South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley is one for the fans. She has always liked signing autographs for the kids hanging out their jerseys and gears and the reason behind her gesture is simple and beautiful.
A couple of days ago, when the Gamecocks defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 94-69 in the Sweet 16 at Golden 1 Center, Staley kept signing autographs even after a staff member came over to stop the head coach. When asked about it, Staley kept it real, saying:
“Our game has grown; people want more access to us. I think it’s only right for us to give back to the game… Do you know how much those tickets cost yesterday? I will say this: the people in the arena were really nice. They started helping to organize it, and then a gentleman came over, and he’s like, ‘Stop, we’re not doing this.’ I was like, ‘Well, why?’ And he said, because the NCAA people told us to stop it. ‘Excuse me?’ I’m going to keep going because this is the way you grow the game.”
Staley signed autographs during the Sweet 16 halftime game between Virginia and TCU so that she wouldn’t block the people from watching the game.
“We have our staff members keeping everything organized in a way that is safe for the fans to come get autographs and then exit out, like real organized,” Staley added. “I think it’s only right … I enjoy giving back to the game.”
Dawn Staley Gets Honest About Transfer Portal Recruiting
While Dawn Staley is in the middle of the NCAA Tournament, she did mention her feelings about the transfer portal. Staley is a firsthand witness to the evolution in transfer portal talks. Athletes, who were once driven by coaches or a program’s name, are now inclined to drive the conversation where money is involved, claimed Staley.
“How much is it going to cost us? That’s the conversation. You’ve got to lead with that,” Staley said before the Elite Eight against TCU. “Because you don’t really want to waste your time. You either are going to have enough to pay players, or you don’t. And you move on.
“Because although you can promise a young person this or that, if your budget says otherwise — I don’t like to promise anything that isn’t available to us,” she said. “I don’t want to have to go out and get the money because you could be told no and then your back is against the wall.”
Staley now has her upcoming Elite Eight matchup against TCU to think about more. She is hoping to get back to the national championship and likely usurp defending champions UConn from the top.
Read More News:
Hannah Hidalgo Sends Clear Notre Dame Transfer Portal Message After Elite Eight Heartbreak vs UConn
Dawn Staley Pokes Fun at Raven Johnson’s Brand Deal as Gamecocks Prepare to Face Oklahoma
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