It's been five months since our staff arrived in Fabulous StarkVegas. Since then, we have been (in my Coach Purcell voice) "moving and shaking!" We have been recruiting, practicing, learning the campus layout, and building relationships with our team. Since we hit the ground running, there was little time for us to truly settle into Starkville. The NCAA recruiting shutdown period came as a relief because it allowed us to unpack boxes and personalize our homes.
A few of us coaches started the month watching our children begin their school year. I made each of my boys stop and pose for their first day of school pictures. Like most children, the boys hate it, but it has become a tradition and a marker used to measure growth. I appreciated the break from workouts as it helped in my children's adjustment to their schools. Anastasia Hayes and Ramani Parker
represented Mississippi State in
Florida at theAthletes
Leadership Summit
Our players were able to visit their families. Some flew, and others drove as they traveled as far as Phoenix and as close as Meridian. Through their social media travel logs, they enjoyed birthday parties, family outings and spending time with their friends. Anastasia Hayes and Ramani Parker traveled to Miami to represent Mississippi State in the Athletes Leadership Summit. During the multi-day conference, they engaged in meaningful discussions and shared stories with their peers, and they returned to Starkville with ideas to enhance the student-athlete experience. They expressed much appreciation for the opportunity to learn and lead in speaking with them.
Everyone in our program returned to campus on August 13th. The parking lots around Humphrey Coliseum were filled with parents directing their teenagers as they unloaded packed cars for move-in day. Quick feet and sweaty faces rushed past as we unloaded items into the dorm rooms of our two freshmen. Both were excited to move furniture and put personal touches on their apartment-style dorm suite.
Debreasha Powe represents our program at the
Top Dawg Leadership Camp.
After moving our freshmen, we helped the returners who were relocating. Unlike the freshmen, we saw few parents assisting their students to their new homes. Many students were moving in alone. It gave our players a greater appreciation for having a team that operates like a family. In between moving bins and boxes, players made quick trips to Kroger and Walmart for items they needed.
By August 15th, we were ready to go. We started the day with our first team meeting of the year. We knew we would have more meetings; however, the first one is the most important because it lays the foundation. Various athletic administrators covered important policies and procedures. The players were attentive. Once their presentations were complete, we distributed our team handbook and our expectations for their daily devotion to being their personal best. Mia Moore sits during a game at the
SAAC Leadership Retreat.
We started school on August 17th. Our Twitter page was full of the smiling faces who make up our team. The first week of school gives everyone an acclimation period. It is vital that they have an opportunity to receive their class syllabi and gain an understanding of their expectations.
During the transition to the school year, our players have participated in various activities. They spent a Saturday morning donating their time to the community by picking up trash at McKee Park.
August was a month of settling in and appreciation. Each of us had an opportunity to take a break, refresh and reload. For some of us, it was a chance to make Starkville our new home. Some were able to reconnect with family and friends. A few were able to make a Positive Statement by participating in Top Dawg Leadership Academy and Student-Athlete Advisory Council.
Now the foundation has been laid. Our team has "settled in" and is ready to begin a new year and season. Everyone is grateful to be here. Every day we spend time together on or off the court, there is a sense of appreciation for those moments. I see it in their smiles, welcoming hugs, and genuine nature. Appreciation is the foundation for greatness.
