Texas Tech University Athletics
WBB Practice Report: Winning Eugene
October 14, 2014 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 14, 2014
LUBBOCK, Texas -- There's no doubt that each Texas Tech Lady Raider understands the importance of working hard in practice. After all, hard work on the practice court normally translates to more playing time during games.
But there is one element added into standing out during a practice -- winning Eugene.
"I think I'm the only one who calls him that," redshirt sophomore guard Minta Spears said laughing after a practice.
Eugene might be better known as Raider Red. It's the stuffed toy given to the practice player of the day each time after a Lady Raider practice and has become a source of pride for the women's basketball student athletes.
"I feel like practice is so important," said Candi Whitaker, who started the tradition last season in her first year as head coach. "We have a lot of emphasis on practicing well and being good practice players and that carries over to the game. I start it and nominate someone after the first practice and then it becomes peer-given. I think it means more to them when one of their teammates recognizes their hard work and efforts."
The plush toy can be seen sitting on the scorer's table or in a chair during practice and even makes road trips for when it is given to a player during morning shootarounds. But once it's won by that player, it's up to her to choose where the toy resides until the next practice. It can often be found in the locker standing tall like a trophy but not to be touched until the next time.
Spears notes that the recognition from teammates has helped build a closer relationship amongst the players rather than just seeing coaches give the award each practice.
"It means a lot," said Spears, who won the award after the first day of practices last week. "It's really cool to have it because it shows that a teammate saw another teammate working hard and having a good practice."
But don't think for one moment that it has to be given to a student athlete after every practice. Sometimes it's the head coach that ends up with it.
"If we have a bad practice and no one gets it, then I get it back," Whitaker said. "So it adds another element in the mix, but it's been something I like doing and you can see a lot of pride when they receive it."
Follow @traviscram on twitter each day to see who is the practice player of the day during the season.
