The weekend with all those amazing and accomplished women athletes was both humbling and exciting for me. The rare chance to see old friends and teammates, visiting the beautiful NU campus that has changed so much in 40+ year, enjoying a lovely Fall weekend in Evanston--with some free drinks thrown in....how could that NOT be exciting for this 66 year old? But I was also humbled at the memory of my own average hockey abilities, the heights to which the NU field hockey program has ascended, the opportunities and limitations I took for granted back then, and my lack of appreciation in my younger life for the many women athletes who came before us at Northwestern and laid the groundwork for all that we celebrated that weekend. I felt a bit like one of those "Center Court" women who honored us 50 years ago with dinner and an award--a little out-of-touch, not cool, moving a bit slow--and had a sense of long-overdue gratitude for their efforts on our behalf all those year ago. History matters.
You know, I've been thinking a lot about those Center Court women, too, and wishing I knew more about what motivated them to support us all those years ago. Were they the ones in the photos of field hockey on Deering Meadow? Which is how we must look to the current team. :) I'm also reckoning with the limitations we took for granted back then. It's been great to sort through all of that history with you! Maybe we can do it again next year. xoxo
Leanne, I loved your reflection on the weekend and the NU Field Hockey experience “through line”. So true. We may not have been elite athletes with all of the supports and facilities, but we were sure dedicated to our sport, NU and our teammates. Funny how often we barely made it or just missed dinner after practice. Nutrition? Stress? Not a thought in the coaches mind🤣. We still loved it! And had that ‘bit of fun’. I love the Team 5 picture. Lots of smiles.
So fun catching up with some of the group after 40+ years. So many fun memories.
I graduated from college just under the Title IX year. I would have loved to have this experience and I know sports did so much for developing young women into competent leaders. The best we had were intramural which did not have much support, sigh....
Well, you certainly became a leader anyway, but I know what you mean. We did intramurals as a team, too -- we called ourselves the Gumbies, which was a Saturday Night Live sketch at the time. :)
Amen sister!
I know you know. Nebraska volleyball forever!
The weekend with all those amazing and accomplished women athletes was both humbling and exciting for me. The rare chance to see old friends and teammates, visiting the beautiful NU campus that has changed so much in 40+ year, enjoying a lovely Fall weekend in Evanston--with some free drinks thrown in....how could that NOT be exciting for this 66 year old? But I was also humbled at the memory of my own average hockey abilities, the heights to which the NU field hockey program has ascended, the opportunities and limitations I took for granted back then, and my lack of appreciation in my younger life for the many women athletes who came before us at Northwestern and laid the groundwork for all that we celebrated that weekend. I felt a bit like one of those "Center Court" women who honored us 50 years ago with dinner and an award--a little out-of-touch, not cool, moving a bit slow--and had a sense of long-overdue gratitude for their efforts on our behalf all those year ago. History matters.
You know, I've been thinking a lot about those Center Court women, too, and wishing I knew more about what motivated them to support us all those years ago. Were they the ones in the photos of field hockey on Deering Meadow? Which is how we must look to the current team. :) I'm also reckoning with the limitations we took for granted back then. It's been great to sort through all of that history with you! Maybe we can do it again next year. xoxo
Leanne, I loved your reflection on the weekend and the NU Field Hockey experience “through line”. So true. We may not have been elite athletes with all of the supports and facilities, but we were sure dedicated to our sport, NU and our teammates. Funny how often we barely made it or just missed dinner after practice. Nutrition? Stress? Not a thought in the coaches mind🤣. We still loved it! And had that ‘bit of fun’. I love the Team 5 picture. Lots of smiles.
So fun catching up with some of the group after 40+ years. So many fun memories.
Lets keep in touch!
Go Cats!!!
I graduated from college just under the Title IX year. I would have loved to have this experience and I know sports did so much for developing young women into competent leaders. The best we had were intramural which did not have much support, sigh....
Well, you certainly became a leader anyway, but I know what you mean. We did intramurals as a team, too -- we called ourselves the Gumbies, which was a Saturday Night Live sketch at the time. :)