Texas head coach Vic Schaefer wasn’t ready for his post-game meeting with his players. For a coach who has been in the business for nearly 40 years now, he was scrambling to find words.
So instead, he wrote.
On the whiteboard, Schaefer drew out “SEC CHAMPIONS, 35–4, FINAL FOUR.”
In Texas’ 74–57 national semifinal loss to South Carolina, it’s easy to forget the accomplishments and accolades. To get so swallowed in the failures and wrongdoings can be depleting and depressing. So, Schaefer reminded the room of what this year’s roster has achieved.
“They’re going to have a banner hanging in the gym that’s going to read ‘CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS,’” Schaefer said. “They’re going to have a Final Four banner hanging in the gym.”
A loss in the NCAA tournament is an epiphany, a sudden realization, to put it lightly. There’s no preparing for it. Even if one falls in blowout fashion, it will always be beautifully tragic, like watching a heavenly sunset fall under the horizon, into darkness.
“You’re never ready for today,” Schaefer said. “I don’t have the words … You’re never prepared.”
When senior guard Shay Holle trotted off the floor for the final time of her Texas career, she gave her head coach a hug, smiling as she embraced her leader for the past half-decade. She jogged to the end of the bench and her emotions flipped as quick as lightning, starting to sob.
“There’s not enough time in the day for me to make about her,” Schaefer said. “It’s gonna be hard walking in the gym and not seeing her.”
The winningest player in women’s Texas basketball had her career cut short, but Holle is staying positive, as she’s done for the past five years.
“It’s been such a blessing being on this team,” Holle said. “That’s the best word for it, just a blessing.”
Senior forward Taylor Jones also had her career end on a sour note, but the forward, who had four points and eight rebounds, was okay. Even with tears running down her face as she jogged into the locker room, her emotions in the post-game press conference were resonant and mindful.
“Words can’t describe how thankful I am to be a part of this team, and to be surrounded by just amazing people, people that always want me to succeed,” Jones said. “I’m forever grateful for them trusting me and allowing me to be here.”
Like a sunset, the colors only appear once. Tomorrow will come and bring new complexions to the sky, which might lead to newfound appreciation, but it won’t be the same as yesterday’s. You can’t replace yesterday, but you can look forward to tomorrow.
“You’ll replace the position, but you won’t replace the person,” Schaefer said.
And that, ultimately, is why we watch sports, why we follow our favorite teams, why some of us would do terrible things to see our teams win Super Bowls, NBA Championships, Pennants, Cups, National Championships and so on. Seasons are a sunset, you know it’s not forever.
But, the great ones stand out, and those are the ones you never forget. As darkness comes to bring on the night, you know the sun will rise again tomorrow.
And a new day will begin.
