A Peek Inside The Women's Basketball Program: Blog 5
12/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SPOKANE, Wash. -
Peek Inside The Bulldog Program is a season-long blog that will give insight into the women's basketball program. Hope you enjoy this look.
Peek Inside The Bulldog Program: Blog 1 (Dec. 7, 2011)
It was this past Saturday morning, just past 1 a.m., when the bus carrying the women's basketball team arrived at the McCarthey Athletic Center. On the bus, along with the players, coaches and support staff, was 20-month old Marcus Fortier asleep in his mother's - assistant coach Lisa Mispley Fortier's - arms. As the bus came to a stop, everybody stood with the anticipation of heading home to their own beds. The bus shifted slightly though and jolted everybody unexpectedly back. Steadied, we all looked to Marcus and he...hold on, I am getting ahead of myself.
Lisa, in her fifth year as an assistant, had Marcus first. He arrived right after the Bulldogs run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2010. Fellow assistant coach Jodie Kaczor Berry followed suit, welcoming Tyson four months later. In a blink-of-an-eye the Bulldog family increased by two little Zags.
In the 20-odd months since joining the world, both Marcus and Tyson have become fixtures within the women's basketball team. They each can be seen in the front row right behind the Zags bench at home games - giving fist-pumps to players - or at different times on a roadtrip can be found sitting on Coach Graves' lap watching the open road fly by. It wouldn't surprise any to see one climbing into an airport bin ready to go through security or another trying with all his might to pull along somebody's suitcase.
It is safe to say that they both have been welcome additions. Player's battle for time with each; Kelly Bowen and Tyson got to nap together on the bus from San Francisco to the Stanford hotel and she was so happy she tweeted out a picture of both with the tag "Tyson & I xoxo" and Maiki Viela was devastated when Marcus wanted to go back to his mom when we arrived at the John Wayne Airport Saturday.
But the one who soaks up having two more boys around the most? Coach Graves of course. Marcus, talking more than Tyson at this point, is enthralled with Coach and vice versa. Marcus is heard often asking for "coach, coach" and this past roadtrip was so happy to be in coaches' arms as his mom got everything situated to go through security.
The two are also becoming fast friends. At the hotel in Stanford, as we waited for our rooms, they had to be around each other and the team couldn't stop laughing as they wrestled each other. On our late night trip back from Stanford, each was in their PJ's - ignoring all the adults - and running back and forth in the terminal like they owned the place.
It's a special thing to have these two grow up around the women's basketball team. It already is giving the players a lifetime of memories and you can see it is also shaping who both Marcus and Tyson are becoming.
Oh, so I should finish my story about Marcus on the bus. We all were just jolted backwards when the bus shifted and looking towards Marcus to see how he was going to react. I think all of us would have understood if he cried, being shaken awake and all, so all eyes were on him. His little head lifted off mom's chest and he said..."oh gosh" and two seconds later was back to sleep. That got our group, tired and ready to be home, in hysterics.
Yep, they are definitely a welcome addition!
Women's Basketball Tidbits
BEST OF THE WEST RANKINGS FOR NOV. 21: LeftCoastHoops.com came out with their 'Best of the West' rankings for the week of Nov. 21 and the Bulldogs, after their loss to USC, fell to spots to No. 7. It states of Gonzaga: "Despite double-doubles from Kayla Standish and Kelly Bowen, the Bulldogs came up short in a tough game against USC - only the program's second home loss in the last three seasons - and the loss will probably cost Gonzaga its national ranking. For now." To see the full 'Best of the West' click here.
FOMER BULLDOG COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT GETS NOMINATED: Former Gonzaga University women's basketball point guard Courtney Vandersloot was announced as a Female Sports Star of the Year nominee by the Seattle Sports Commission on Tuesday. The organization will host the 77th Annual Sports Start of the Year, presented by Root Sports, on Jan. 25 at Benaroya Hall. Created by Royal Brougham and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 1936, the event has celebrated the achievements of Washington sports for nearly eight decades. In her category, Vandersloot will compete with Jenn Salling (University of Washington softball); Julie Woodward (Seattle University women's soccer head coach); Maddie Meyers (Northwest High School runner); and Queen Underwood (USA Boxing) for the honor.
GRAVES' WEEKLY RADIO SHOW: Gonzaga University women's basketball head coach Kelly Graves has his own radio show in 2011-12. You can here Graves every Tuesday from 5:30-6 p.m. on 15010 KGA AM. Listen in to get all the inside scoop on every Gonzaga women's basketball!
FACEBOOK AND TWITTER: If you don't know, the Gonzaga University women's basketball program is on Facebook and Twitter! You can get an inside look into the Bulldogs program with 'Picture-A-Day' and videos, and always find out the up-to-date news. Become a fan of the Zags on Facebook by clicking here and follow the Zags on twitter at www.twitter.com/ZagWBB.
