once the reading bowl committee directed everyone to their designated locations, the athletic center was empty for approximately three hours. During that time, I closed the concession stand, allowed the gentlemen working in the concession to leave and I left to watch the competition. A few of my current middle school students were competing, so I was able to support them. Around 11:30am, the reading bowl began wrapping up the final rounds and spectators and school personnel started trickling back into the athletic center. At this time, I opened the concession stand back up and the reading bowl committee continued with their presentation of awards. Unfortunately, none of my students placed to advance to the state round.
Although there were hundreds of people, the event was fairly easy to supervise. One thing I thought Coach Mead did well was incorporating breakfast foods in the concession stand. He brewed fresh hot coffee, purchased bananas, muffins, breakfast bars, and much more. I also told him that he could have sold Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuits since they are a sponsor.
Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl 1st Place Winners!
GA Pearls Girls AAU Basketball Tryouts (12:45pm – 2:30pm)
The next event was the Georgia Pearls AAU tryout. To prepare for the Georgia Pearls tryout, Coach Mead and I had to let the extra side basketball goals down, we had to let the chairs down that are connected to the bleachers and we also had to clean trash out of the bleachers so that we could push the bleachers in. The Georgia Pearls is a traveling AAU organization operated by President Darlene “Coach D” Norris. I have known Coach D for several years. Plus, Coach D has been utilizing the athletic center for years to host tryouts, conduct practices and hold social events. For the most part, there wasn’t much to oversee because Coach D does not ask for anything that is already provided to her. She supplies her own equipment and extras. So, while they practiced, I left to grab lunch and returned within an hour to watch a few minutes of their tryouts and drills. The girls that were trying out ranged anywhere from first grade to high school. My favorite moment was watching the younger kids compete because they do not have a true concept of basketball IQ yet, so they make silly mistakes which are usually funny. Overall, Coach D’s tryout ran smooth and I did not have much to do.
The next event was the Georgia Pearls AAU tryout. To prepare for the Georgia Pearls tryout, Coach Mead and I had to let the extra side basketball goals down, we had to let the chairs down that are connected to the bleachers and we also had to clean trash out of the bleachers so that we could push the bleachers in. The Georgia Pearls is a traveling AAU organization operated by President Darlene “Coach D” Norris. I have known Coach D for several years. Plus, Coach D has been utilizing the athletic center for years to host tryouts, conduct practices and hold social events. For the most part, there wasn’t much to oversee because Coach D does not ask for anything that is already provided to her. She supplies her own equipment and extras. So, while they practiced, I left to grab lunch and returned within an hour to watch a few minutes of their tryouts and drills. The girls that were trying out ranged anywhere from first grade to high school. My favorite moment was watching the younger kids compete because they do not have a true concept of basketball IQ yet, so they make silly mistakes which are usually funny. Overall, Coach D’s tryout ran smooth and I did not have much to do.
Atlanta Storm vs River Region Generals ABA Men's Semi-Professional Basketball Game (7pm - 9pm)
For some reason, Coach Mead planned for the next event to begin at 2:30pm and last until 9:30pm. I was aware that there would only be one ABA game. However, the ABA Semi-Professional Men’s Basketball game did not start until 7pm. Recently, I began working for this company called “James by 1891.” James by 1891 is a company that tracks live statistics for ABA, UBA, and pickup games around the country. Through the James by 1891 app, I can see all the games scheduled for several gym locations across the state of Georgia. Therefore, I knew there was only one game scheduled for Clayton State’s gym at 7pm. Unfortunately, I did not mention it to Coach Mead because I assumed the ABA scheduled day of games (sometimes they will do this). Since I planned to be at the athletic center all day, I did not leave. Instead, I tidied up the gm, grabbed a smoothie from Smoothie King, and took a nap in Brittany’s office. Around 5:45pm, players from the ABA league began trickling in. At that point, Coach Mead introduced me to Ms. Janice who owns the Atlanta Storm ABA Semi-Professional team. Ms. Janice was overly polite and assured me she was easy to work with. Then, Coach Mead issued me a master key to the athletic center. He also showed me how to close the building and different things to check before I leave the building. Afterward, spectators and other players began filling the bleachers and the players started warming up. As I was overseeing the athletic center, I was also working on the game clock and the shot clock for 1891. As people like Ms. Janice readily needed things, I could not instantly move. For me, that was the most difficult part of working the ABA game. One of my favorite moments was the halftime performances by local artists. The best performance was done by a group of four boys between the ages of 6 and 9. Their performance was catchy, cute and they had the crowds attention. Other performers were two little girls’ who rapped, two little girls who danced and a women’s dance group.
For some reason, Coach Mead planned for the next event to begin at 2:30pm and last until 9:30pm. I was aware that there would only be one ABA game. However, the ABA Semi-Professional Men’s Basketball game did not start until 7pm. Recently, I began working for this company called “James by 1891.” James by 1891 is a company that tracks live statistics for ABA, UBA, and pickup games around the country. Through the James by 1891 app, I can see all the games scheduled for several gym locations across the state of Georgia. Therefore, I knew there was only one game scheduled for Clayton State’s gym at 7pm. Unfortunately, I did not mention it to Coach Mead because I assumed the ABA scheduled day of games (sometimes they will do this). Since I planned to be at the athletic center all day, I did not leave. Instead, I tidied up the gm, grabbed a smoothie from Smoothie King, and took a nap in Brittany’s office. Around 5:45pm, players from the ABA league began trickling in. At that point, Coach Mead introduced me to Ms. Janice who owns the Atlanta Storm ABA Semi-Professional team. Ms. Janice was overly polite and assured me she was easy to work with. Then, Coach Mead issued me a master key to the athletic center. He also showed me how to close the building and different things to check before I leave the building. Afterward, spectators and other players began filling the bleachers and the players started warming up. As I was overseeing the athletic center, I was also working on the game clock and the shot clock for 1891. As people like Ms. Janice readily needed things, I could not instantly move. For me, that was the most difficult part of working the ABA game. One of my favorite moments was the halftime performances by local artists. The best performance was done by a group of four boys between the ages of 6 and 9. Their performance was catchy, cute and they had the crowds attention. Other performers were two little girls’ who rapped, two little girls who danced and a women’s dance group.
Sunday, February 9, 2020: REPEAT!! (3pm - 5pm)
GA Pearls Girls AAU Basketball Tryouts Day 2
The following day, the GA Pearls returned for day 2 of their try-outs. Besides arriving at the athletic center fifteen minutes early, there was not much to report. One thing I did do was observe Coach D and her assistants while they were conducting the skill set portion of the try-out. Two things I wanted to accomplish were adding some additional workouts to my brain and attempt to understand the decline in talent when it comes to girl's basketball. For the past five years (at least), I have noticed that middle school and high school girls do not possess any level of athleticism or skill set. Additionally, they lack basic basketball terminology and basketball IQ. Yet, they are quick to tell people, "I play AAU basketball." Now it all makes sense. AAU basketball used to be for elite players around the country, but now it is more so focused primarily on financial gains. Many parents are paying between $2,500 and $5,000 and their daughters are being developed as basketball players. Unfortunately, some AAU programs are a disservice rather than a service. After watching and observing for a while, I wandered around the athletic facility. During this time, I captured pictures of some of my favorite decorations in the newly renovated building.
Atlanta Storm ABA Men's Semi-Professional Basketball Game (5:30pm - 7:30pm)
Just like yesterday, the Atlanta Storm hosted another home game. Nothing was any different from the previous day. Not only was I overseeing the athletic facility, but I worked the game clock and the shot clock. One thing I did allow was the concession stand staff to leave early because they only made two sales in one hour. For whatever reason, the concession stand does not sell well during ABA games. The majority of the blame is due to the low number of spectators. Once the game concluded, I tidied up the gym, locked all the doors, placed the concession stand cash box in the correct location, placed the master key on Coach Mead's desk, and exited the building.
GA Pearls Girls AAU Basketball Tryouts Day 2
The following day, the GA Pearls returned for day 2 of their try-outs. Besides arriving at the athletic center fifteen minutes early, there was not much to report. One thing I did do was observe Coach D and her assistants while they were conducting the skill set portion of the try-out. Two things I wanted to accomplish were adding some additional workouts to my brain and attempt to understand the decline in talent when it comes to girl's basketball. For the past five years (at least), I have noticed that middle school and high school girls do not possess any level of athleticism or skill set. Additionally, they lack basic basketball terminology and basketball IQ. Yet, they are quick to tell people, "I play AAU basketball." Now it all makes sense. AAU basketball used to be for elite players around the country, but now it is more so focused primarily on financial gains. Many parents are paying between $2,500 and $5,000 and their daughters are being developed as basketball players. Unfortunately, some AAU programs are a disservice rather than a service. After watching and observing for a while, I wandered around the athletic facility. During this time, I captured pictures of some of my favorite decorations in the newly renovated building.
Atlanta Storm ABA Men's Semi-Professional Basketball Game (5:30pm - 7:30pm)
Just like yesterday, the Atlanta Storm hosted another home game. Nothing was any different from the previous day. Not only was I overseeing the athletic facility, but I worked the game clock and the shot clock. One thing I did allow was the concession stand staff to leave early because they only made two sales in one hour. For whatever reason, the concession stand does not sell well during ABA games. The majority of the blame is due to the low number of spectators. Once the game concluded, I tidied up the gym, locked all the doors, placed the concession stand cash box in the correct location, placed the master key on Coach Mead's desk, and exited the building.
Monday, February 24 - Thursday, February 27, 2020: GA Pearls AAU Basketball Practice
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, I served as the venue manager for the Georgia Pearls while they practiced. Each day I oversaw the athletic center from 7pm - 9pm. As Coach D practiced with her team, I conducted my workout in the weight room. Every thirty minutes or so, I'd pop my head in the gym to check on them. Once I completed my workout, I walked around the athletic center and captured more pictures of some of my favorites. Other than that, there was not much to report. One thing I appreciate from Coach D is her timeliness. She makes sure her people leave within 5-10mins after the event so that I am not standing around waiting.
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, I served as the venue manager for the Georgia Pearls while they practiced. Each day I oversaw the athletic center from 7pm - 9pm. As Coach D practiced with her team, I conducted my workout in the weight room. Every thirty minutes or so, I'd pop my head in the gym to check on them. Once I completed my workout, I walked around the athletic center and captured more pictures of some of my favorites. Other than that, there was not much to report. One thing I appreciate from Coach D is her timeliness. She makes sure her people leave within 5-10mins after the event so that I am not standing around waiting.
Monday, March 9, 2020 (7-9pm) / Thursday, March 12, 2020 (6:30-9:30pm): GA Pearls AAU Practice
On these particular days, I had to oversee the Georgia Pearls AAU practice. As usual, there was not much information to report. Other than watching the high school girls practice, nothing else happened. However, I decided to use this time to reflect on my internship thus far. To date, I have completed approximately 115 hours without about 85 hours left. I have been splitting my time between the Women's Basketball team, game-day operations, and facilities engagement. My favorite part of the internship has definitely been having the opportunity to oversee many different events, as well as having the freedom to operate the facility to suit my convenience. For example, if I choose not to partake in watching the Georgia Pearls practice, I can work out in the weight room, chill in the office area, or complete other tasks while occasionally checking in on the practice. My least favorite part about the internship is the lack of communication at times. I truly believe Coach Mead does the best he can with the monthly schedule, but there are times when the communication is poor in terms of event expectations, a change in the schedule and timing of events, and points of contact for different events.
For the most part, I have enjoyed working with Coach Mead and being apart of the Clayton State University Athletic Department. Coach Mead completely goes out of his way to ensure I have multiple opportunities to gain hours and experience surrounding different events being held in the athletic center. Most times Coach Mead and I communicate by email, so our in-person communication is limited. When we are physically around each other, he is either explaining the event we are currently working or working some part of the event. Lastly, I think my internship would be more interactive if my schedule would permit me to volunteer during normal business hours. I would love to interact with the full-time staff, shadow their day-to-day activities, and pick their brains about NCAA rules and regulations, budgeting, community partnerships and more.
On these particular days, I had to oversee the Georgia Pearls AAU practice. As usual, there was not much information to report. Other than watching the high school girls practice, nothing else happened. However, I decided to use this time to reflect on my internship thus far. To date, I have completed approximately 115 hours without about 85 hours left. I have been splitting my time between the Women's Basketball team, game-day operations, and facilities engagement. My favorite part of the internship has definitely been having the opportunity to oversee many different events, as well as having the freedom to operate the facility to suit my convenience. For example, if I choose not to partake in watching the Georgia Pearls practice, I can work out in the weight room, chill in the office area, or complete other tasks while occasionally checking in on the practice. My least favorite part about the internship is the lack of communication at times. I truly believe Coach Mead does the best he can with the monthly schedule, but there are times when the communication is poor in terms of event expectations, a change in the schedule and timing of events, and points of contact for different events.
For the most part, I have enjoyed working with Coach Mead and being apart of the Clayton State University Athletic Department. Coach Mead completely goes out of his way to ensure I have multiple opportunities to gain hours and experience surrounding different events being held in the athletic center. Most times Coach Mead and I communicate by email, so our in-person communication is limited. When we are physically around each other, he is either explaining the event we are currently working or working some part of the event. Lastly, I think my internship would be more interactive if my schedule would permit me to volunteer during normal business hours. I would love to interact with the full-time staff, shadow their day-to-day activities, and pick their brains about NCAA rules and regulations, budgeting, community partnerships and more.
Thursday, March 19, 2020: COVID-19!
Due to the corona-virus interruption, my internship with the Clayton State University Athletics Department ended abruptly. Because colleges and universities across the country were completely shut down and moved to 100% online, my tenure was shortened with little to no notice. I am beyond grateful for Ryan Erlacher (CSU Director of Athletics), Mike Mead (Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Alumni Engagement/Head Cross Country Coach), Kaleena Coleman (Head Women's Basketball Coach), and Brittany Hall (Assistant Women's Basketball Coach) for allowing to me work and learn in their presence. Although the internship ended unexpectedly, I gained a ton of knowledge. I learned to become a self-starter, what it looks like to oversee several events, and the struggles of being a collegiate coach. While I believe my expectations were met, I think there could have been more focus placed on my original objectives and goals. Also, the internship program could be more thorough, organized (planned), and structured. In my opinion, the internship program lacks organizational structure. For example, had I not been a self-starter, I would only oversee events as a venue manager which does not consist of many efforts. The intern should be able to see their judge their knowledge and development in terms of the lessons, knowledge, and skills they have learned. Nonetheless, I appreciate the opportunity and the welcoming environment from all faculty and staff members. If I could improve the organization or restructure the athletic department, I would simply revamp the internship program and provide more opportunities for graduate assistants. It is imperative for athletic departments to provide as much experience as they possibly can to college graduates that want to enter the sports industry. Additionally, I would ensure the interns have more input on major and minor projects, as well as have more hands-on activities. One of the best things about interning at Clayton State was having the flexibility to create my own schedule. I did not have to stress or worry about reporting based on a schedule that was assigned to me. I worked hours that were conducive to my regular work schedule. Overall, I believe the internship was satisfying, but I know I could have learned more regarding day-to-day duties and responsibilities, budgeting, and skills needed to become an athletic director. When the opportunity presents itself, I feel confident that I will be prepared to take on any role in any athletic department.
Due to the corona-virus interruption, my internship with the Clayton State University Athletics Department ended abruptly. Because colleges and universities across the country were completely shut down and moved to 100% online, my tenure was shortened with little to no notice. I am beyond grateful for Ryan Erlacher (CSU Director of Athletics), Mike Mead (Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Alumni Engagement/Head Cross Country Coach), Kaleena Coleman (Head Women's Basketball Coach), and Brittany Hall (Assistant Women's Basketball Coach) for allowing to me work and learn in their presence. Although the internship ended unexpectedly, I gained a ton of knowledge. I learned to become a self-starter, what it looks like to oversee several events, and the struggles of being a collegiate coach. While I believe my expectations were met, I think there could have been more focus placed on my original objectives and goals. Also, the internship program could be more thorough, organized (planned), and structured. In my opinion, the internship program lacks organizational structure. For example, had I not been a self-starter, I would only oversee events as a venue manager which does not consist of many efforts. The intern should be able to see their judge their knowledge and development in terms of the lessons, knowledge, and skills they have learned. Nonetheless, I appreciate the opportunity and the welcoming environment from all faculty and staff members. If I could improve the organization or restructure the athletic department, I would simply revamp the internship program and provide more opportunities for graduate assistants. It is imperative for athletic departments to provide as much experience as they possibly can to college graduates that want to enter the sports industry. Additionally, I would ensure the interns have more input on major and minor projects, as well as have more hands-on activities. One of the best things about interning at Clayton State was having the flexibility to create my own schedule. I did not have to stress or worry about reporting based on a schedule that was assigned to me. I worked hours that were conducive to my regular work schedule. Overall, I believe the internship was satisfying, but I know I could have learned more regarding day-to-day duties and responsibilities, budgeting, and skills needed to become an athletic director. When the opportunity presents itself, I feel confident that I will be prepared to take on any role in any athletic department.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 202: JUST KIDDING!! SECOND TIMES THE CHARM...RIGHT?
At this point, we are all familiar with COVID-19 and the impact it has had on amateur and professional sports. As I stated in the previous post, my mentorship was prematurely suspended due to the closing of all colleges and universities. However, Georgia is one of the few states that is beginning to slowly open certain venues, so Ryan (AD) is allowing staff members to enter the facility if they choose to do so. Once I entered the lobby of the athletic center, I felt an immediate urge to grab a basketball. I so badly miss sports. I miss the gym. The smell. The atmosphere. Everything!! Before starting any real tasks, Brittany and I had to log into Microsoft Teams for a 9:30-10:30 am staff meeting. I am unfamiliar with Microsoft Teams and until today, did not know it existed. Since COVID-19 has forced the world to meet virtually, I have been an active user of Zoom and Google Meets. During the staff meeting, Ryan discussed several topics in which he covered new student-athletes admissions and their process, steps moving forward with fall sports as it pertains to the health and safety aspects, eligibility requirements and standards for current athletes, transfers, operations, 2020-2021 budgets, and staff members leaving the program and new staff members that are coming on board. I enjoyed being a part of the staff meeting because it was an opportunity to listen and learn about budget talk; more specifically, surrounding the issue of not hosting summer basketball camps.
Once the staff meeting concluded, Brittany and I conducted inventory on home and away basketball jerseys, basketballs, and practice equipment. All jerseys had to be accounted for and in good condition, as well as the basketballs. Lastly, I assisted her with checking recruiting emails and together we watched, analyzed, and evaluated film that potential recruits either sent or was sent on their behalf. Overall, it was good to be back!!
At this point, we are all familiar with COVID-19 and the impact it has had on amateur and professional sports. As I stated in the previous post, my mentorship was prematurely suspended due to the closing of all colleges and universities. However, Georgia is one of the few states that is beginning to slowly open certain venues, so Ryan (AD) is allowing staff members to enter the facility if they choose to do so. Once I entered the lobby of the athletic center, I felt an immediate urge to grab a basketball. I so badly miss sports. I miss the gym. The smell. The atmosphere. Everything!! Before starting any real tasks, Brittany and I had to log into Microsoft Teams for a 9:30-10:30 am staff meeting. I am unfamiliar with Microsoft Teams and until today, did not know it existed. Since COVID-19 has forced the world to meet virtually, I have been an active user of Zoom and Google Meets. During the staff meeting, Ryan discussed several topics in which he covered new student-athletes admissions and their process, steps moving forward with fall sports as it pertains to the health and safety aspects, eligibility requirements and standards for current athletes, transfers, operations, 2020-2021 budgets, and staff members leaving the program and new staff members that are coming on board. I enjoyed being a part of the staff meeting because it was an opportunity to listen and learn about budget talk; more specifically, surrounding the issue of not hosting summer basketball camps.
Once the staff meeting concluded, Brittany and I conducted inventory on home and away basketball jerseys, basketballs, and practice equipment. All jerseys had to be accounted for and in good condition, as well as the basketballs. Lastly, I assisted her with checking recruiting emails and together we watched, analyzed, and evaluated film that potential recruits either sent or was sent on their behalf. Overall, it was good to be back!!
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2O2O: EMAILS, EMAILS, AND MORE EMAILS!!
As of May 13, 2020, Brittany and I discussed meeting at the athletic center every Wednesday for no more than 3 to 5 hours. To kick start the morning, we joined the staff meeting at 9:30 am via Microsoft Teams. During the staff meeting, Ryan (athletic director) formally introduced the newest Assistant Athletic Trainer McKenzie Higgins, Head Athletic Trainer Director Griffin Warner, introduced Lance Egnatz as the Men’s Basketball Interim Head Coach, and the process of replacing the sports information director. It was not until the staff meeting when I realized a large portion of the athletic department decided to part ways with Clayton State. Also, I noticed that Clayton State has recently begun hiring personnel that is relatively young and inexperienced. The most important thing that was discussed was the process of transitioning back into the building. Beginning June 15, 2020, all coaches and staff members will be allowed to enter the building on a rotating A & B schedule. Basically, everyone will rotate between a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday schedule and then on a Tuesday Thursday schedule. Once the meeting concluded, Brittany and I began tackling tasks.
There were several emails to check and plenty of film to decipher through. While she checked her emails not pertaining to recruits, I went through the emails and wrote down the names of potential recruits along with their position, jersey number, classification, current school, contact information, and yearly game statistics if they were available. Also, I updated the new and incoming player’s information based on the player questionnaire they completed. As we both worked and conversed with small talk, Brittany mentioned that the roster for the 2020-2021 season was complete. The majority of their players signed early, which NEVER happens. Not only are they optimistic about this recruiting class, but they are also glad to be done. Recruiting during a time when there are no official/unofficial visits, last-minute significant NCAA changes, and no current exposure events seem mind-boggling. For the most part, emails and organizing consumed the majority of our time in the office today.
As of May 13, 2020, Brittany and I discussed meeting at the athletic center every Wednesday for no more than 3 to 5 hours. To kick start the morning, we joined the staff meeting at 9:30 am via Microsoft Teams. During the staff meeting, Ryan (athletic director) formally introduced the newest Assistant Athletic Trainer McKenzie Higgins, Head Athletic Trainer Director Griffin Warner, introduced Lance Egnatz as the Men’s Basketball Interim Head Coach, and the process of replacing the sports information director. It was not until the staff meeting when I realized a large portion of the athletic department decided to part ways with Clayton State. Also, I noticed that Clayton State has recently begun hiring personnel that is relatively young and inexperienced. The most important thing that was discussed was the process of transitioning back into the building. Beginning June 15, 2020, all coaches and staff members will be allowed to enter the building on a rotating A & B schedule. Basically, everyone will rotate between a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday schedule and then on a Tuesday Thursday schedule. Once the meeting concluded, Brittany and I began tackling tasks.
There were several emails to check and plenty of film to decipher through. While she checked her emails not pertaining to recruits, I went through the emails and wrote down the names of potential recruits along with their position, jersey number, classification, current school, contact information, and yearly game statistics if they were available. Also, I updated the new and incoming player’s information based on the player questionnaire they completed. As we both worked and conversed with small talk, Brittany mentioned that the roster for the 2020-2021 season was complete. The majority of their players signed early, which NEVER happens. Not only are they optimistic about this recruiting class, but they are also glad to be done. Recruiting during a time when there are no official/unofficial visits, last-minute significant NCAA changes, and no current exposure events seem mind-boggling. For the most part, emails and organizing consumed the majority of our time in the office today.
Griffin Warner: Griffin is no stranger to the Peach Belt Conference. For the past three years, he worked at PBC member institution Young Harris College as an assistant athletic trainer. He also has experience in insurance billing, injury management, supply inventory, and rehabilitation of injuries.
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McKenzie Higgins: Higgins was a student assistant athletic trainer at the University of Central Missouri. AT UCM, she worked with the track and field team, women’s soccer, and the softball and baseball teams. She also has experience with the preparation of practice and competition, administered pre-participation treatments, and rehabilitation.
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Wednesday, May 27, 2020: COFFEE ME PLEASE!!
Per usual, we began the morning by hopping on the staff meeting via Microsoft Teams. If I am honest, I am TIRED. I am DRAGGING. I NEED COFFEE!! During the meeting, Ryan introduced Chuck Tidmore, the new Sports Information Director. For the past three years, Chuck was the assistant director of athletic communications at Division III, Piedmont College. While at Piedmont, he served as the primary contact for women’s soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s cross country, and the track and field programs. While there, Chuck covered six conference championships among those sports and helped promote six CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. Other information that was discussed during the staff meeting included miscellaneous conversations about fall sports, student-athlete admissions, eligibility, and the new work hours beginning on June 15th. After the meeting, Brittany and I made a coffee run. TO BE CONTINUED…
As the coffee worked wonders and miracles, Brittany and I prepared to watch the film of several junior colleges and high school recruits. I thought we would watch the highlights tapes or game film and verbally discuss what we saw, thought, etc. Instead, Brittany handed me several copies of a player evaluation form, which I had to write down the player’s strengths, weaknesses, rate them 1 through 5, and make additional notes. I felt legit! Almost like the college coaches, you see during major AAU tournaments with their pins and notepads.
Anyways, she and I evaluated approximately 10 to 12 players. To my surprise, our evaluations were extremely similar. However, Brittany is more so a coach that sees the “bigger picture.” She sees things I typically overlook because she understands the game of basketball from every position. Her notes consisted of things like: “She controlled the tempo well. She took over the last 2 minutes of the game. She kept her composure. She controlled the moment.” I, on the other hand, looked for creativity. Can she create her own shot? Can she break down a defense and make a play? Also, I value how well a player sees the floor from every position. In the beginning, I was making notes from the lens of the player I was in college. The more we scouted and discussed, Brittany opened my eyes to additional aspects to look for when making notes. Another weakness I noticed about myself is my inability to thoroughly evaluate post players. For example, I can easily list 5 to 10 strengths and weaknesses of a guard, whereas a post player would have anywhere from 1 to 5 strengths and weaknesses.
Per usual, we began the morning by hopping on the staff meeting via Microsoft Teams. If I am honest, I am TIRED. I am DRAGGING. I NEED COFFEE!! During the meeting, Ryan introduced Chuck Tidmore, the new Sports Information Director. For the past three years, Chuck was the assistant director of athletic communications at Division III, Piedmont College. While at Piedmont, he served as the primary contact for women’s soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s cross country, and the track and field programs. While there, Chuck covered six conference championships among those sports and helped promote six CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. Other information that was discussed during the staff meeting included miscellaneous conversations about fall sports, student-athlete admissions, eligibility, and the new work hours beginning on June 15th. After the meeting, Brittany and I made a coffee run. TO BE CONTINUED…
As the coffee worked wonders and miracles, Brittany and I prepared to watch the film of several junior colleges and high school recruits. I thought we would watch the highlights tapes or game film and verbally discuss what we saw, thought, etc. Instead, Brittany handed me several copies of a player evaluation form, which I had to write down the player’s strengths, weaknesses, rate them 1 through 5, and make additional notes. I felt legit! Almost like the college coaches, you see during major AAU tournaments with their pins and notepads.
Anyways, she and I evaluated approximately 10 to 12 players. To my surprise, our evaluations were extremely similar. However, Brittany is more so a coach that sees the “bigger picture.” She sees things I typically overlook because she understands the game of basketball from every position. Her notes consisted of things like: “She controlled the tempo well. She took over the last 2 minutes of the game. She kept her composure. She controlled the moment.” I, on the other hand, looked for creativity. Can she create her own shot? Can she break down a defense and make a play? Also, I value how well a player sees the floor from every position. In the beginning, I was making notes from the lens of the player I was in college. The more we scouted and discussed, Brittany opened my eyes to additional aspects to look for when making notes. Another weakness I noticed about myself is my inability to thoroughly evaluate post players. For example, I can easily list 5 to 10 strengths and weaknesses of a guard, whereas a post player would have anywhere from 1 to 5 strengths and weaknesses.
Wednesday, June 3, 2020: LUNCH BY THE LAKE!!
There was no staff meeting today! I think Brittany and I were equally excited. As always, emails are essential, so I began checking those while Brittany made several important calls. SIDE NOTE: I hate checking her emails because they are unorganized and full of junk mail/spam. In this aspect, we are totally different. While I am OCD, super neat, and highly organized, she is the total opposite. After I was done deciphering through the emails, I was tasked with emailing the players (new and old) the workout plan from the new strength and conditioning coach. Also included in the new player’s emails were highlighted documents that still need their attention regarding their NCAA accounts.
My favorite part of today was ‘Lunch by the Lake.’ This is the name I gifted to our lunchtime. For those of you that are unfamiliar with Clayton State’s campus, it is home to six different lakes. The lakes are peaceful places for students to relax, study, and enjoy a beautiful day. They are also homes to fish, turtles, swans, ducks, and, of course, Loch and Nessie, our school mascots. While walking to our vehicles to grab lunch, it was my idea to grab food-to-go, eat by the lake, talk sports, life, and enjoy each the weather and scenery. Near the athletic (literally in the back of the building) lies two lakes.
To close out the day, I helped Brittany choose the team gear for the upcoming season. Selecting gear has always been one of my favorite things to do. As a player, we had a lot of input in selecting shoes, apparel, travel bags, book bags, etc. Now as an intern, I was excited to see what items Brittany was considering. Normally, she would wait to place orders at the end of August or the beginning of September, but COVID-19 has altered and delayed shipments worldwide. Therefore, Brittany is attempting to be proactive. I was eager to learn how to place orders online through their Nike representative. Lastly, I listened to her phone conversation with their Nike representative as they spoke about estimates, ordering, and finances.
There was no staff meeting today! I think Brittany and I were equally excited. As always, emails are essential, so I began checking those while Brittany made several important calls. SIDE NOTE: I hate checking her emails because they are unorganized and full of junk mail/spam. In this aspect, we are totally different. While I am OCD, super neat, and highly organized, she is the total opposite. After I was done deciphering through the emails, I was tasked with emailing the players (new and old) the workout plan from the new strength and conditioning coach. Also included in the new player’s emails were highlighted documents that still need their attention regarding their NCAA accounts.
My favorite part of today was ‘Lunch by the Lake.’ This is the name I gifted to our lunchtime. For those of you that are unfamiliar with Clayton State’s campus, it is home to six different lakes. The lakes are peaceful places for students to relax, study, and enjoy a beautiful day. They are also homes to fish, turtles, swans, ducks, and, of course, Loch and Nessie, our school mascots. While walking to our vehicles to grab lunch, it was my idea to grab food-to-go, eat by the lake, talk sports, life, and enjoy each the weather and scenery. Near the athletic (literally in the back of the building) lies two lakes.
To close out the day, I helped Brittany choose the team gear for the upcoming season. Selecting gear has always been one of my favorite things to do. As a player, we had a lot of input in selecting shoes, apparel, travel bags, book bags, etc. Now as an intern, I was excited to see what items Brittany was considering. Normally, she would wait to place orders at the end of August or the beginning of September, but COVID-19 has altered and delayed shipments worldwide. Therefore, Brittany is attempting to be proactive. I was eager to learn how to place orders online through their Nike representative. Lastly, I listened to her phone conversation with their Nike representative as they spoke about estimates, ordering, and finances.
Wednesday, June 10, 2020: INSTAGRAM!!
I was aware that the Clayton State Women’s Basketball Team had an Instagram page, but I do not personally follow their page nor have I ever examined the page itself. As I stumbled across their page yesterday, I noticed it was “plain” in terms of the content that was posted, the news reported, etc. Today, I asked Brittany who operates the Instagram page and I also asked if I could offer some advice. She stated that she oversees the page and without question asked if I wanted to take it over. Although I have several social media accounts, I rarely post. Yet, I accepted the offer without any hesitation. My goal is to increase the 808 followers to 1,000 by the end of July. Also, I plan to post highlight videos of the incoming players to give the fans a sneak-peek of what is to come this upcoming season. I think the “bio” section is vague, so I plan to update that information with details containing championship successes. Lastly, posting quality pictures is a must. Android pictures versus iPhone pictures make a big difference.
Another task we focused on and completed today was creating a ‘Recruiting Class of 2021’ list. Out of the various highlight tapes and full-game clips I watched, we added them to Brittany’s “BOLO” dry erase board. Some of the players I watched and enjoyed watching were Breionna Dodson from Tatnum High School (Wilmington, Delaware), Jenni Johnson from Yakima Valley College (Yakima, Washington), Ciana Montgomery from West Catholic High School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Amayla Shariff from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Perkinston, Mississippi), and so many more. What I noticed is after constantly watching my laptop for hours on end, I realized I prefer to watch players live. Also, I realized I am not a fan of highlight tapes because it fails to depict a player’s overall game. For instance, I want to see the good and great plays that are included on the highlight tape, but I want to see how a player handles adversity, turnovers, etc.
To end the day, Brittany shared with me how excited she was to find out that Danielle Masi was assigned to women’s basketball for the upcoming season. Brittany and Danielle are close friends, so to have Danielle travel with them and oversee their players is comforting.
I was aware that the Clayton State Women’s Basketball Team had an Instagram page, but I do not personally follow their page nor have I ever examined the page itself. As I stumbled across their page yesterday, I noticed it was “plain” in terms of the content that was posted, the news reported, etc. Today, I asked Brittany who operates the Instagram page and I also asked if I could offer some advice. She stated that she oversees the page and without question asked if I wanted to take it over. Although I have several social media accounts, I rarely post. Yet, I accepted the offer without any hesitation. My goal is to increase the 808 followers to 1,000 by the end of July. Also, I plan to post highlight videos of the incoming players to give the fans a sneak-peek of what is to come this upcoming season. I think the “bio” section is vague, so I plan to update that information with details containing championship successes. Lastly, posting quality pictures is a must. Android pictures versus iPhone pictures make a big difference.
Another task we focused on and completed today was creating a ‘Recruiting Class of 2021’ list. Out of the various highlight tapes and full-game clips I watched, we added them to Brittany’s “BOLO” dry erase board. Some of the players I watched and enjoyed watching were Breionna Dodson from Tatnum High School (Wilmington, Delaware), Jenni Johnson from Yakima Valley College (Yakima, Washington), Ciana Montgomery from West Catholic High School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), Amayla Shariff from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (Perkinston, Mississippi), and so many more. What I noticed is after constantly watching my laptop for hours on end, I realized I prefer to watch players live. Also, I realized I am not a fan of highlight tapes because it fails to depict a player’s overall game. For instance, I want to see the good and great plays that are included on the highlight tape, but I want to see how a player handles adversity, turnovers, etc.
To end the day, Brittany shared with me how excited she was to find out that Danielle Masi was assigned to women’s basketball for the upcoming season. Brittany and Danielle are close friends, so to have Danielle travel with them and oversee their players is comforting.
Tuesday, June 30, 2020: WELCOME TO LAKER NATION!!
Today Brittany and I focused solely on the new incoming players and the current roster. Because July tends to be a hectic month for college students in general, the pressure on the student-athletes intensifies the entire month of June. Student-athletes are encouraged to complete all required documents by the end of June. During the first half of the morning, Brittany and I called every incoming player to ensure they were accepted into the university, paid their housing and orientation fees, and set up their student account/email. 3/8 signees had been admitted into the school, which was somewhat comforting. The recruits who have not been admitted were waiting for transcripts to be sent, counselors to make phone calls, etc. Then, based on the information they provided Brittany and me with, we marked “X’s” in the column based on the tasks they had completed. For example, the spreadsheet consisted of tabs like acceptance, major, paid fees, completed documents, etc.
Here is an introduction to the incoming players:
Kerry Watson: Kerry Watson was born in Chicago, Illinois, but spent the majority of her life in Georgia. She attended Forest Park High School, which is about 3 miles from Clayton State University. Kerry is a rising senior transfer student from South Carolina State University. As a junior, she played in 22 games, averaged 18.6 minutes, 2.1 points, 2.2 assists, and 1 steal per game.
Audrey McElhaney: Audrey McElhaney is a rising junior from Tifton, Georgia. She attended Tifton High School, which is about 170 miles from Clayton State University. As a sophomore guard for Chattahoochee Valley Community College, Audrey saw action in 29 games, averaged 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
Jadah White: Jadah White is a rising freshman guard from Wheeler High School. As a native from Marietta, Georgia, Jadah was selected to the All-Region First Team and ranked 245 of all Georgia seniors.
Whitney Anderson: Whitney Anderson is a rising freshman guard from Augusta, Georgia. She attended Laney High School, where she played in 30 games, averaged 13.6 points, 3.1 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. Audrey also won two state championships as a freshman and sophomore. The following two years included a Final Four appearance and an Elite Eight appearance.
Jessica Maye: Jessica Maye is a rising junior from Birmingham, Alabama. As a sophomore guard for Chattahoochee Valley Community College, Jessica saw action in 30 games, averaged 4.1 points, 4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and shot 51.7 percent from the field.
Kevanika Brown: Kevanika Brown is a rising junior from West Palm Beach, Florida. She previously played for Motlow State Community College where she earned Player of the Week honors. As a sophomore, Kevanika saw action in 29 games, averaged 14 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
Ja’Mya Johnson: Ja’Mya Johnson is a rising freshman guard from Valdosta, Georgia. She previously attended Valdosta High School, where she played in 31 games, averaged 15.1 points, 3 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 4.1 steals, and 0.2 blocks.
Grace Kabundi: Grace Kabundi is a native Florida native from Congo, Africa. Grace is a rising junior that previously attended St. Petersburg College in Pinellas County, Florida. As a sophomore, she saw action in 27 games, 3.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.3 assists, and shot 41.1 percent from the field.
Today Brittany and I focused solely on the new incoming players and the current roster. Because July tends to be a hectic month for college students in general, the pressure on the student-athletes intensifies the entire month of June. Student-athletes are encouraged to complete all required documents by the end of June. During the first half of the morning, Brittany and I called every incoming player to ensure they were accepted into the university, paid their housing and orientation fees, and set up their student account/email. 3/8 signees had been admitted into the school, which was somewhat comforting. The recruits who have not been admitted were waiting for transcripts to be sent, counselors to make phone calls, etc. Then, based on the information they provided Brittany and me with, we marked “X’s” in the column based on the tasks they had completed. For example, the spreadsheet consisted of tabs like acceptance, major, paid fees, completed documents, etc.
Here is an introduction to the incoming players:
Kerry Watson: Kerry Watson was born in Chicago, Illinois, but spent the majority of her life in Georgia. She attended Forest Park High School, which is about 3 miles from Clayton State University. Kerry is a rising senior transfer student from South Carolina State University. As a junior, she played in 22 games, averaged 18.6 minutes, 2.1 points, 2.2 assists, and 1 steal per game.
Audrey McElhaney: Audrey McElhaney is a rising junior from Tifton, Georgia. She attended Tifton High School, which is about 170 miles from Clayton State University. As a sophomore guard for Chattahoochee Valley Community College, Audrey saw action in 29 games, averaged 13.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
Jadah White: Jadah White is a rising freshman guard from Wheeler High School. As a native from Marietta, Georgia, Jadah was selected to the All-Region First Team and ranked 245 of all Georgia seniors.
Whitney Anderson: Whitney Anderson is a rising freshman guard from Augusta, Georgia. She attended Laney High School, where she played in 30 games, averaged 13.6 points, 3.1 assists, 6.1 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. Audrey also won two state championships as a freshman and sophomore. The following two years included a Final Four appearance and an Elite Eight appearance.
Jessica Maye: Jessica Maye is a rising junior from Birmingham, Alabama. As a sophomore guard for Chattahoochee Valley Community College, Jessica saw action in 30 games, averaged 4.1 points, 4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and shot 51.7 percent from the field.
Kevanika Brown: Kevanika Brown is a rising junior from West Palm Beach, Florida. She previously played for Motlow State Community College where she earned Player of the Week honors. As a sophomore, Kevanika saw action in 29 games, averaged 14 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
Ja’Mya Johnson: Ja’Mya Johnson is a rising freshman guard from Valdosta, Georgia. She previously attended Valdosta High School, where she played in 31 games, averaged 15.1 points, 3 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 4.1 steals, and 0.2 blocks.
Grace Kabundi: Grace Kabundi is a native Florida native from Congo, Africa. Grace is a rising junior that previously attended St. Petersburg College in Pinellas County, Florida. As a sophomore, she saw action in 27 games, 3.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.3 assists, and shot 41.1 percent from the field.
Wednesday, July 1, 2020: WHAT WILL FALL SPORTS LOOK LIKE?
As soon as Brittany and I entered the athletic facility, our first agenda was to finalize and submit the Nike gear order. Once the order was completed, we had a conference call with the head coach, Kaleena Coleman. During the conference call, she discussed topics like enrollment, housing, orientation, move-in dates, and preparing for the beginning of the school year to the best of our abilities. Since the university has chosen to open under somewhat “normal” conditions, Coach Coleman wanted to ensure the women’s basketball players had safety measures in place. During the conference call, her main concern was ensuring each player knew the specific move-in dates for athletes, mandatory orientation dates for athletics and the university, and the first official dates for the fall semester. Once the call concluded, I was tasked with reaching out to every player on the roster via cell phone to cover these particular dates and to answer any questions the players might have had.
Later in the afternoon, we deciphered through recruiting emails. The amount of emails that generate within 24 hours is somewhat ridiculous. Additionally, some AAU coaches and high school will flood their emails with players that are in the graduating class of 2024-2025. These are middle school students who have yet to play a single high school game. In my mind, that does not make any sense. In addition to them being in middle school, these players may or may not make the varsity roster.
Because of COVID-19, we also discussed what fall recruiting will look like for 2021 recruits. Will there be high school sports? If so, will spectators be allowed? How many spectators can attend at once? Will there be restrictions on the number of college coaches that can attend a single game? What will we do about players whose states cancel fall sports? Will we stand firm on those particular recruits based on their past games? These are the hard questions we were forced to ponder on. Many of the surrounding school districts have either canceled fall sports, are delaying the start dates, or shortening the season. In my opinion, there are not any realistic “right” answers when attempting to combat this virus in the safest manner.
As soon as Brittany and I entered the athletic facility, our first agenda was to finalize and submit the Nike gear order. Once the order was completed, we had a conference call with the head coach, Kaleena Coleman. During the conference call, she discussed topics like enrollment, housing, orientation, move-in dates, and preparing for the beginning of the school year to the best of our abilities. Since the university has chosen to open under somewhat “normal” conditions, Coach Coleman wanted to ensure the women’s basketball players had safety measures in place. During the conference call, her main concern was ensuring each player knew the specific move-in dates for athletes, mandatory orientation dates for athletics and the university, and the first official dates for the fall semester. Once the call concluded, I was tasked with reaching out to every player on the roster via cell phone to cover these particular dates and to answer any questions the players might have had.
Later in the afternoon, we deciphered through recruiting emails. The amount of emails that generate within 24 hours is somewhat ridiculous. Additionally, some AAU coaches and high school will flood their emails with players that are in the graduating class of 2024-2025. These are middle school students who have yet to play a single high school game. In my mind, that does not make any sense. In addition to them being in middle school, these players may or may not make the varsity roster.
Because of COVID-19, we also discussed what fall recruiting will look like for 2021 recruits. Will there be high school sports? If so, will spectators be allowed? How many spectators can attend at once? Will there be restrictions on the number of college coaches that can attend a single game? What will we do about players whose states cancel fall sports? Will we stand firm on those particular recruits based on their past games? These are the hard questions we were forced to ponder on. Many of the surrounding school districts have either canceled fall sports, are delaying the start dates, or shortening the season. In my opinion, there are not any realistic “right” answers when attempting to combat this virus in the safest manner.
Friday, July 3, 2020: ANSWERING THE HARD QUESTIONS!!
What I have realized is no one is following the A and B rotating days. Brittany and I are usually the only ones in the building. Coach Coleman (head coach) has not returned to the office since March. Brittany and I are usually going into the office when she has a few tasks to tackle. This morning, we received a call from Coach Coleman because there was a question posed to her during the head coaches meeting with the athletic director. For those that do not know, Georgia was one of the states that chose to open the state fully, early. Now, the state is setting records for the number of positive cases in a single day. Additionally, with the NBA attempting to finish their season, the NCAA is observing the process. However, the NCAA does not have anywhere near the resources the NBA does. Therefore, the number of rising cases in our state is causing the university to make last-minute, yet, important decisions. Anyways, Coach Coleman asked us this question: how do we implement safety precautions in regards to individual workouts and team practices, that are still within the CDC guidelines? In my humblest opinion, it is merely impossible. Not only will the players be in contact with other students on a daily basis, but the university also has not made masks mandatory. Additionally, the athletes will visit many buildings throughout the day to include the cafeteria, library, athletic facility, several classrooms, etc. However, I do believe masks should be mandatory for all student-athletes and the number of places they can visit should be limited. In terms of individual workouts and team practices, the players cannot practice with face masks nor realistically keep a six feet safety distance. That being said, I had no optimistic solutions to provide. There is no "safe" way to implement individual workouts and team practices.
Side Note: Unfortunately, one of the players that they signed to this year’s roster still has not been accepted into the university. Kerry Watson, the transfer point guard from South Carolina State University, is seemingly frustrated with the university because they are requiring her to submit all of her transcripts from previous universities. Kerry has attended five different colleges and somehow still has a year of eligibility left. Other than that, today was less hectic than the previous days in regards to tasks. Yet, it was eye-opening because these safety precautions, questions, and decisions are not getting any easier and it is becoming increasingly difficult to settle into the “new normal.”
What I have realized is no one is following the A and B rotating days. Brittany and I are usually the only ones in the building. Coach Coleman (head coach) has not returned to the office since March. Brittany and I are usually going into the office when she has a few tasks to tackle. This morning, we received a call from Coach Coleman because there was a question posed to her during the head coaches meeting with the athletic director. For those that do not know, Georgia was one of the states that chose to open the state fully, early. Now, the state is setting records for the number of positive cases in a single day. Additionally, with the NBA attempting to finish their season, the NCAA is observing the process. However, the NCAA does not have anywhere near the resources the NBA does. Therefore, the number of rising cases in our state is causing the university to make last-minute, yet, important decisions. Anyways, Coach Coleman asked us this question: how do we implement safety precautions in regards to individual workouts and team practices, that are still within the CDC guidelines? In my humblest opinion, it is merely impossible. Not only will the players be in contact with other students on a daily basis, but the university also has not made masks mandatory. Additionally, the athletes will visit many buildings throughout the day to include the cafeteria, library, athletic facility, several classrooms, etc. However, I do believe masks should be mandatory for all student-athletes and the number of places they can visit should be limited. In terms of individual workouts and team practices, the players cannot practice with face masks nor realistically keep a six feet safety distance. That being said, I had no optimistic solutions to provide. There is no "safe" way to implement individual workouts and team practices.
Side Note: Unfortunately, one of the players that they signed to this year’s roster still has not been accepted into the university. Kerry Watson, the transfer point guard from South Carolina State University, is seemingly frustrated with the university because they are requiring her to submit all of her transcripts from previous universities. Kerry has attended five different colleges and somehow still has a year of eligibility left. Other than that, today was less hectic than the previous days in regards to tasks. Yet, it was eye-opening because these safety precautions, questions, and decisions are not getting any easier and it is becoming increasingly difficult to settle into the “new normal.”
Monday, July 6, 2020: JUST ME, MYSELF, AND I!!
Sunday, July 5, 2020, I met with Brittany around noon to obtain her office and facility keys. July 6-10, 2020, Brittany will be on vacation, but she wants to ensure I continue getting my hours to complete my internship. While she will physically be in the state of Georgia due to COVID-19, she will be taking a break from her duties and responsibilities for one full week. As last season abruptly ended in March, she stated that she was worked consistently from home to include the summer months. Additionally, she has had an enormously busy summer because they have eight new incoming players and everything has been virtual; which has created its own set of troubles. So, while she is on vacation, I will be working from the office by myself. As much as it sounds crazy, she trusts me enough to get things done promptly and on time, as well as complete the tasks left for me with fidelity.
As I entered the Athletic Center this morning, I am alone. I must admit, it feels weird. Usually, Brittany and I walk greet each other in the parking lot and walk in together. Today, I am solo and there are no other coaches or staff members in the building. Once I opened the door to Brittany’s office, there was a “To-Do List” for me waiting on her desk. The list included specific tasks she wanted me to complete throughout the week. Included on the list were responsibilities such as remembering to check emails daily, creating the monthly calendar for August, putting together the welcome packets for the first team meeting, organizing the backroom, and continuing to scout potential recruits. At this point, I am realizing that I miss conversing with Brittany while I work. Typically, we talk about hot topics with celebrities, issues with the players, NBA/WNBA, and whatever else that comes to our minds. However, I am enjoying the fact that they are depending on me. In a futuristic way, this is a great opportunity for me because Brittany is planning to part ways with Clayton State Women’s Basketball as soon as 2021 to obviously grow her career and make more money. In turn, that will leave her position vacant. My goal as her intern is to learn as much as I can about her responsibilities. The more I know, the more marketable I will become when the position does become vacant.
In fact, when my intern ends, I plan to continue to volunteer throughout the season as much as my time will permit. Because I already know the system, the culture, the players, and have a relationship with Coach Coleman, my ultimate goal is to build rapport and gain her trust. Currently, I am not that much concerned with pay, but more so with the experience and the opportunity. Plus, there is no place I’d rather be when I land my first coaching position. Coaching at my alma mater where I helped win the school’s first and only National Championship will seem like a dream, but the best opportunity ever!
Sunday, July 5, 2020, I met with Brittany around noon to obtain her office and facility keys. July 6-10, 2020, Brittany will be on vacation, but she wants to ensure I continue getting my hours to complete my internship. While she will physically be in the state of Georgia due to COVID-19, she will be taking a break from her duties and responsibilities for one full week. As last season abruptly ended in March, she stated that she was worked consistently from home to include the summer months. Additionally, she has had an enormously busy summer because they have eight new incoming players and everything has been virtual; which has created its own set of troubles. So, while she is on vacation, I will be working from the office by myself. As much as it sounds crazy, she trusts me enough to get things done promptly and on time, as well as complete the tasks left for me with fidelity.
As I entered the Athletic Center this morning, I am alone. I must admit, it feels weird. Usually, Brittany and I walk greet each other in the parking lot and walk in together. Today, I am solo and there are no other coaches or staff members in the building. Once I opened the door to Brittany’s office, there was a “To-Do List” for me waiting on her desk. The list included specific tasks she wanted me to complete throughout the week. Included on the list were responsibilities such as remembering to check emails daily, creating the monthly calendar for August, putting together the welcome packets for the first team meeting, organizing the backroom, and continuing to scout potential recruits. At this point, I am realizing that I miss conversing with Brittany while I work. Typically, we talk about hot topics with celebrities, issues with the players, NBA/WNBA, and whatever else that comes to our minds. However, I am enjoying the fact that they are depending on me. In a futuristic way, this is a great opportunity for me because Brittany is planning to part ways with Clayton State Women’s Basketball as soon as 2021 to obviously grow her career and make more money. In turn, that will leave her position vacant. My goal as her intern is to learn as much as I can about her responsibilities. The more I know, the more marketable I will become when the position does become vacant.
In fact, when my intern ends, I plan to continue to volunteer throughout the season as much as my time will permit. Because I already know the system, the culture, the players, and have a relationship with Coach Coleman, my ultimate goal is to build rapport and gain her trust. Currently, I am not that much concerned with pay, but more so with the experience and the opportunity. Plus, there is no place I’d rather be when I land my first coaching position. Coaching at my alma mater where I helped win the school’s first and only National Championship will seem like a dream, but the best opportunity ever!
Wednesday, July 8, 2020: ALL ABOUT BRITTANY!!
Today, I did not spend too much time at the office. Normally, I try to spend at least 5 hours at the office to ensure I am truly learning, observing, and working to master the concept of being an assistant coach. Because I was extremely lonely on Monday, I decided that majority of my tasks will be completed from the comfort of my home unless I am otherwise told to go in. However, I did organize the backroom today, which was one of the tasks listed on my “To-Do List.” By the way, the backroom was a disaster. It was not as bad as it was at the beginning of June, but it was destroyed. It took me a little over an hour to fold all those jerseys, warm-ups, and organize the shelves. While I was back there, I decided to call Brittany on Google Duo and conduct an informal interview. Check out the interview questions below!
1. What do you love most about your job?
What I love the most about my job is witnessing the growth of my players. Seeing the evolve and accomplish goals on and off the court gives me joy.
2. What do you like dislike most about your job?
What I dislike most about my job is the work-life balance. It is something that I dislike and coaching can be a very demanding job which can make it difficult to find a balance.
3. If you could change one thing about your position, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about my position, it would be the salary. I love coaching for my alma mater, but I think that assistant coaches, especially at the Division II level, are not well compensated for the amount of work they do or responsibilities assigned.
4. How positive are you about this upcoming season as it relates to COVID-19 and the difficulties it presents to actually have a season?
I am hopeful that our conference and department leaders will come up with an effective action plan that will allow us to move forward with our season. There will be a lot of adjustments on how we will operate going forward, but I’m optimistic that we will play this season.
5. What are you most proud of when it comes to Clayton State University Athletics?
I'm most proud of the growth of the department. The department has done a complete makeover, which is beneficial when competing against other schools during the recruiting period. There have been tremendous improvements in the athletic performance throughout the entire department and it was well organized. For example, each sports team has somehow grown in their success endeavors as it relates to academics, wins, volunteer work, etc. Our student-athletes have also excelled in the classroom over the past few years. For the first time in school history, we were awarded the Peach Belt Conference President’s Academic Award in 2019.
6. Since becoming the head assistant coach, what season has been your favorite and why?
This past season (2019-2020) was by far my favorite season! Several of our players took big leaps in their development as players and leaders. Because of that individual growth, we were able to finish our regular season on a 10-game winning streak.
7. At what point do you think you will move on CSU to “broaden your horizons” for lack of better words?
I honestly do not have timeline on when I will move on from CSU. I am constantly looking for better opportunities to enhance my professional career and development. Once the right opportunity presents itself and becomes available, I will move forward in that direction.
8. What player as a coach has been the most enjoyable to coach?
Taneria Wilson!! She was one of our senior captains from this past season. I thoroughly enjoyed coaching this young lady for the past two years. Every day she out worked everyone in the gym, she never complained about anything, she was coachable, and embraced her role as “THE LEADER.” She played the game of basketball with such great passion and with confidence. She was just fun to watch and I will truly miss her this upcoming season.
9. Would you agree that fundraising is an important function in Division II athletic programs?
Yes, fundraising is very important at the Division II level. Some Division II programs experience significant budget cuts and lack the necessary resources to such dramatic hits. Fundraising gives athletic programs adequate funds to support their budgets during unprecedented times. Also, they offer additional ways to enhance the department in various capacities.
10. What advice would you give to someone like myself, who is eager to enter the sports industry, but find it difficult to land entry-level positions?
Network as much as possible. In this industry, gaining access to a job can sometimes come down to who you know. Also, continue to work as though you are already in the position. Having a list of prospects, a playbook, and your coaches philosophy written out would be good to have when interviewing with a potential boss.
Today, I did not spend too much time at the office. Normally, I try to spend at least 5 hours at the office to ensure I am truly learning, observing, and working to master the concept of being an assistant coach. Because I was extremely lonely on Monday, I decided that majority of my tasks will be completed from the comfort of my home unless I am otherwise told to go in. However, I did organize the backroom today, which was one of the tasks listed on my “To-Do List.” By the way, the backroom was a disaster. It was not as bad as it was at the beginning of June, but it was destroyed. It took me a little over an hour to fold all those jerseys, warm-ups, and organize the shelves. While I was back there, I decided to call Brittany on Google Duo and conduct an informal interview. Check out the interview questions below!
1. What do you love most about your job?
What I love the most about my job is witnessing the growth of my players. Seeing the evolve and accomplish goals on and off the court gives me joy.
2. What do you like dislike most about your job?
What I dislike most about my job is the work-life balance. It is something that I dislike and coaching can be a very demanding job which can make it difficult to find a balance.
3. If you could change one thing about your position, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about my position, it would be the salary. I love coaching for my alma mater, but I think that assistant coaches, especially at the Division II level, are not well compensated for the amount of work they do or responsibilities assigned.
4. How positive are you about this upcoming season as it relates to COVID-19 and the difficulties it presents to actually have a season?
I am hopeful that our conference and department leaders will come up with an effective action plan that will allow us to move forward with our season. There will be a lot of adjustments on how we will operate going forward, but I’m optimistic that we will play this season.
5. What are you most proud of when it comes to Clayton State University Athletics?
I'm most proud of the growth of the department. The department has done a complete makeover, which is beneficial when competing against other schools during the recruiting period. There have been tremendous improvements in the athletic performance throughout the entire department and it was well organized. For example, each sports team has somehow grown in their success endeavors as it relates to academics, wins, volunteer work, etc. Our student-athletes have also excelled in the classroom over the past few years. For the first time in school history, we were awarded the Peach Belt Conference President’s Academic Award in 2019.
6. Since becoming the head assistant coach, what season has been your favorite and why?
This past season (2019-2020) was by far my favorite season! Several of our players took big leaps in their development as players and leaders. Because of that individual growth, we were able to finish our regular season on a 10-game winning streak.
7. At what point do you think you will move on CSU to “broaden your horizons” for lack of better words?
I honestly do not have timeline on when I will move on from CSU. I am constantly looking for better opportunities to enhance my professional career and development. Once the right opportunity presents itself and becomes available, I will move forward in that direction.
8. What player as a coach has been the most enjoyable to coach?
Taneria Wilson!! She was one of our senior captains from this past season. I thoroughly enjoyed coaching this young lady for the past two years. Every day she out worked everyone in the gym, she never complained about anything, she was coachable, and embraced her role as “THE LEADER.” She played the game of basketball with such great passion and with confidence. She was just fun to watch and I will truly miss her this upcoming season.
9. Would you agree that fundraising is an important function in Division II athletic programs?
Yes, fundraising is very important at the Division II level. Some Division II programs experience significant budget cuts and lack the necessary resources to such dramatic hits. Fundraising gives athletic programs adequate funds to support their budgets during unprecedented times. Also, they offer additional ways to enhance the department in various capacities.
10. What advice would you give to someone like myself, who is eager to enter the sports industry, but find it difficult to land entry-level positions?
Network as much as possible. In this industry, gaining access to a job can sometimes come down to who you know. Also, continue to work as though you are already in the position. Having a list of prospects, a playbook, and your coaches philosophy written out would be good to have when interviewing with a potential boss.
Friday, July 10, 2020: AUGUST CALENDAR!!
The majority (97%) of the responsibilities I was tasked with completing are done. However, the remaining 3% is completing this calendar. Unfortunately, I am feeling pressured because I want to ensure I am presenting a complete, thorough, and good enough calendar for Coach Coleman. While I have ample time to complete the calendar and the pleasure of working on it from home, I came into the office to finish the calendar. Also, I need to save the calendar to Brittany’s desktop computer and place a hardcopy on Coach Coleman’s desk. Completing the calendar is not difficult, but I want to make sure I did not forget any important dates or activities. Plus, completing the calendar came from the head coach so it is imperative that I do my best work.Before I started the calendar earlier this week, Coach Coleman emailed a Word document that included a list of dates and events that I needed to add to the calendar. I was also asked to highlight a date on the calendar that would serve as a good day to host the first team meeting. If I am honest, I chose a day that was in the middle of the week and near the end of the month to allow the student-athletes the opportunity to adjust to their new schedules and comfortably navigate the campus. On the calendar, I obviously included the athletic events/activities, but I also included events/activities that will be held on campus by other departments and clubs. Lastly, I made two notes at the bottom of the calendar that stated that dates and times are subject to change, as well as all events/activities are currently face-to-face but could be presented virtually.I was so nervous about the calendar that I sent Brittany a picture of the calendar to confirm it was worthy enough. She downplayed the importance of the calendar, but she is not walking in my shoes. I wanted to add color to the calendar, but it will be copied and given to the players in black and white. After about 4 hours of constantly freaking out, I finally saved the final document to Brittany's desktop computer and placed a completed copy on Coach Coleman's desk.
The majority (97%) of the responsibilities I was tasked with completing are done. However, the remaining 3% is completing this calendar. Unfortunately, I am feeling pressured because I want to ensure I am presenting a complete, thorough, and good enough calendar for Coach Coleman. While I have ample time to complete the calendar and the pleasure of working on it from home, I came into the office to finish the calendar. Also, I need to save the calendar to Brittany’s desktop computer and place a hardcopy on Coach Coleman’s desk. Completing the calendar is not difficult, but I want to make sure I did not forget any important dates or activities. Plus, completing the calendar came from the head coach so it is imperative that I do my best work.Before I started the calendar earlier this week, Coach Coleman emailed a Word document that included a list of dates and events that I needed to add to the calendar. I was also asked to highlight a date on the calendar that would serve as a good day to host the first team meeting. If I am honest, I chose a day that was in the middle of the week and near the end of the month to allow the student-athletes the opportunity to adjust to their new schedules and comfortably navigate the campus. On the calendar, I obviously included the athletic events/activities, but I also included events/activities that will be held on campus by other departments and clubs. Lastly, I made two notes at the bottom of the calendar that stated that dates and times are subject to change, as well as all events/activities are currently face-to-face but could be presented virtually.I was so nervous about the calendar that I sent Brittany a picture of the calendar to confirm it was worthy enough. She downplayed the importance of the calendar, but she is not walking in my shoes. I wanted to add color to the calendar, but it will be copied and given to the players in black and white. After about 4 hours of constantly freaking out, I finally saved the final document to Brittany's desktop computer and placed a completed copy on Coach Coleman's desk.
Monday, July 13, 2020: SHE'S BACK!!
Brittany is back in the office and I am ecstatic to see her! Last week was extremely lonely and the building was too quiet. Before I knew it, I was hugging Brittany which is totally discouraged due to social distancing policies and recommendations. If I am honest, there are times when I forget about COVID because it is not uncommon for me to embrace people. Speaking of safety precautions and COVID-19, no one wears masks while working inside the athletic facility. In my opinion, it should definitely be mandatory, especially with the spike in numbers here in Georgia. Anyways, as we entered Brittany's office, I logged into the computer to check Brittany's emails like I always do. One email that immediately caught my attention was an email from the admissions office. In the email, the admissions representative was detailing issues related to Kerry Watson. As of today, Kerry still has not been admitted to the university which is not good news for any of us. Relaying this news to Coach Coleman will not be pleasant. Apparently, Kerry is still missing transcripts and has not completed/submitted some documents that are mandatory for the university. Again, NOT GOOD NEWS!
Later on in the day, Brittany and I discussed the dynamics of the mentorship program. We discussed the effectiveness/ineffectiveness of the program, exchanged feedback concerning other mentors, pros/cons of the program, growth, and development of the players, and deciding on whether or not to bring the program back for a second season. Personally, I enjoyed the mentorship program and took my responsibilities as a mentor seriously. I found that I took pride in laying the foundation and putting in the time to really help in Praise's and Destinee's development. Witnessing Praise's growth was so rewarding because I know the amount of work she put in behind closed doors. Also, I could tell that she not only listened to my feedback, but she attempted to implement those things into her style of play. However, I was not at all successful with Destinee. As we conversed about Destinee, they (Brittany and Coach Coleman) suggested she spend a year playing at junior college this upcoming season as a way to build her confidence and become acclimated with college-level play. Instead, Destinee declined their offer and asked to redshirt.
So, this upcoming season Destinee will only be a practice player as a sophomore. On the other hand, I am excited to see Praise's senior season. Toward the latter part of the season, Praise was such a spark for the team. Once she was removed from the point guard position to a shooting guard, she began to meet all of the goals she set at the beginning of the season. Because of the boost in her confidence, she was able to become a better facilitator and leader on the court. Overall, we concluded that the program definitely needs more in-depth duties and responsibilities, boundaries, inclusion, and participation. Additionally, I think we may benefit more if it is solicited to all former players instead of narrowing it down to the National Championship team.
To conclude the day, I listened to Brittany make the dreadful call to Coach Coleman about Kerry.
Brittany is back in the office and I am ecstatic to see her! Last week was extremely lonely and the building was too quiet. Before I knew it, I was hugging Brittany which is totally discouraged due to social distancing policies and recommendations. If I am honest, there are times when I forget about COVID because it is not uncommon for me to embrace people. Speaking of safety precautions and COVID-19, no one wears masks while working inside the athletic facility. In my opinion, it should definitely be mandatory, especially with the spike in numbers here in Georgia. Anyways, as we entered Brittany's office, I logged into the computer to check Brittany's emails like I always do. One email that immediately caught my attention was an email from the admissions office. In the email, the admissions representative was detailing issues related to Kerry Watson. As of today, Kerry still has not been admitted to the university which is not good news for any of us. Relaying this news to Coach Coleman will not be pleasant. Apparently, Kerry is still missing transcripts and has not completed/submitted some documents that are mandatory for the university. Again, NOT GOOD NEWS!
Later on in the day, Brittany and I discussed the dynamics of the mentorship program. We discussed the effectiveness/ineffectiveness of the program, exchanged feedback concerning other mentors, pros/cons of the program, growth, and development of the players, and deciding on whether or not to bring the program back for a second season. Personally, I enjoyed the mentorship program and took my responsibilities as a mentor seriously. I found that I took pride in laying the foundation and putting in the time to really help in Praise's and Destinee's development. Witnessing Praise's growth was so rewarding because I know the amount of work she put in behind closed doors. Also, I could tell that she not only listened to my feedback, but she attempted to implement those things into her style of play. However, I was not at all successful with Destinee. As we conversed about Destinee, they (Brittany and Coach Coleman) suggested she spend a year playing at junior college this upcoming season as a way to build her confidence and become acclimated with college-level play. Instead, Destinee declined their offer and asked to redshirt.
So, this upcoming season Destinee will only be a practice player as a sophomore. On the other hand, I am excited to see Praise's senior season. Toward the latter part of the season, Praise was such a spark for the team. Once she was removed from the point guard position to a shooting guard, she began to meet all of the goals she set at the beginning of the season. Because of the boost in her confidence, she was able to become a better facilitator and leader on the court. Overall, we concluded that the program definitely needs more in-depth duties and responsibilities, boundaries, inclusion, and participation. Additionally, I think we may benefit more if it is solicited to all former players instead of narrowing it down to the National Championship team.
To conclude the day, I listened to Brittany make the dreadful call to Coach Coleman about Kerry.
Monday, August 3, 2020 - MOVE IN DAY PART I!!
Today was a long day! Our players are starting to arrive on campus along with regular students. So, things are a tad bit hectic and COVID adds additional complications. Luckily, the majority of our players are upperclassmen so they will be housed in the same building. Additionally, they are blessed to have each other as roommates. Two freshmen players will be living in the freshman dorms. Once they arrive, either I or Brittany will assist them. I love the apartments at Clayton State University because the players have the luxury of having their own room and bathroom. They do however share a kitchen and common area. Also, these players will never know the struggle of living in the "old phase." The old-phase is all I know. So unlike myself and Brittany, our players have the luxury of staying in the "new phase," as well as living in a gated community. When I attended Clayton State, anyone could live in the apartments to include community members. Now, it is owned and operated by the university. The old phase no longer looks old anymore because it has been remolded, but it does not resemble the new phase either.
The first player to arrive on the campus was Jessica Maye. She texted Brittany because she and her family were lost so wet met with them and guided them to the right place. Once there, Jessica was able to check and in and we helped her move in. From then on, other players trickled in and we assisted them with moving as well. Keep in mind today's high is 96 degrees, but it will feel like 300 degrees. Had I known we would be helping them move, I would have dressed appropriately. I am currently wearing sweat pants and a hoodie because the athletic facility is cold. However, I should be wearing shorts and a t-shirt. The entire day was filled with drinking excessive amounts of water and helping players move in.
Yes, it is hot. Yes, I am tired. Yes, I am exhausted. Yes, my legs and arms are sore from carrying things up and down the stairs repeatedly. Yes, I am sweaty. And last but least, NO I DO NOT miss move-in days. Sadly, the entire process brought back several memories and made me miss living with my teammates. The best part of the day was conversing with the parents and family members and finally being able to put faces and voices with names. Today Brittany and I were movers!
SN: I was growing weary by being around so many people; especially since the university has not made masks mandatory. I still very much so quarantine and limit my exposure to people.
Today was a long day! Our players are starting to arrive on campus along with regular students. So, things are a tad bit hectic and COVID adds additional complications. Luckily, the majority of our players are upperclassmen so they will be housed in the same building. Additionally, they are blessed to have each other as roommates. Two freshmen players will be living in the freshman dorms. Once they arrive, either I or Brittany will assist them. I love the apartments at Clayton State University because the players have the luxury of having their own room and bathroom. They do however share a kitchen and common area. Also, these players will never know the struggle of living in the "old phase." The old-phase is all I know. So unlike myself and Brittany, our players have the luxury of staying in the "new phase," as well as living in a gated community. When I attended Clayton State, anyone could live in the apartments to include community members. Now, it is owned and operated by the university. The old phase no longer looks old anymore because it has been remolded, but it does not resemble the new phase either.
The first player to arrive on the campus was Jessica Maye. She texted Brittany because she and her family were lost so wet met with them and guided them to the right place. Once there, Jessica was able to check and in and we helped her move in. From then on, other players trickled in and we assisted them with moving as well. Keep in mind today's high is 96 degrees, but it will feel like 300 degrees. Had I known we would be helping them move, I would have dressed appropriately. I am currently wearing sweat pants and a hoodie because the athletic facility is cold. However, I should be wearing shorts and a t-shirt. The entire day was filled with drinking excessive amounts of water and helping players move in.
Yes, it is hot. Yes, I am tired. Yes, I am exhausted. Yes, my legs and arms are sore from carrying things up and down the stairs repeatedly. Yes, I am sweaty. And last but least, NO I DO NOT miss move-in days. Sadly, the entire process brought back several memories and made me miss living with my teammates. The best part of the day was conversing with the parents and family members and finally being able to put faces and voices with names. Today Brittany and I were movers!
SN: I was growing weary by being around so many people; especially since the university has not made masks mandatory. I still very much so quarantine and limit my exposure to people.
Tuesday, August 4, 2020: MOVE IN DAY PART II!!
Today was another long day. Luckily for me, moving came to a halt around 1 PM. Many of the players stated that they had not completed their financial aid, so Brittany sent me to the office to assist those players. Technically, I was there to allow them to use the computers in the office because financial aid is confidential information. Also, I was there to answer any questions they may have pertaining to the women's basketball program, as well as interact with their family members. As they were completing their financial aid information, I could not understand why this was not done over the summer. Financial aid is a program that can be done with or without acceptance into a college or university. Plus, the earlier it is completed, the more funds are available.
While in the office with several family members, I asked that one family would be in the office at a time. Not only for my safety but for their safety as well. Additionally, I would keep my distance and I would occasionally make small talk by asking the players and family members questions pertaining to the drive to Clayton State, summer experience, past school history, expectations as a Laker, why they chose Clayton State over other institutions, and their thoughts about their new living situation. Once the ladies were done or somewhat done in the office, Brittany texted me that the two freshmen had arrived and to meet her at the dorms. While I was regretting returning to helping the players move, the upperclassmen were mostly done so the majority of them were already at the dorms assisting the freshman. Once I got home and showered, I slept the entire night.
Today was another long day. Luckily for me, moving came to a halt around 1 PM. Many of the players stated that they had not completed their financial aid, so Brittany sent me to the office to assist those players. Technically, I was there to allow them to use the computers in the office because financial aid is confidential information. Also, I was there to answer any questions they may have pertaining to the women's basketball program, as well as interact with their family members. As they were completing their financial aid information, I could not understand why this was not done over the summer. Financial aid is a program that can be done with or without acceptance into a college or university. Plus, the earlier it is completed, the more funds are available.
While in the office with several family members, I asked that one family would be in the office at a time. Not only for my safety but for their safety as well. Additionally, I would keep my distance and I would occasionally make small talk by asking the players and family members questions pertaining to the drive to Clayton State, summer experience, past school history, expectations as a Laker, why they chose Clayton State over other institutions, and their thoughts about their new living situation. Once the ladies were done or somewhat done in the office, Brittany texted me that the two freshmen had arrived and to meet her at the dorms. While I was regretting returning to helping the players move, the upperclassmen were mostly done so the majority of them were already at the dorms assisting the freshman. Once I got home and showered, I slept the entire night.
Wednesday, August 5, 2020: MOVE IN DAY PART III!!
Actually, moving was a breeze because the majority of the team participated and helped. By the way, Kerry Watson was finally accepted into the university and she was one of the players who arrived today. Yay!! When Coach Coleman saw her in person, I could see the excitement and the relief in her face. I think she is depending on Kerry to truly lead the team from the point guard position. However, to our surprise, Kerry pulled up the apartments alone in an SUV full of boxes, totes, and huge bags filled with clothes. She has done this one too many times.
My favorite thing about today was sitting in the living room of one of the apartments and conversing with several of the players. It was like an unofficial meet and greet. The girls were talking, laughing, and getting to know one another without formal introductions. Coach Coleman and Coach Hall were interacting with them as well. It was just an amazing feeling to be apart of that moment and to also witness it. If the season is not canceled, I have a good feeling about this group. I can feel the closeness and togetherness and I hope it continues throughout the season.
Eventually, everyone would part ways and we (the coaches) returned to the office. As soon as we entered the office, I fell to the floor and laid there. The past 72 hours have been extremely exhausting. As I laid on the floor, I could not recall my teammates or coaches assisting me in moving my things. It was always my parents, myself, and my sister. In fact, I vividly remember my teammates at Clayton State all parlaying in the living room area and watching me and my family walk back and forth from my room to the outside. Yet, I enjoyed every moment. I would not trade any of the conversations and family interactions for nothing in the world. I have no energy left. It is time to go home!!
Reflection: I thought coaching was all about preparations, recruiting, and ensuring the student-athletes are pursuing a degree that will help them with their future endeavors. It is all of that and more. The players become your kids away from home. This job becomes apart of your life. And it requires a lot of time in the office and out of the office. It cannot be half done, but it requires absolute devotion. I truly believe what you put in, will be what you get out of it.
Actually, moving was a breeze because the majority of the team participated and helped. By the way, Kerry Watson was finally accepted into the university and she was one of the players who arrived today. Yay!! When Coach Coleman saw her in person, I could see the excitement and the relief in her face. I think she is depending on Kerry to truly lead the team from the point guard position. However, to our surprise, Kerry pulled up the apartments alone in an SUV full of boxes, totes, and huge bags filled with clothes. She has done this one too many times.
My favorite thing about today was sitting in the living room of one of the apartments and conversing with several of the players. It was like an unofficial meet and greet. The girls were talking, laughing, and getting to know one another without formal introductions. Coach Coleman and Coach Hall were interacting with them as well. It was just an amazing feeling to be apart of that moment and to also witness it. If the season is not canceled, I have a good feeling about this group. I can feel the closeness and togetherness and I hope it continues throughout the season.
Eventually, everyone would part ways and we (the coaches) returned to the office. As soon as we entered the office, I fell to the floor and laid there. The past 72 hours have been extremely exhausting. As I laid on the floor, I could not recall my teammates or coaches assisting me in moving my things. It was always my parents, myself, and my sister. In fact, I vividly remember my teammates at Clayton State all parlaying in the living room area and watching me and my family walk back and forth from my room to the outside. Yet, I enjoyed every moment. I would not trade any of the conversations and family interactions for nothing in the world. I have no energy left. It is time to go home!!
Reflection: I thought coaching was all about preparations, recruiting, and ensuring the student-athletes are pursuing a degree that will help them with their future endeavors. It is all of that and more. The players become your kids away from home. This job becomes apart of your life. And it requires a lot of time in the office and out of the office. It cannot be half done, but it requires absolute devotion. I truly believe what you put in, will be what you get out of it.
Thursday, August 6, 2020: ALMOST THAT TIME!!
Tomorrow, Friday, August 7, the university is hosting an online new student orientation experience that is mandatory for all students to begin their college career at Clayton State. During the virtual interactive opportunity, students will typically meet with staff members from a variety of student success offices such as Financial Aid, Center for Advising & Retention, Center for Academic Success, Student Affairs, and many many more. Also, the new students will engage with current CSU students, take a virtual tour of the campus, and virtually tour the residence halls (dorms/apartments). Today, Brittany and I focused on enrolling the incoming players in the online orientation. Some of them were already enrolled, but for the ones that were not, they needed to be registered. Otherwise, they will have a hold placed on their account which would prevent them from accessing anything school-related.
After everyone was registered, our next task was to check the current player's schedules to ensure they are enrolled in at least 12 hours (full-time) and their schedules are conducive to the practice and game schedule. For the most part, the current players were all set (there are not many players returning). Last year's team consisted of 5 graduating seniors, 3 players opted to transfer from CSU to other universities, and only 4 players are returning. Therefore, this year will be interesting because there are 8 incoming players and only 2 rising seniors.
After lunch, I was somewhat overwhelmed because I had to assist 4 of the incoming players with building their fall class schedules. Many of the classes were either full with a waiting list or conflicted with practice and game days. Creating the freshman classes were fairly simple, but the upperclassmen gave me a headache. Eventually, we would get everyone situated and settled in. I suggested that as a team we walk the campus to familiarize the incoming players with the buildings they would hear/see during the online orientation. Also, the weather was beautiful today!
Tomorrow, Friday, August 7, the university is hosting an online new student orientation experience that is mandatory for all students to begin their college career at Clayton State. During the virtual interactive opportunity, students will typically meet with staff members from a variety of student success offices such as Financial Aid, Center for Advising & Retention, Center for Academic Success, Student Affairs, and many many more. Also, the new students will engage with current CSU students, take a virtual tour of the campus, and virtually tour the residence halls (dorms/apartments). Today, Brittany and I focused on enrolling the incoming players in the online orientation. Some of them were already enrolled, but for the ones that were not, they needed to be registered. Otherwise, they will have a hold placed on their account which would prevent them from accessing anything school-related.
After everyone was registered, our next task was to check the current player's schedules to ensure they are enrolled in at least 12 hours (full-time) and their schedules are conducive to the practice and game schedule. For the most part, the current players were all set (there are not many players returning). Last year's team consisted of 5 graduating seniors, 3 players opted to transfer from CSU to other universities, and only 4 players are returning. Therefore, this year will be interesting because there are 8 incoming players and only 2 rising seniors.
After lunch, I was somewhat overwhelmed because I had to assist 4 of the incoming players with building their fall class schedules. Many of the classes were either full with a waiting list or conflicted with practice and game days. Creating the freshman classes were fairly simple, but the upperclassmen gave me a headache. Eventually, we would get everyone situated and settled in. I suggested that as a team we walk the campus to familiarize the incoming players with the buildings they would hear/see during the online orientation. Also, the weather was beautiful today!
Friday, August 7, 2020: IT'S NOT GOODBYE, IT'S SEE YOU LATER!!
Today is my last day as an intern with Clayton State University Women's Basketball Team. It has been bittersweet interning while adjusting to a global pandemic. The past four months have been nothing short of amazing in its own way. Given the circumstances, I vowed to make the best of my time as an intern. I have personally thanked Coach Coleman over and over for trusting in me this summer. However, working with Brittany and allowing her to mentor me was more than I could have asked for. Brittany made sure I was thorough in my tasks, she taught me how to evaluate an athlete's complete game from various perspectives, she showed me different components to coaching, and she poured into me valuable information in regards to becoming an assistant coach. My initial plan was to continue working with the team and volunteering throughout the season when my schedule permitted, but my life is headed in a different direction. Today I shared with Brittany and Coach Coleman that I have accepted a full-time Army position in Kansas City, Missouri as a Unit Supply Sergeant. Coach Coleman thought I was joking and brushed me off, but soon realized I was serious. For those that do not know, I have lived in Atlanta my entire life (29 years). As a DI freshman student-athlete, I attended Jacksonville, University in Jacksonville, Florida. I WAS HOMESICK!! The following year, I would transfer to Clayton State University, which was about 5 minutes from my mom's home address. Now you can see why Coach Coleman thought this was a joke!
By the way, Coach Coleman is super emotional. So, of course, she cried. She is like my second mom. I have known her for about 13 years (she started recruiting me as a sophomore in high school) so our bond is unique. Maybe when I retire from the Army, I will continue to pursue a coaching career in the sports industry. Graduating with my masters, interning at my Alma Mata, and assisting during uncertain times is something money cannot buy. I would like to thank Coach Mead, Coach Coleman, Brittany, Tiffin University, and Dr. Tiell for believing in me, challenging me, and allowing me to have this opportunity. #LakerForLife #DragonForLife
Today is my last day as an intern with Clayton State University Women's Basketball Team. It has been bittersweet interning while adjusting to a global pandemic. The past four months have been nothing short of amazing in its own way. Given the circumstances, I vowed to make the best of my time as an intern. I have personally thanked Coach Coleman over and over for trusting in me this summer. However, working with Brittany and allowing her to mentor me was more than I could have asked for. Brittany made sure I was thorough in my tasks, she taught me how to evaluate an athlete's complete game from various perspectives, she showed me different components to coaching, and she poured into me valuable information in regards to becoming an assistant coach. My initial plan was to continue working with the team and volunteering throughout the season when my schedule permitted, but my life is headed in a different direction. Today I shared with Brittany and Coach Coleman that I have accepted a full-time Army position in Kansas City, Missouri as a Unit Supply Sergeant. Coach Coleman thought I was joking and brushed me off, but soon realized I was serious. For those that do not know, I have lived in Atlanta my entire life (29 years). As a DI freshman student-athlete, I attended Jacksonville, University in Jacksonville, Florida. I WAS HOMESICK!! The following year, I would transfer to Clayton State University, which was about 5 minutes from my mom's home address. Now you can see why Coach Coleman thought this was a joke!
By the way, Coach Coleman is super emotional. So, of course, she cried. She is like my second mom. I have known her for about 13 years (she started recruiting me as a sophomore in high school) so our bond is unique. Maybe when I retire from the Army, I will continue to pursue a coaching career in the sports industry. Graduating with my masters, interning at my Alma Mata, and assisting during uncertain times is something money cannot buy. I would like to thank Coach Mead, Coach Coleman, Brittany, Tiffin University, and Dr. Tiell for believing in me, challenging me, and allowing me to have this opportunity. #LakerForLife #DragonForLife