University of Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vols Build Brand On Media Day
October 21, 2014 | Women's Basketball
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- SEC Basketball Media Days have taken on a different look and a new location this season, as teams get set for the tipoff of the 2014-15 season.
Instead of spending the day exclusively in meeting rooms and temporary studios in hotel ballrooms as they traditionally had, the event originated primarily from the ESPN SEC Network studio complex. There, head coach Holly Warlick and student-athletes Isabelle Harrison and Bashaara Graves were led through a car wash of studio sessions and photo shoots in the home of the new network.
"There's a lot of attention surrounding the SEC Network, so I think it's been good," Warlick said of the exposure to the new setting. "I know the players have enjoyed it as well."
The day started for the players with "Women in the Game," a panel discussion featuring prominent women from a variety of areas in the sport that allowed the student-athletes to ask questions and interact with the panel to assist in taking the next step from a career on the court to a profession off of it.
The panel, moderated by ESPN play-by-play announcer Cara Capuano, featured coordinating producer of the SEC Network Meg Aronowitz, former Georgia basketball player and current SEC associate commissioner Tiffany Daniels, former Auburn coach and current ESPN broadcaster Nell Fortner, collegiate and WNBA referee Dee Kantner, former Lady Vol and current ESPN broadcaster Kara Lawson, ESPN vice president Carol Stiff and former two-sport Georgia athlete and SEC Network broadcaster Maria Taylor.
The first rotation stop for the players was the full-length basketball court set up in the SEC Network parking lot, where former UT assistant Carolyn Peck and Lawson demonstrated plays from the UT playbook with Graves and Harrison for a video feature to be aired at a later date.
"Both of them are familiar with our system and our kids, and I think they made them feel very comfortable," Warlick said shortly after watching Harrison and Graves each take care of their segments on the first take. "Just like in practice, I love when you can do just one take."
Players had plenty of time between sessions to spend time with student-athletes from other SEC schools, including on shuttle rides to a nearby hotel for the traditional media sessions.
"It's great; I'm glad we could come and talk and hang out with the other players and get to see the friendly side of them," Harrison said. "On the court, it's a whole different story. I really enjoyed getting to know people and making new connections."
Warlick was proud of the way both players performed in the sessions, part of the reason she selected each for the honor.
"Izzy has been a great leader for us," Warlick said. "She's worked very hard to get where she is. Her talent level from where she came in to where she is right now is night and day. I think she has a good feel for our team.
"Bashaara's work ethic demonstrates where we want our team to be: hard workers, blue-collar workers and getting the job done."
Like her teammate, Graves was grateful for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Lady Vols.
"It's a great experience to be here," she said. "I'm glad I was chosen to represent Tennessee."
One of the down-time activities for the student-athletes was a video game lounge set up with the newest NBA game ready to go. Harrison found time to play with a familiar face, former Vol Jarnell Stokes and his Memphis Grizzlies. She took heat from those gathered around for pulling the virtual Stokes from the lineup in crunch time.
"He was too tired," she explained. "I know in real life he doesn't get that tired, so I think the video game is cheating him. I have to tell him about that."
