Mikayla Blakes and Vanderbilt Are Doing the Uncommon Thing, and It’s Working
Be Uncommon: Vanderbilt
What does it mean to be uncommon? How about doing something that isn’t popular or trendy? In sports, you often see the top players out of high school decide to spend their collegiate years playing for the popular programs. Being uncommon and deciding to build something of your own takes a different breed of person.
When you look at Vanderbilt, you are looking at an example of uncommon. Coach Shea Ralph has experienced a lot of winning as a player and coach at UConn. She knows what it is like to win, but UConn is known for being one of the greatest women’s basketball programs on this planet.
Nothing was given, as they still had to work, but she took this Vanderbilt job knowing what was in front of her. She wanted to do something uncommon, and she mentioned that after No. 5 Vanderbilt’s win over No. 7 Michigan.
“So people use the word rebuild a lot. It’s not a rebuild, it’s a revitalization. Because this program went to a Final Four, won multiple SEC championships. We had been there before, but our goal is to compete for championships and ultimately to win a national championship. And we want to be able to sustain that success year after year after year,” said Ralph.
“So when both of these guys (Mikayla Blakes and Justine Pissott) come back in 10 years, they’re gonna be part of something really special. I was lucky enough to be part of that at UConn, and that’s what I came here to do, to do the uncommon thing, to help them create a legacy of their own.”
Blakes speaks of the same thing, and the sophomore is doing exactly what she came there to do. The Commodores are currently 19-0 and ranked No. 5 in the nation. Blakes and her teammates are turning Vanderbilt women’s basketball into a household name, and if you doubt what is going on in Nashville, that is a choice.
“I mean it’s been a great journey. I just came here to do the uncommon thing and I think what we’re doing now is the reason why I came here, to be a part of that, to be under Coach Ralph and play with Justine, people like Justine being my teammate today,” said Mikayla Blakes. “And I don’t think I could have picked a better place to thrive on and off the court. It’s really good academic wise and athletic wise and everybody pours into us, so why not?”
I am sure Blakes could have entertained offers from other schools, especially after her National Freshman of the Year season, but she is right where she wants to be. That speaks more to me than her play on the court. She is special, this Vanderbilt team is special, and they are in the middle of doing something special.
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