Redshirt-freshman Sarah Griffin has taken on blogging duties for the women’s hoops team, and she’ll be checking in from time-to-time with her thoughts and some updates on the season. Make sure to bookmark www.portlandpilots.com/GriffinBlog and follow Sarah and the Pilots all season.

Previous Entries
• Entry #1 (Sept. 22, 2010)
• Entry #2 (Sept. 27, 2010)
• Entry #3 (Oct. 7, 2010)
• Entry #4 (Oct. 14, 2010)
• Entry #5 (Oct. 25, 2010)
• Entry #6 (Nov. 3, 2010)

ENTRY #7
Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010

Hello Pilot Fans,

 

The short-lived exhibition season has come to an end. After taking down Concordia and pulling out a W against Seattle we are off to Boise State to play the Broncos on Friday for our first official pre-season (editor’s note: non-conference) game.

 

Not only are we pumped about the start of pre-season, but also we are excited to be on the road. Road trips are always fun because:

 

1) Well… you get to miss classes.

Yes, I shamefully admit that one of the perks of road-trips is that you are excused from classes.

 

Actually, this point could even be categorized as an extra-awesome-perk because coaches expect AND make sure we attend all our classes. Sometimes I think there is a misconception that student-athletes don’t always take academics seriously. But, we are STUDENT-athletes and skipping classes is unacceptable and consequences, AKA running, are divvyed out to those who choose not to make an appearance in class. (By the way, I’ve always wondered what kind of punishment is bestowed upon the cross-country teams - running just doesn’t seem threatening to a team that runs. Burpies?)

 

You may be asking, how do the coaches know though if you go to class or not? The answer - class-check ups, of course! These spontaneous visits keep us on our toes. For the check-ups coaches use one of two approaches. Either a coach lingers outside your class and greets you afterwards. Or, the method that I think is more entertaining is when a coach will peer through the classroom window to see if you are in attendance. Usually, or at least from my experiences, “The Peer” often grabs the attention of your classmates before yours. You’ll be seated; of course in one of the first three rows, paying attention, and are therefore completely oblivious to your coach looking in the window. So, classmates seated within your vicinity will begin to stare at you as well because they notice you’re the targeted individual of the coach peering into the classroom. Eventually you realize, unless you’re Suz taking a quick snooze :) (which is somewhat justifiable considering the early morning practice time), your classmates’ eyes looking your way and become a little self-conscious. Then you spot your coach and realize you’re a victim of a spontaneous check-in!   

 

2) GOOOOOD FOOD!

I know I have already made this point in my previous blogs - we love food. The coaches do their best to keep us full and satisfied, and they do a particularly good job at selecting restaurants.

 

I can guarantee you that if there is an Italian restaurant within an X mile radius we will enjoy a meal there – probably more than once too. Oh, and we all look forward to the special Steak House dining occasions. I have never seen a woman devour BEEF ribs like Nikki.

All the more power to you Nik-girl! :)

 

In addition to being Italian restaurant regulars, and Steak House lovers we are also loyal Subway customers.

 

3) Cozy beds & T.V.

Although the dorms are nice, the bunk beds are not necessarily ideal, especially for the girls who stand at 6’0. Being able to sprawl out in a big, comfy hotel bed feels fantastic.

 

Plus, while you are all cuddled in your bed you can watch TV. Most of us don’t have TVs in our dorms/rooms, so when we are on the road we makeup for loss TV viewing. We watch anything and everything from cartoons, ESPN, to the classic reality shows. Anyway, we couldn’t be happier snuggled in our cozy beds channel-surfing.

 

4) Oh… and of course, we get to play ball!

Duhhh… the whole reason we are on the road is to play games!!! As you can now imagine, we certainly have a good time on road trips, but as soon as we get to the gym it is all about taking care of business and that means wining basketball games!

 

So, don’t forget to be thinking about us later this week as embark on our first Road Trip of the season – First stop Boise State, then to Eastern Washington! (Live Stats at Boise State, Live Stats & Video at Eastern Washington)

 

LETS GO PILOTS!!!

 

 ~G