I am going to insist that everyone go to Saturday’s basketball games in the Minidome-especially the men’s game. If-and I stress the word “if”- the men’s team beat the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, they will match last season’s total wins. After all, the goal is to win more than nine games.
Closing the games are a problem for the Jags and let’s be honest, I think that one of the problems is that the team is so accustomed to losing that winning is only something they can hope for.
Look at the team when they win. You see jubilation, celebration and a cloud of satisfaction that waves throughout the entire team.
Look at the team when they lose. You still see jubilation, celebration and clouds of satisfaction wavering throughout the team.
I have seen and I’ve been told by members of the Jaguar Nation that when the men’s team lost by one point against Alabama State on January 26, no one could really tell who was on the losing end. After the game, I heard that there were team members gathered outside talking and blasting their radios and not a sense of remorse was exhibited.
Note to team: Losing is not good, especially when you blow leads and miss clutch shots.
Perhaps it’s not your fault. Perhaps your behavior is due to the lack of funding for books for the athletes. Maybe you were thinking about how you could complete your homework after the game without your books.
I was in the bookstore last week with an athlete when he was told that there was no money for him to receive books. We have gone through three weeks of school already and some of these student-athletes still don’t have books. There are student-athletes in some of my classes that don’t have books.
So here is my remedy to relieve you of your losing trends: Get the athletic department to get your books and get them now. When you don’t have to worry about homework while you shooting a clutch three-pointer or on the free-throw line, you can make a stress-free shot. Then we can win.
See you at the game…And I hope to see you in Birmingham.