Husker Corner
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Rosalie’s Reaction: The view from behind the Husker bench

By Rosalie Suggs

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Watching sporting events is America’s great past time. Nearly every sport has its faithful fan base who cheer from the stands or in front of their big-screen television set. In this era of 24/7 media coverage with “slow-motion” photography and instant replay, the view from your easy chair has become more sophisticated and complete. Yet, nothing can match attending the live event with all its sights and sounds.

On Saturday, Feb. 21st, I had the good fortune to attend the women’s basketball game between Nebraska and Indiana in Assembly Hall in Bloomington, IN.

Assembly Hall, Indiana University (photo by Jeff Suggs)

With a general admission ticket, I could have taken nearly any seat in the arena. I chose to sit in the bleachers, not more than eight feet behind the Husker bench. I recognized that this opportunity is much more likely to happen at an away game because other Big Ten schools are not nearly as supportive of their women’s team as is Nebraska.

This was an unique experience. It allowed me to really look inside the game as I never could before. Aside from viewing the Husker girls up close, I learned about Coach Yori and what her Nebraska coaching staff does during the game. From up close, I could make my own determination about foul calls and the officials who whistled them. Emotion is such a large part of the game. This was an instance to feel the momentum changes and monitor the general mood of the crowd while I was a part of it.

Nebraska is very lucky indeed to have Connie Yori. as the head of the women’s basketball program. She is PASSIONATE about coaching.

Andrew Fielding-USA TODAY Sports

On game day, Coach Yori is “all in”! Her emotions run the gambit from calm, to frustration, to anger during the game. She is not afraid to demonstrate those emotions, often thinking out loud to herself as she paces the sideline. Familiarity with the officials does not keep Coach Yori from going after them if she feels their calls are wrong.

With a quick basketball mind, she evaluates the action assessing what coaching adjustments she needs to make. During time outs, she lays out strategy and sets plays. Her relationship to her players during the game is very much one of teacher to students.

While Coach Yori is deeply immersed in the floor action, her assistant coaches are performing a myriad of duties. They sit on the bench making notes on dry erase clipboards that have a diagram of the basketball floor. Each of them has a responsibility for some part of the game plan.

Game action vs IU (photo by Jeff Suggs)

As the game proceeded, I could hear the assistant coaches yelling out instructions to players on the floor. When the girls came to the bench for a rest, I could see, and sometimes hear the words of encouragement from coach to player. The Husker coaching staff is constantly building a lasting relationship with these players.

Big Red has a special group of young women on this team. A cohesive bunch. The smiles and laughter come easily as they participate in pre-game shooting practice. At the tip, they are locked in and ready to roll. The looks of concentration and determination on their faces indicate their understanding of the game they are playing. They are not only mentally prepared but also physically conditioned. This is a fast paced game up and down the floor. You have to have stamina to maintain that kind of pace for a 40 minute game across a 30+ game schedule.

More from Husker Corner

It’s been a long season for Husker women’s basketball. Through the wins and losses, the injuries and the illnesses, they have remained strong as a TEAM. Only one conference game remains before the Big Ten tournament in March. Hope remains strong that an invitation to the NCAA tournament will be coming their way.

Wearing scarlet red, you can believe I was LOUD and PROUD in my “view from behind the bench!”  GO BIG RED!!