By Harry Minium
Norfolk, go. – Race is one of those problems that can lead to uncomfortable and even painful conversations.
But this was not the case a few weeks ago when Theresa WaltonOld Dominion female butt coach brought together his team for a frank and open discussion on the breed and their chosen sport.
The butt, both in male and female games at all levels, is largely a “white” sport mainly composed of players from the suburban areas.
There were 397 female butt players from Division I of the Black I nationwide last season, and although it marks a 38% increase in a decade, this means that the DI MEANS N ‘team has only three African Americans.
Odu has 38 players on his list.
The ODU had not had an African-American player from Anna Davis, a promotion of 2020, until this spring. But Odu now has three, two transfers and a first -year student, all with their own unique perspectives and experiences.
As the month of black history approaches, Walton gathered his team at the end of January for an open forum. And some of the stories of the three black players in the ODU amaze the rest of the team.
Lydia Laney is a second transfer of Xavier who grew up south of Charlotte, in North Carolina, and he was heartbreaking to hear her describe the comments she sometimes heard from opponents when they played in high school and the club of the club .
“I was called the worst names,” she said. “When I played, sometimes I was called the worst names in the book.
“And as I would like to cry on the sidelines, but I knew I couldn’t. There were times when I wanted to stop and knew I couldn’t.
“I looked at my father and he gave my thumb and I looked at my mother and she smiled. And I would go well.
“But sometimes after a match, I would be sad because I said to myself:” Dang, I would really like to have people to like to keep me for me. “”
Teammates Olivia Scotta transfer of George Mason, and Ary branchA first -year student from Charlottesville, also told their stories, and although it was not as ugly as the problems that Laney encountered, all three said it was rewarding that their ODU teammates will be held in place.
“I was really surprised that we had this conversation,” said Scott. “It took me off guard. I went to the coach T (Walton) thereafter, because it actually made me a little emotional.
“I have never participated in a team that talked about it before. It really took me off guard because I didn’t think that was what we were going to talk about. »»
The support of his teammates was incredible, she said.
“I have never felt this feeling before,” she said. “It was like love and the community in one room. There was no backlash. It was an open conversation where we were all able to talk about our experiences and what everyone felt.
“It was really cool to see. I hope we can continue to do this.
“I have never been part of a conversation sitting like this. And this is important because this is how we learn, and that’s how we grow. »»
Laney said that the conversation “really shocked me. I know that after the meeting, all these girls in the locker room had their backs and all the coaches at my back.
“It was really pleasant to hear.”
Branch went to St. Anne’s-Befield, a private school in Charlottesville, which is largely a progressive community, and she therefore said that she was facing less racism than Laney. But it was an end of the butt. She went to St. Anne’s-Befield to play basketball, then was recruited to play the butt.
She said that playing the butt “brought me out of my comfort zone.” But she said that her teammates had been favorable to it and made her comfortable.
She felt at ease in Odu, one of the most diverse universities in the country. The ODU is not a college and a historically black university, but Branch thought it was when it visited Odu for the first time.
“There is so much diversity here that I think anyone from any background would feel comfortable here,” she said.
She said that the meeting with her teammates had breathtaking her.
“When we had this conversation, I felt so loved, so neat, as if they really wanted to help make a difference. They told us that if something should happen to us, that they would have their backs. It just makes me feel so loved.
Walton is white, but frequented a black secondary school in Syracuse, New York. She grew up playing the butt “and that never crossed my mind that sport was racly divided, not before being an adult.”
She said she was saddened to hear about the racism that her players were confronted with.
“Ary said that this is why we have to shed light on the history of blacks not only in February, but 365 days a year,” she said. “And she is right. Black history must be celebrated daily.
“You wanted these things not to exist, that the things that happened to them have not happened. But you know that even a slight comment can be a dagger. You hate that it still exists, but you must be able to recognize it and know how we can help and how we can defend and support them.
“It was great to hear them talking about what they know that their teammates would have their backs if they also faced adversity.
“We want to continue to develop the diversity of our team and know that we bring the best people with great players.”
At 3-1, the ODU left at best as a decade and Saturday plays Campbell, a match initially planned in Norfolk but moved because of the storm which covered Norfolk with a snow foot.
Laney, Scott and Branch all play important minutes for the monarchs and Laney, a starter, has a goal and six assists.
The team plays with more passion than anyone in recent memory, and the link that the team has gone through during this January meeting, surely helped.
“I knew that the first time I was walking on the ground with these women that this team was going to be improved,” said Scott. “You could feel it.
“This team is really close, really together.”
In more ways than one.
Minium is ODU’s main executive editor. Contact him to hminium@odu.edu or follow it Twitter,, Facebook Or Instagram