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Personal Interest Piece
This is a personal interest piece on Lynn Volleyball player and RA, Haley Pratt.
What is your pre-game ritual?
- “I always braid my hair and wear a ribbon. I also pray while the national anthem plays.”
What is your favorite food?
- “Corn”
What is your favorite movie?
- “Billy Madison and Love & Basketball”
What is your favorite color?
- “Aqua Blue”
What are your hobbies?
- “Singing, going to the beach, and hobbies”
Parents/Family?
- “Mom-Laura, Dad, Robert, Sister-Erin, 2 dogs, 1 cat and my biggest fan, my Grandma”
When is your birthday?
- “October 17″
How do you spend your time?
- “If I’m not playing, studying, or working for Housing and Residence Life, I am hanging with friends or singing. Oh yead, I love to eat too!”
Where would you like to reside in the future?
- “I would love to sell cardiac devices and live in Alabama, South Carolina, or California”
What is your major?
- “Major-Business, Minor-Biology”
Where are you from?
- “Greenwood, IN”
What is the craziest thing that has ever happened to you?
- “I have had two heart surgeries!”
What is your most memorable moment at Lynn University?
- “Signing my scholarship to attend Lynn, and when I won RA of the Year Award at the Leadership Banquet.”
Come see Haley Pratt play Tuesday September 22nd and keep the volleyball teams winning streak of 9-1 going strong! The game is at 7pm against Palm Beach Atlantic
Orientation Training
Hey everybody. Sorry I haven’t put up a blog in awhile, I’ve just been busy getting ready for Orientation and Orientation Leader Training.
We just started our second day of training and man, do we have a great group. We have students from all different cultures and you have had all types of experiences. I know Orientation is going to be great!
I’m sure every freshman who comes in will love it! And I know next years will be even better! But we are still going to try and make this one the best. And I know it will be, since well, I’m working on it haha.
Well, I’m going to get back to training, I’ll try to have another blog up soon.
Gene
Quick Shout-Out
So I give occasional shout-outs to people who have helped me (my parents, Pete, coaches, etc), well I need to give one to some important family members. They support me in all different ways, including reading my blog.
First, to my Aunt Harriet and Uncle Lou. Thank you for allowing me to stay with you whenever I was in Memphis, for camp or anything else. Also thank you for helping me to get into the Memphis camp and providing my dad and I with tickets to last years Memphis vs. Cincinnati game. Thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me.
Second, thank you to my cousin Phyllis, her husband Todd, and their beautiful baby girl, Ella. They’ve always been there for me and just been great family. Phyllis, thank you for reading my blog and commenting on it. It means alot to me that you would take the time to do that. You’re a great cousin and I love you dearly.
Last, thank you to everybody that’s left a comment on any of my posts and anybody else who takes the time to read them. From Christina and Jason in the Marketing Office to Professor Curtis (yes, the great Ted Curtis) to one of my best friends Lauren Fry (love you Mama Lauren) and everybody else I didn’t name.
Gene
Orientation
So recently, the Assistant Dean of Students asked me to be an Orientation Captain for next year. This means I am in charge of the Orientation Leaders and running Orientation. This past week has been full of interviews and getting prepared for this coming weeks selection of OL’s and the 1st team meeting. This has actually been more time consuming than I thought, but I feel it will be a great experience for me. Its a chance for me to really step up and be a leader.
We are changing Orientation around a little bit to give current students more of a chance to lead and be creative. We haven’t fully developed what we are going to do so I can’t go too deep into it, but its going to be exciting.
Look for all the changes!
Gene
Women’s Final Four Day 3
Today, we didn’t have to be in the lobby until 815 so it was nice. We went downtown and worked Hoop City, which is an interactive fan experience. Here we ran the NCAA Zone, which is a chance for fans to get to play a couple of sports (in a way) that college athletes play, such as softball, tennis, volleyball, soccer, and golf. Dax and I got pulled from this a little bit in to go help the Head Coach of UNC-Ashville (Coach Betsy) and the State Farm Coaches’ All-Americans in leading a clinic for Special Olympians. I worked with University of Maryland standout Kristi Toliver at the ballhandling station.
After this we went to the WBCA Exhibit Hall and saw different vendors and what they were selling. This was actually really interesting and I found some cool stuff, like a device that works lateral quickness.
We ended the day by going to the Semi-Final games, where Louisville upset Oklahoma and UCONN destroyed Stanford. But it was very entertaining seeing the Stanford Band and mascot. They really know how to make the fans have a good time.
Gene
Coach Gets His 100th Victory
On Saturday November 29, Men’s Basketball Coach Scott McMillin earned his 100th career victory at Lynn in his sixth season with the Fighting Knights.
In just his second season with the Blue & White, Coach McMillin, a product of Wichita, K.S., guided the Fighting Knights to the program’s second Final Four appearance before losing to eventual national champion Virginia Union. That year, he was also named the Sunshine State Conference and South Region Coach of the Year, the first coach in program history to earn such an honor.
Coach McMillin has averaged just over 19 victories a year and has never had a losing season in his tenure. The 2004-05 season saw the Fighting Knights post a record of 29-6 overall, the most wins in program history and won its first SSC regular season and tournament titles. In his first season at the helm, Coach McMillin lead the Fighting Knights to nine wins in conference play for the second most in the program’s sixth season in the SSC. Coach McMillin has stressed defense in his tenure here at Lynn. In the 2004-05 season, the team held East Central (Okla.) to 30 points, establishing a new school record.
“The number in itself is impressive in his time at Lynn,†said former player and current assistant coach Marcus Hayes. “The most impressive aspect is how he’s done it. He’s done it through enforcing accountability, high expectations, work ethic, and sacrifice, which are a lot of the same characteristics a person needs to be successful in whatever they choose. I think the respect that people talk about Lynn University Men’s Basketball is a product of the morals that Coach McMillin has built the program on.â€
Every year, he has placed at least one player on an All-SSC squad each season, including three first team all-conference, six second teamers, one honorable mention, and one All-Freshman honoree. Coach McMillin also coached the program’s first graduating four-year seniors in James Taylor, Justin Wingard, Austin Faber, and Akil Lewis.Â
Coach McMillin arrived at Lynn after two seasons as the head coach at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville. He played his college ball at the University of Buffalo, where he was first team All-Conference All-Academic selection.
A funny story
So, my roommate, Anthony, and I were at Publix getting groceries, when a woman stopped us and asked if we went to Lynn, since I was wearing a Lynn Basketball shirt. Of course we responded yes and she asked how we liked it. We responded we liked it and it was a great school. She then procceded to tell us that students at Lynn are students who couldn’t make it at other schools.
As understanding as I am of other people’s beliefs, this made me want to just look at her and rip into her, but I decided to be polite and I explained to her that most of the students at Lynn could and are smart, yes some might not, but they are also the ones that are barely, if at all, making it through Lynn. I also explained that with the new admissions policy it is making it harder to get in.
She then proceeded to ask us where we were from, so we told her, and her response (since we were both from out of state) was that people from Florida didn’t like Lynn. Again this is false because a large number of students at Lyn are from Florida. Then she went further and said she works with some students from Lynn and that Lynn students are hood. Anthony and I looked at each other with confused looks and told her that wasn’t true. I kind of felt like the football coach from Oklahoma State, Mike Gundy, and saying “That’s not true!”
She walked away and Anthony and I started laughing and joking around afterwards. Anytime we saw her we just wanted to start acting hood to see what she would say. I told one of the basketball players the story and he gave me the funniest look of confusion and then started laughing.
Ahh, the joys of dealing with ignorance.
Memphis Camp Days 3 & 4
Well, day 3 was more of the same and at the end of the day we gave kids the opportunity to go swimming. One kid jumped in without knowing how to swim so I had to pull him out. Luckily he was only under water for a second.
That night, I got a call from my cousin Jay. He asked if when he got off work I wanted to hang out with him. Of course I told him yes. We went to a bar near his house and met up with his wife and some of her friends. We hung out and threw darts.
Today, day 4, was Championship Thursday. It was all games all day. The age groups were given a title, Confernce USA, NCAA, and NBA. The teams were picked at random. The winner from Conference USA was Tulsa, the NCAA winner was Florida, and the Lakers won the NBA Championship.
I had so much fun and learned a lot from this camp. I can’t wait to see what’s in store at Clemson!
Gene
Another Exciting Day
Well, each day just gets more exciting! Today we started off by meeting with Judge Nelson Wolf. He is a very powerful man in San Antonio. He is trying to get 13 more facilities built in San Antonio. He is trying to raise funds by raising taxes on hotels and rental cars. This is actually a very normal thing. Judge Wolf doesn’t see a pro franchise in San Antonio for another 10-20 years.
After this, we went to meet with 4 of the 6 people in charge of the Valero Alamodome. They have a very well run bowl game. They gave us great advice while we met them. They told us that its ok to work lower jobs, because it helps get you in the door and can lead to big opportunities.
A little bit later, Andy Heid, Peter Gladstone, Jesse Kopp, Dr. Barr, and myself went to the NABC Welcome Dinner. We saw Oliver Purnell of Clemson, Lorenzo Romar of the University of Washington, and many others. The rest of the group went to meet with executives with the San Antonio Missions and Texas League.
When we got back from the dinner, I got a phone call from my Aunt Harriet asking if I wanted to go over to her hotel. Her husband is the Travel Coordinator for the University of Memphis. When I got to the hotel, I had to wait in the lobby for a minute. When she came down the escalator, I saw a familiar figure with her. When they got closer I realized that figure was none other than Memphis coach John Calipari. When they got downstairs she introduced us. This alone made this trip memorable. But I also met DaJuan Wagner’s dad Milton, who played at Louisville, the athletic director at Austin Peay, and was just feet away from Joey Dorsey and Antonio Anderson.
I can’t wait to see what else is in store.
Gene
Final Four
Wow, the Final Four is fast approaching and that means it’s about time for the Sports Management’s second annual “Final Four Experience.â€
This is my first year going but Professor Curtis and Dr. Barr already have a full schedule for us, more than last years. Not only will be attending the semi-final games and championship game, but before we even get to San Antonio, we are going to Austin, Texas to visit the University of Texas on Tuesday. Being from Arkansas, I was raised to not like the University of Texas, but this won’t keep me from going in with an open mind. We are going to meet with the Director of Women’s Athletics, Chris Plonsky, tour the stadiums, and then cap it off by watching a UT- Rice baseball game, which is a big rivalry in college baseball.
The next day we are going to go to San Antonio, where we will go to the LaCantera Golf Club, where the PGA Tour Valero Texas Open is held. After that we are going to Spurs Sports & Entertainment, the on a tour of the AT&T Center. Then we will go to the San Antonio Office of Convention, Sports & Entertainment Facilities. Then we are going to meet with the director of sales with the San Antonio Rampage, a minor league hockey team. After the meeting, we are going to watch the Rampage take on the Milwaukee Admirals.
Then Thursday, we are going to meet Judge Nelson W. Wolff, head of San Antonio’s Major League Baseball efforts. Judge Wolff was pivotal in trying to lure the Marlins to San Antonio. After meeting with Judge Wolff, we are going to meet with the President of the Valero Alamo Bowl. Then we will go to meet with officials with the University of Texas- San Antonio, followed by meeting the President of the Texas League, a Class AA minor league baseball league, and the marketing director of marketing with the San Antonio Missions, then to watch them play the N.W. Arkansas Naturals on Opening Day.
Friday, we are going to volunteer with the 2008 College Tip-off College Fair, which is just what it sounds like, a college fair for high school students. After we eat lunch, we are going to meet with the executive director of the San Antonio Sports Foundation, and watch a little bit of a shoot around, which I will enjoy. Then to do more volunteering, but this one is doing a survey for the NCAA.
On Saturday, we will go to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Expo, where every company who makes basketball products will be trying to sell items to coaches. Then we will go to NCAA Hoop City as well as meet with David Barrett, who wrote “One Shining Moment†which is the theme song for the Final Four. Then we will go meet with the sales director and special events Vice President of RazorGator, which is the official ticket outlet of the NCAA Tournament. Then after that we will relax and watch the semi-finals.
On Sunday, we will be helping with the NCAA Dome Dribblers’. We will be making sure kids stay where they are supposed to be, as well as showing them how to dribble if they need help. Then we will be able to attend the My CokeFest at The Big Dance™.
Monday, we will go see the Alamo, which in the words of Professor Curtis, “It will take about 5 minutes at most.†Then later we will do some more work with RazorGator. Then that night we will relax and watch the Championship Game. Then fly back to school on Tuesday.
And just remember, just because its not in the classroom, doesn’t mean its not a class. Gene
