How do we go on?

[35TangoTango]

Skies in Norman today are most appropriately gloomy, grey and cloudy. That pretty much reflects how I feel also. Whitney has been referred to as the most beloved player in the history of the program, and I believe that to be really true. I've never seen an outpouring of love and support quite like the standing ovation that continued unabated all through her painfully slow journey down the sidelines and off the court. If there was ever anyone that deserved a better finish to their basketball career, it's Whitney.

My theme song for this season has changed from "Me and Mrs. Jones" to "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone".

I must admit that my first reaction as the realization that we'd lost Whitney was "Well, this season's done!". But an interesting thing happened as the second half went on. The fans (who were as lackadaisical as the team in the first half) would not give up. The crowd seemed to carry the team on their backs and will them to victory.

I think this is our challenge for this season: Our team, right or wrong, good or bad. Just as each team member needs to give a little bit more to make up for Whitney's loss, so do we as fans. I pledge to be at each game, and to be on my feet urging us on whether we're up 20 or down 20. This is our test!

 

[soonerstar]

It would be terribly unfair to give up on our team and our season now. We need to back the healthy players we have now just as we would have if the roster contained all 12 of our players and they were healthy. We all know Whitney was the glue that held the team together through thick and thin. That torch now passes to someone else. I have a feeling Morgan Hook will take up that role. The team needs more fan support than ever.

 

[tycat947]

I was there also and was amazed by the ovation Whitney received as she left the court. Had to be almost 5 min long!

I think this team will rally around Whitney and the rest who've been injured and play with all their heart and give 110%. I will be there as well to support this team!

 

[afan4hand]

I have been afan of Whitney from the 1st. time my wife and I met her after a game during her junior season in high school at Liberty Christian where she showed us her high school State Championship ring and we got to meet her mom, dad and her sisters.
So I've been watching her carreer for the better part of a decade and it has been a pleasure to watch her keep OU womens basketball at a high level. We love you Whitney and you and your family are jewels among the OU family.:OUbball-logo:

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

I too waqnt to hope for the best and to see the reast of the team rally. I've been following this program too long to give up after an injury or two - even to our best player. I'm just afraid that we don't have the talent to make up the difference. I think we're going to see just how much this squad depended on and looked to Whitney during the course of the game. I'm afraid we're going to have girls put in situations they aren't used to and possibly not prepared to be in. I am hoping for the best but I also hope that this won't curtail the development of some of the girls.

I always remember Knight doing that game against Tenn and he couldn't stop raving about her and her shot.

 

[giraffespots]

The ovation lasted from the moment she stood up to when she reached the ramp to go out. The player getting ready to shoot free throws realized the moment's significance and stepped out of the free throw circle to let us continue our applause. I thought that was very sportsmanlike of her

 

[rocjunkie]

Tango, excellent post. As we stood last night and watched our Whitney being helped off the court, I thought back to the Fast Break golf tournament the spring Whitney was finishing her re-hab. We briefly got to talk about her getting back in shape, and I was just blown away at this incredible out going young lady taking the time to visit with an old geezer like me. Her personality just explodes when you talk to her.

We will miss her on court leadership, and her toughness. Lucky for us and her team mates she won't go away. She will be on the bench with Maddie, Kaylon, and Lyndsey. Yelling and encouraging their girls. Someone will step up in our time of need and become the new glue that will hold these kids together. On toughness alone, I would take Sharane. Morgan is their heir apparent and will probably be the one. Regardless of who steps forward, I too will be there every game, yelling at the refs, encouraging our girls, and continue to show frustration for bone head plays. However, I will not give up on these kids. Too much has been invested, and just when you see your darkest days, then that glimmer of hope rears its head and some amazing things can still happen. Here's hoping our two Nicoles grow expotentially, and the others fill in the gaps and move on to a successful season.

See ya'll at the "Noble".

 

[MsProudSooner]

A few things have to happen for this team to be able to look back on this season and consider it a success.

1) Play good team defense but stay out of foul trouble.
2) Players who have shown glimpses of their full potential have to play up to that potential more consistently.

• Jo showed us what she can do last year before her broken jaw.
• Morgan has done a good job, but needs to score more consistently and stay out of foul trouble.
• Sharane played well last night but we need to see more of the player she was last year.
• Vegas needs to be more consistent.
• Nicole Griffin has vastly improved over last year, but needs to put together entire games.
• Portia has to make that big jump that JC players do after their first semester.
• Nicole Kornett needs to play more like a sophomore than a freshman.
• Jasmine is the old hand now and needs to use her experience to play her best in every game.

Those are all things that are easier said than done. But I don't think any of these young women would say that they have consistently played up to their full potential yet. They need to now.

 

[tycat947]

Tango, excellent post. As we stood last night and watched our Whitney being helped off the court, I thought back to the Fast Break golf tournament the spring Whitney was finishing her re-hab. We briefly got to talk about her getting back in shape, and I was just blown away at this incredible out going young lady taking the time to visit with an old geezer like me. Her personality just explodes when you talk to her.

We will miss her on court leadership, and her toughness. Lucky for us and her team mates she won't go away. She will be on the bench with Maddie, Kaylon, and Lyndsey. Yelling and encouraging their girls. Someone will step up in our time of need and become the new glue that will hold these kids together. On toughness alone, I would take Sharane. Morgan is their heir apparent and will probably be the one. Regardless of who steps forward, I too will be there every game, yelling at the refs, encouraging our girls, and continue to show frustration for bone head plays. However, I will not give up on these kids. Too much has been invested, and just when you see your darkest days, then that glimmer of hope rears its head and some amazing things can still happen. Here's hoping our two Nicoles grow expotentially, and the others fill in the gaps and move on to a successful season.

See ya'll at the "Noble".

:clap

 

[Oliver Hardy]

I like this thread. I've missed a couple of games at home this year because of some surgeries and it is just killing me not to be at the LNC when the ladies are on the court.

I know from many tweets that the girls are very upset right now and it will be hard for them the first couple of games back.

I don't think we can pack the arena, but we can be loud and we can certainly let the refs know what we think.

I can't wait for the next home game, when I should be back in the seat screaming.

 

[sybarite]

There is a management concept called the critical incident procedure, as distinguished from another use in emergency action. The critical incident procedure simply asks how people will perform given a serious decision. Will they panic, exhibit depression or fear, or submit? There are those who seem to rise above the situation in a crisis, who turn on when the situation becomes critical. These are often the people who perform better than they have ever performed in a championship game. The rise to the occasion.

Some perform rather mundanely if not challenged, but respond to a challenge with their best effort. There have been teams that won championships because their best player was lost for the year (1965 St. Louis Cardinals). There are people who respond to crisis with focus who almost never perform well if not challenged.

This is an opportunity for the eight Sooners who remain. They can hope for the best or create the best by reaching within themselves to find that excellence that has been hidden, simmering as someone else took the lead. We saw this somewhat with Abi who rose to the occasion when finally starting as a senior.

As a fan, I will watch the rest of the season with the same passion that I had prior to the injuries to Cloman, Kaylon, Maddie, and Whitney. But, this is an opportunity for the players to establish themselves, not to us, but to themselves. This is when they find what they can do leff on their own.

I suspect that we will find some pleasant surprises since I think that the character of these young ladies will challenge them to reach above what they have done to discover what they can do. I hope they reach a bit higher than their dreams and begin a new journey.

I'm not a religious person, but I think that Moses never reached the promised land. Others who had followed him did.

 

[gosooner2]

A few things have to happen for this team to be able to look back on this season and consider it a success.

1) Play good team defense but stay out of foul trouble.
2) Players who have shown glimpses of their full potential have to play up to that potential more consistently.

• Jo showed us what she can do last year before her broken jaw.
• Morgan has done a good job, but needs to score more consistently and stay out of foul trouble.
• Sharane played well last night but we need to see more of the player she was last year.
• Vegas needs to be more consistent.
• Nicole Griffin has vastly improved over last year, but needs to put together entire games.
• Portia has to make that big jump that JC players do after their first semester.
• Nicole Kornett needs to play more like a sophomore than a freshman.
• Jasmine is the old hand now and needs to use her experience to play her best in every game.

Those are all things that are easier said than done. But I don't think any of these young women would say that they have consistently played up to their full potential yet. They need to now.

Well Said!

 

[j2d2]

I became a fan hearing all the noise about a Canadian recruit named Dales who, of course, hurt her knee right away. Too late for me-I was hooked. It seems our injuries come in great wads. It also seems that we recover quite nicely. This may partially be the result of Sherri's insistence on the compatibility of team members. I have absolutely no doubt that ever guy on this team has already had a conversation with herself about stepping up her game. If we dont, it will be thee first time and I dont think that will happen. "Been there-done that-will wear the t shirt with determination". Sherri has had considerable experience with this situation. More than any of us would like. I'm looking forward to seeing who really gets with the program and shines.

 

[35TangoTango]

You know, I'm not really worried about how the players will respond, because that's beyond my control. I'm going to concentrate on how I respond, and how I as a fan can help the players; because however they respond, good or bad, they're still my team.

 

[tycat947]

You know, I'm not really worried about how the players will respond, because that's beyond my control. I'm going to concentrate on how I respond, and how I as a fan can help the players; because however they respond, good or bad, they're still my team.

:clap

Me too!

 

[gosooner2]

All this is sweet and all that, however this is a D1 program with a million dollar coach, who would like you to think she is not a million dollar coach. We lost a great player. so do other programs, now go show what you can do, coach and players!

 

[DarthSooner]

For too long i have sat in my fortress of sooner solitude and watched as we have faced the unthinkable, the unimaginable. Now in our darkest hour, the force shows me a glimpse into the future:

"I sense a tremor in the force. Their is a darkness growing at LNC. I see 8 mighty warriors rising to claim their right at history. They embrace the fear others have shown in the loss of their captain. They use it, they feed off it. From the ashes of sacrifice will rise a united team, drawing on the force to stand up to bears, longhorns, jayhawks, and more. Only through great pain will they achieve victory this year. These 8 sooners will set the precedent for all others in the future. Let their quest begin 12/20, watch how, fuelled by rage over the loss of their leader, they will show the commodores what it means to know fear. BOOMER SOONER. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA"

Always in motion is the future, and only these proud 8 warriors can shape its outcome. May the force be with our Sooner Nation, and for those that oppose the darkness growing on the plains of Norman, BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID.

Darth Sooner end of transmission

 

[Options]

Yes, Whitney is the best, a great person, great bb player. As far as the rest of season goes, it won't be pretty, hope I am wrong. We would have never competed at the top even with Whitney. Having no post player will get you know where. Ok, go ahead, she has improved a ton, still couldn't start for any top 25 team. Will be rooting them on hard and hope they prove me wrong.

Again Whitney you are the best

 

[afan4hand]

A nice write-up on Whitney - http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/spor...petersen-first-to-reach-hand-after-injury.ece

 

[garyeb2]

Yes, Whitney is the best, a great person, great bb player. As far as the rest of season goes, it won't be pretty, hope I am wrong. We would have never competed at the top even with Whitney. Having no post player will get you know where. Ok, go ahead, she has improved a ton, still couldn't start for any top 25 team. Will be rooting them on hard and hope they prove me wrong.

Again Whitney you are the best

OOPS, she does start for a top 25 team.