Aug. 6, 2001
Kerensa Barr, a junior guard out of Missouri, brings us our first installment of Postcards from the Road. She talks about the trip to Dallas, the Big 12 uniforms and what they've been up to in their free time.
"Well, the whole team has been assembled for practice here in Dallas and we are beginning only our second day together. Everyone was picked up at the airport, including Angie (Welle) who was patiently waiting by herself on the curb for everyone, while the rest of the team had already arrived and was waiting in the van for her. After that confusion was settled, we met with the coaches and Big 12 administrators for a meeting, a quick snack, and the issuance of our gear.
We are definitely not going to be the most stylish team in Europe, as we will be sporting red and white reversibles with maroon shorts. Everyone seems to be getting along very well together, even though everyone was pretty quiet at first. However, that did not last long at all.
We had our first practice last night. I think most everyone was relieved that the court was a little shorter than regulation, but we were all excited to get out on the court and play together. After practice we had pizza at the hotel and then Angie, Mandy (Nightingale), Sabrina (Scott), Lindsay (Anhold - media relations), Kristin (Rethman), Eliot (Reynolds - manager), and I watched a movie in the room. We were all able to enjoy "Along Came a Spider" even though Mandy was shrieking anytime anything was remotely scary. I enjoy hanging out with everyone, especially the Colorado girls because they have a candy stash in their room. I was kinda nervous at first because there were only a few people that I had really talked to outside of the basketball court.
Today (Sunday) we had to get up early to get breakfast and then start practice at 9:00 a.m. Practice was good today because everyone seems to be getting more familiar with each other. After practice, Kris (Livingston, an assistant coach) drove the 15-passenger van to take us to get something to eat, and that was an adventure in itself, just ask LaNeishea (Caulfield). Hopefully a few of us will be able to go to the pool before pictures and practice this evening. I think most of us are going to stay up late tonight so we can sleep on the plane tomorrow. I'm excited about getting to Austria but I'm definitely dreading the plane ride. Until next time."