Aggle baller tries to help out team’s attendance in classroom
Utah Statesman: How does it feel to be playing your last couple games for a program you helped rebuild?
Brittany Phillips: Well, I can’t believe it’s here finally. I’ve been here for five years, so it seems like it’s been a really long time. It’s exciting, and hopefully we won’t be known soon as such a new program, but just as a successful one.
US: Over the past five years, what has been the most challenging thing being a member of this team?
BP: Probably that first year was the hardest. There was only one of us that had ever played a Division-I basketball game before, and we were all freshmen and we were new. Coaches had to teach us all the drills and all the defensive principles. It’s frustrating enough probably for teams to have three or four freshmen. But to have 16 new people, that was pretty difficult. But I thought we did really awesome, and we really became close. That really helped out our team a lot.
US: What experiences will you remember most?
BP: Experiences being with the team. We’ve had a lot of fun times together. Two Thanksgivings in a row we’ve had dinner at one of our teammates’ houses. I’ve really enjoyed that. (Also), just going through the toughest times. One time we had to run 24 suicides, and that was pretty tough. Just being with the team, I’m really gonna miss a lot.
US: You’ve graduated from USU. What advice would you give to the average freshman at USU?
BP: Don’t procrastinate and don’t worry about getting enough sleep. Have fun while you can, because once you blink, your college years are going to be done.
US: Have you ever played in a loud environment such as what the USU men’s basketball plays in front of in the Spectrum?
BP: Our first game ever that we played our first year, there were a lot of people (at the Spectrum) because we played right before the men. A lot of people were here because of the men’s game, and that was so awesome. That is probably one of my most favorite memories I have of being here at Utah State. Yeah, I know that the men get a lot of fans, and it’s frustrating that we don’t get more support. We do get a lot of support from the community, but not as much as the men. That’s kind of frustrating and sad. That’s why I require all my students to attend women’s basketball games to make up classes.
US: Which class do you teach?
BP: I teach classes in the P.E. department. If they want to make up an absence, they have to come to a women’s game. There is no other way to make up an absence. They try and go to men’s (games) and I say, “Duh, they already have enough fans. Didn’t you see everyone?”
US: Does that kind of an atmosphere get you more nervous or excited to play?
BP: Not nervous at all. I just think that players being at home with that kind of atmosphere, it just gives so much energy and you get so pumped up and just play better in those atmospheres. That’s why we need it.
US: The media guide says you were a part of ESPN’s National Championship Team in high school. How did that happen?
BP: It was my high school team. In the summer, we were the only team to go to an AAU tournament hosted by Nike. We did awesome. That’s when teams really saw us, and we were sponsored by Nike. So, we were a pretty good team. Throughout the year, the only team in the state of Utah closest to us was 32 points (away). Our team was awesome. Then we went to the Nike Tournament of Champions that year over Christmas break, and we did awesome again. We lost one game, and ESPN named us National Champions. On that team, four of the starters went to BYU and I went to Utah State.
US: Were you ever recruited by any other schools?
BP: I was recruited by BYU and Utah and local junior colleges in Utah and California (and) Idaho State, Colorado State.
US: What was the deciding factor to come to Logan?
BP: I just loved Logan. I wanted to be close to home but far enough away to be on my own. I also thought it was really neat to start a new program. A lot of people aren’t going to have the opportunity to do that. It’s been really, really tough, but I know that I’m such a better person because of it.
US: What are your plans after school?
BP: Well, I need to find a job, so if you find any let me know. My husband and I want to start having kids soon. I’ll be a stay-at-home mom and make crafts and sell them on the Internet.
-sbhislop@cc.usu.edu