Excitement in the Air (part 1): Return of a Legend

There’s a lot to be excited about for the 2014-15 season of North Carolina Women’s Basketball.  From a fan’s perspective, the most significant is likely Coach (Sylvia) Hatchell’s return to the bench.  As a supporter of the program there are likely things I took for granted.  Though I could push back thoughts of Coach’s eventual decision to hang up the whistle, I always thought the decision would be her own to make.

 Then came Kay Yow’s passing after nearly 3 decades of dealing with Breast Cancer.  Then came Pat Summitt’s retirement due to Early Onset Dementia.  The entire world of Women’s basketball was saddened by both of these events.  Still, I don’t remember thinking for any significant length of time about the possibility of losing our Coach.  The course of my own life probably had a lot to do with that, but still, she'd been a constant for... (photo from www.goheels.com)

 

 

I won’t forget where I was when I first heard Coach (Hatchell) had Leukemia.  I can still get a mental picture of the headline though I have done my utter best to block that day from my memory.  I remember it just hurt.  And I thought, if it hurts me like this, how must the girls and the staff be feeling.  Like thousands of others I followed her journey, but I accepted along the way that I could no longer take her presence for granted.  Knowing how much she loves Carolina I rarely worried about her being taken away by another school. 

But it’s amazing what we take for granted.  It surprised me having lost a spouse that I would take anyone for granted; but there it was.  Anytime she appeared in Carmichael, I cherished the moment along with the other fans in attendance.  My daughter even seemed to have a better time if she could look up and see Coach sitting there.  If she said anything to the crowd, I found myself focusing intently on the sound of her voice.  I read every article multiple times to keep up with her progress.  I favorite every Tweet as they always indicated she would come back from this.  Still it was unsettling at least, heartbreaking at its worst.  As an alumnus of the university who had followed the team up one road and down several for over 2 decades, I had seen a lot of change.  With the exception of one season one thing had not changed in that time.  And that was the combination of Coach Hatchell and Coach Calder on the UNC bench.  You just don’t see that type of longevity in a coaching combo much now.

 I put my faith in God to see her through that situation.  I had said it felt like a family member was dealing with this.  But then, not long after the word came from Chapel Hill, my own sister went in to the Lineburger Cancer Center for treatment of Lymphoma.  I knew God would come through.  I needed my University to come through in a huge way.  Now, my flesh and blood, my sister was fighting Cancer.  Our father said she may need a transplant one day.  I remembered.  I’d already gotten my cheek swabbed during a basketball game when the “Be the Match” staff was in Carmichael.

Happily, Coach Hatchell is back on the sidelines this season.  And my sister, though still recovering from the treatments, is Cancer free.  I can’t really know how difficult the journey was for either of them.  I also can’t describe my gratitude for both of these women being okay.  When I visited my sister or spoke with her I found myself in the moment working on internalizing the sound of her voice.  This wasn’t the first time Cancer hit people I cared about.  Far from it.  These are though far better outcomes.  And when you lose someone close, pictures are in plenty, but the sound of the person’s voice is another matter.  It’s actually what I miss most about my husband.

 I believe the staff did an incredible job last season in what had to be such a tough season, especially given the youth on the team.  I’m sure the situation was a both a source of stress and motivation.  But now, wow, the unspeakable joy that must be there.  As a fan, you try but can't really appreciate what the staff and players deal with; but, as a fan I also can't let the season start without expressing my own excitement that Coach has returned.  It was palpable at the season ticket holder event the other night and will likely be felt throughout the year.

 

I don’t know how many times I watched the video of Coach Hatchell’s introduction at Late Night With Roy smiling on the inside and on the outside.  I’m so happy for her, the rest of the staff and the players.

I’ll end this with a quote from my 11 year-old.  “This is going to be such a great year.  Coach is back, I’m so excited.  She got well and she’s back.  That is so awesome!  God is great, isn’t He mom?  I know He has a plan for this team.  I can’t wait for the season to start.”