Outside the Court
“With myself being such a young coach straight out of college, it’s been a learning process to be under someone with so much experience and success,” stated Peetz. “It’s making me better.” And that’s what Smith prides himself with the most.
“The most rewarding thing about being a coach is watching the girls in years to come having successful careers. They come in just out of high school, and we help mold them into who they become,” states Smith.
Trisha Bennett, a current player, states, “He is a remarkable coach that a player can not take lightly. He is one of the best coaches in NCAA history and I feel that I am learning from him every single day. He is the type of person that will always have an influence in my life.” In most cases, anyone who has played an organized sport can relate to how the experience has helped them with their careers. Smith is someone that if a person pays attention too, he can teach him/her a life lesson that the person can carry with them forever.
Smith’s Future
Coach Smith starts a tradition with every basketball team that he takes over. He believes he has found home with the Bellarmine Knights. “The only way I will coach at a Division I level is if Bellarmine goes D1. I wouldn’t want to coach at D1 level just to say I did it,” said Smith. “I would rather be at a school with tradition that is competing with the best schools around the country rather than at a struggling D1 program.
Smith has many things to look forward to in the upcoming season, 2007-2008, considering he lost only two seniors. He should look forward to the awards and recognition that will be coming to him throughout the rest of his career.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Coach Smith's Still Successful (Part 1)
Life Before Bellarmine
Before David Smith's name was ever mentioned in the same sentence as Bellarmine, he was making a name for himself elsewhere. "When I first started, I didn't think about what was going to happen the next 20 years," stated Smith. "The goal is to just win the next game." And that he did.
Smith started his college-coaching career at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind., where he founded the first women's basketball team in school history in 1976. Not only was he the founder, but he also led the Pumas to three GLVC crowns and two
Regional titles. He was well rewarded for his efforts by being named GLVC Coach of the Year three times during his reign at Saint Joseph's.
Smith moved from Saint Joseph's to Pennsylvania to start another basketball empire at Shippensburg University. "I’d say the main goal is to win a national championship," said Smith. "We go out every year with the possibility at arms reach."
Although he has not won a national championship, he did lead four of his teams to the Big Dance, with his 1996 team being the national runner-up while his 1998 team made it to the Elite Eight. Along the way, Smith's team grabbed three PSAC championships, while he achieved personal success with three PSAC Coach of the Year awards.
Bellarmine Achievements
"He is very intense and passionate about his job. The things he does and says only make people better because he demands success," stated Lindsey Peetz, a current assistant under Smith. His record and accolades show evidence that his demands are being met.
Coach Smith's career record is 499-205. One win away from a record making 500 wins could be a disappointing scenario to end a season with. Although, Coach Smith is still very optimistic stating, "My 500th win is just a number. If it was my last year then I could see why I would be a little disappointed. But I have many years to come and hope to reach my 600th and 700th win."
Coach Smith’s most recent honor is making the list of the best women’s coaches in the NCAA. “It’s just a list. I go out everyday just to win the next game,” replied Smith about receiving the honor.
The list includes many prestigious coaches including Tennessee’s Pat Summit, and Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma. There were five different categories that NCAA coaches could have made the list through. Smith made the list because his career winning percent is 70.9, .9% higher then it had to be.
Before David Smith's name was ever mentioned in the same sentence as Bellarmine, he was making a name for himself elsewhere. "When I first started, I didn't think about what was going to happen the next 20 years," stated Smith. "The goal is to just win the next game." And that he did.
Smith started his college-coaching career at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind., where he founded the first women's basketball team in school history in 1976. Not only was he the founder, but he also led the Pumas to three GLVC crowns and two
Regional titles. He was well rewarded for his efforts by being named GLVC Coach of the Year three times during his reign at Saint Joseph's.
Smith moved from Saint Joseph's to Pennsylvania to start another basketball empire at Shippensburg University. "I’d say the main goal is to win a national championship," said Smith. "We go out every year with the possibility at arms reach."
Although he has not won a national championship, he did lead four of his teams to the Big Dance, with his 1996 team being the national runner-up while his 1998 team made it to the Elite Eight. Along the way, Smith's team grabbed three PSAC championships, while he achieved personal success with three PSAC Coach of the Year awards.
Bellarmine Achievements
"He is very intense and passionate about his job. The things he does and says only make people better because he demands success," stated Lindsey Peetz, a current assistant under Smith. His record and accolades show evidence that his demands are being met.
Coach Smith's career record is 499-205. One win away from a record making 500 wins could be a disappointing scenario to end a season with. Although, Coach Smith is still very optimistic stating, "My 500th win is just a number. If it was my last year then I could see why I would be a little disappointed. But I have many years to come and hope to reach my 600th and 700th win."
Coach Smith’s most recent honor is making the list of the best women’s coaches in the NCAA. “It’s just a list. I go out everyday just to win the next game,” replied Smith about receiving the honor.
The list includes many prestigious coaches including Tennessee’s Pat Summit, and Connecticut’s Geno Auriemma. There were five different categories that NCAA coaches could have made the list through. Smith made the list because his career winning percent is 70.9, .9% higher then it had to be.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech head basketball coach mourns after Monday's shootings.
The Virginia Tech community came together to mourn those lost in Monday's horrific shooting spree.
Click here to view video interviews on VA Tech athletes ready to resume play.
All Bellarmine athletes and students, hearts go out to all students and families effected by Monday's tragedy. We are praying for you.
For further information on Virginia Tech go to any of the following links:Few will forget where they were during shootings,Remembering a tragic event,Violence a problem we all can agree on.
You can also go to ESPNU.com for more information, and other college sports news.
Running Scared (PT. 2)
This is the conclusion to my feature article. Once again let me re-emphasize the fact that in no way am i attempting to cast a negative light on Katie Hickey. She is a great runner and has all my respect.
With two laps to go the pace suddenly picked up more and more. Now the run was a full on sprint. As these runners came back from behind, the questions began to creep back in as well.
“Shake them off. Keep up the pace. Keep going. KEEP GOING.” She told herself these things, but her body wasn’t listening the way her mind wanted it to.
During the struggle with herself, Hickey did not notice what was going on around her. She had gone on auto-pilot and became self-engulfed. When she came to her senses she had realized something. This was something she couldn’t help, and it was something she was now helpless to fix.
Hickey was boxed in.
Runners had surrounded her. It was now more strain to follow in the footsteps of these runners, and not run over them, then it was to bust out and take the race over. But she had no choice, she had no where to go, no where to run. Katie was stuck. Stuck, boxed in by two inferior runners, while the pack passed her by.
By the last 300 meters of the race Hickey was beat, emotionally from not being able to escape being boxed in while the pack raced away, and physically from having to watch her every step so she wasn’t disqualified for bumping another runner in an attempt to break out.
When the pack made the turn for the home stretch everyone seemed to take off. They sped up and gave everything they had for the final bit of the race. Hickey followed suit. When she took off it was like she was running in quick sand. Her legs felt like rubber and her wind was gone.
She crossed the finish line. Even though she was one of few to make it that far, it wasn‘t good enough for her. Making it to nationals proved she was one of the best in the nation. Not the conference, not the region, but the whole nation. But where she finished wasn’t good enough. “It just wasn’t enough.”
She felt sick. Like she could throw up, like someone had punched her in the stomach, then kicked her in the head while she was down. Some of it was because of the physical strain of running at such a high level for an extended amount of time. But most of it was she was sick from herself. She was so dissatisfied with the way she ran. It wasn’t her best run, and that is what hurt the most.
This instilled a hunger into Hickey . She was like a shark that just got its first taste of blood. This blood was the National meet. And her prey was the other runners she will face. She knew she was better than that. She still knows this today.
Now she has been there. She has done that. No more surprises. Next time she will not be boxed in. Next time she will win. She will win.
Young Hickey has now grown into experienced, strong, fast Hickey . Is she an All American? Can she win the National meet? She doesn’t know the answers, and no one else does, only the future knows what lies ahead.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Running Scared (PT.1)
I know you are probably sick of hearing about the same runner over and over again. However I have one more article to present to you about Katie Hickey. You have heard about her going to Nationals, and you have heard things about her in general. Now I bring to you the story that you didnt get. This is the story of the race itself.
Let me first say that even making it to Nationals is something that hundreds, maybe even thousands of runners will never do in thier entire college careers. Katie did so as a sophomore. This article in no way is meant to make Katie look bad. She is a great runner and i have all the respect in the world for her. ENJOY!!!
Bellarmine runner Katie Hickey had never felt like this before. For the first time in her career it was all about her. Well, her and two other teammates. Still, this was a far cry from the 30 plus members that took precedent over her wants on any given meet day This time it was more than just that.
There were many other firsts for Hickey on this trip. It was the first time that she had flown on a team event. It was the first time that there were more coaches than runners. It was the first time she had ran at such a large and important event. She had many first indeed.
There were three of them from Bellarmine at the National Event, Meghan Crowe, Jenna Lillpop, and Hickey. She was the new girl, the sophomore, running in a senior’s event. She was Katie Hickey.
Granted this event wasn’t just for seniors, but Nationals are a big deal, and it isn’t often that you see sophomores there. The only runners you see at Nationals are the best. The best of the best.
Knowing this she would frequently ask herself; “Why am I here?” “Can I keep up?” “Do I even belong here?” Everyone told her she was there because she earned it, that she could keep up, and believed that she definitely belonged. Yet the questions still lingered in her mind. These types of questions would be those that after her race, she would never ask herself again.
When she stepped on the track she looked at the other runners. All of them were older, stronger, and larger. These runners were proven All Americans and she was only a sophomore. It was like a young Philly stepping onto the track at the Kentucky Derby for the very first time. Nervous. Anxious. Wide eyed, and scared.
There was no time for these feelings. There was no time for fear. She couldn’t seem to shake this voice in the back of her head: her own voice which was making it hard to concentrate. It was like Chinese water torture, a constant dull tapping that ate away at her.
She stepped up to the starting line…BANG!!! And the race was off. The runners bolted off the line. The first 100 meters it was as if the race was a sprint. Then, suddenly, the pace came to a jarring halt.
After the initial 100 meters the pace became painstakingly slow. “How can this be? Why are they going so slow?” The pace was that of a 5k run, not that of a race just under a mile. The 1500 meter run.
She became bored with such a pace, so she threw all her doubt into the wind. She picked up the pace and challenged the front. Challenged the best of the best, the All Americans. This move was one that was embraced by the field. It seemed that everyone else thought the pace was too slow as well. Hickey had made her move, and the field followed.
For the conclusion of the race visit the blog later.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Upcoming Events
Women's Tennis Team4/19/2007 - TBA
GLVC Tournament
Softball Team4/19/2007 - 2:00 & 4:00
Northern Kentucky University
Home
Women's Track Team4/20/2007 -
Vanderbilt Invitational
Nashville, Tenn.
Men's Track Team4/20/2007 -
Eastern Kentucky Invitational
Richmond, Ky.
Men's Golf Team4/21/2007 -
GL Region Spring Invitational #2
Alton, Ill.
BU Lacrosse: Just a Toddler
I’ve chosen to take a break from my “team fun” spotlights in order to express a few thoughts regarding our Division-I lacrosse program which will be concluding it’s first season as part of a the Great Western Lacrosse League (GWLL) this Saturday.
There has been much talk over the past three years about Bellarmine’s first Division-I team. The team came in with my freshman class and their 13-2 season in 2005 brought much excitement to the school and those attending games and learning about the sport. This season the Knights have struggled to pick up wins and, at a glance, one may think our Division-I team is a joke with their 3-9 record. I would not be so skeptical though.
All one needs to do is, first, take a look at the competitive schedule the Knights have been up against this season and, second, take a look at the scores of these games, especially in comparison to last year.
The lacrosse team is in its first year as a member of the GWLL—finally able to compete as more than a provisional team on the Division-I level. The team most recently picked up its first GWLL win as they defeated the Air Force Academy 16-10 last Saturday, April 15. In 2006 the Knights were defeated 9-7.
The Knights’ two other wins came against St. John’s, 12-11, in their home opener (making it their third consecutive home opener win) and Wagner, 12-8, after starting the game down 0-3.
So what about the loss tally? What does that say for the Knights?
Four of the nine teams BU has lost two were opponents from their 2006 schedule as well. Of these four, the score difference was smaller in three of the games and two of the losses were by two or fewer goals.
The men fell to Denver on April 13, a GWLL member, 9-7 while missing leading scorer Ray Finnegan. In 2006 they lost 13-5. A month earlier they were defeated by Brown, 9-8, after losing 6-9 in 2006. The one-point loss was the second of the season as the Knights fell to Manhattan, 7-8, ten days prior in a double overtime.
Their other two second-meeting losses came from Duke and Notre Dame. While their Notre Dame score did not better (3-11 in 2007, 2-8 in 2006), their large marginal loss to Duke was a great improvement. The team was crushed 16-1 in 2006, but picked up eight additional goals this year, while Duke only had two more, making the 2007 score 9-18.
Perhaps I may seem to be digging deep to find optimism, but when speaking of a No. 5 ranked team in the country, which Duke was as of March 31 when the Knights faced them, I believe it’s worth something.
Five of the nine teams Bellarmine lost to were ranked in the nation’s top 20, including the previously mentioned No. 5 Duke and No. 19 Notre Dame, as well as No. 6 Maryland, No. 9 Princeton and No. 15 North Carolina.
The Knights will conclude their 2007 season this weekend when they take on final GWLL opponent Quinnipiac. Bellarmine lost to Quinnipiac in 2006 by one goal in a double overtime. A win this Saturday would give the Knights a 2-2 record in their first season as part of the GWLL.
So do not discount the Bellarmine lacrosse program after a glance at their record. There is a reason a team plays a competitive schedule, and that is for improvement and a long-term goal. Sometimes it cannot be about showing a single respectable record, but building a respectable program. The lacrosse program is three years old. It’s just a toddler. Keep feeding it and it will grow strong.
There has been much talk over the past three years about Bellarmine’s first Division-I team. The team came in with my freshman class and their 13-2 season in 2005 brought much excitement to the school and those attending games and learning about the sport. This season the Knights have struggled to pick up wins and, at a glance, one may think our Division-I team is a joke with their 3-9 record. I would not be so skeptical though.
All one needs to do is, first, take a look at the competitive schedule the Knights have been up against this season and, second, take a look at the scores of these games, especially in comparison to last year.
The lacrosse team is in its first year as a member of the GWLL—finally able to compete as more than a provisional team on the Division-I level. The team most recently picked up its first GWLL win as they defeated the Air Force Academy 16-10 last Saturday, April 15. In 2006 the Knights were defeated 9-7.
The Knights’ two other wins came against St. John’s, 12-11, in their home opener (making it their third consecutive home opener win) and Wagner, 12-8, after starting the game down 0-3.
So what about the loss tally? What does that say for the Knights?
Four of the nine teams BU has lost two were opponents from their 2006 schedule as well. Of these four, the score difference was smaller in three of the games and two of the losses were by two or fewer goals.
The men fell to Denver on April 13, a GWLL member, 9-7 while missing leading scorer Ray Finnegan. In 2006 they lost 13-5. A month earlier they were defeated by Brown, 9-8, after losing 6-9 in 2006. The one-point loss was the second of the season as the Knights fell to Manhattan, 7-8, ten days prior in a double overtime.
Their other two second-meeting losses came from Duke and Notre Dame. While their Notre Dame score did not better (3-11 in 2007, 2-8 in 2006), their large marginal loss to Duke was a great improvement. The team was crushed 16-1 in 2006, but picked up eight additional goals this year, while Duke only had two more, making the 2007 score 9-18.
Perhaps I may seem to be digging deep to find optimism, but when speaking of a No. 5 ranked team in the country, which Duke was as of March 31 when the Knights faced them, I believe it’s worth something.
Five of the nine teams Bellarmine lost to were ranked in the nation’s top 20, including the previously mentioned No. 5 Duke and No. 19 Notre Dame, as well as No. 6 Maryland, No. 9 Princeton and No. 15 North Carolina.
The Knights will conclude their 2007 season this weekend when they take on final GWLL opponent Quinnipiac. Bellarmine lost to Quinnipiac in 2006 by one goal in a double overtime. A win this Saturday would give the Knights a 2-2 record in their first season as part of the GWLL.
So do not discount the Bellarmine lacrosse program after a glance at their record. There is a reason a team plays a competitive schedule, and that is for improvement and a long-term goal. Sometimes it cannot be about showing a single respectable record, but building a respectable program. The lacrosse program is three years old. It’s just a toddler. Keep feeding it and it will grow strong.
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