Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
COLUMN: “There's a real simple term for that: Team”
1/15/2023 6:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
On being a good teammate, when folks are and aren’t watching
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — As a writer, I'm obviously fond of the power of words to affect change and to express emotion.
But on Wednesday night, scrolling through my Twitter feed after another dominant win for the Lady Raiders, the words I had gotten from Rick Insell after the game were not necessary, when a photo his Associate Head Coach shared captured that same sentiment.
It's an image that could be from just about any home game this year, with Jalynn Gregory following through another corner three-point shot as her teammates all raise their hands in anticipation of the coming swish. The only way one might be able to guess it was from Wednesday's 85-56 win over Rice is the rare occasion of both Courtney Whitson and Alexis Whittington being on the bench at the same time, a product of the foul trouble each got into on the day.
But more than anything, it captures something I've observed not just in Insell's program this season, but in so many programs we have around MTSU this year: the tight-knit, selfless attitude shared by teammates, celebrating each other's triumphs and picking each other up through the adversity they face.
"It's about Team, Sam," Insell taught me during that day's press conference. "There's a real simple term for that: Team."
Watching the Lady Raiders bench throughout the game gives that sort of insight as well. Regardless of who's on the bench, whether it be filled with reserves in a tight game or starters enjoying the end of a blowout, the energy is the same. Its expression varies, Courtney Whitson is far more extroverted in her support than others, for instance. But the sentiment remains clear: everyone wants their teammates in the game to succeed.
That's by design, Insell went on to say.
"When you sit on that bench and you're for your fellow player in that game, when you get a chance to go out there, you're going to do good," Insell said. "If you sit over there all sulled up, pissed off, envious, greedy, you know what's going to happen when you get on the floor? You're not going to do good.
"We sell that every day in practice, that's why you see that."
I'll admit to being a cynic when it comes to things like team chemistry or team culture, which in my experience tend to be more buzz words than substance. It's very easy to be a good teammate when the times are great. Not so much when things are going poorly. A younger me would've stuck with the adage that "Winning solves a lot of problems" and left the conversation at that.
But at some point, after seeing these teams up close, all those little things I see on a day-to-day basis around the Murphy Center with MTSU's programs start to add up. Players driving one another to practice after class, hanging late with a teammate getting treatment who needs a little extra support. Getting each other up on the sideline, or on the court, or on the field, without the help or encouragement of the coach. Making sure they're in the replies of their friends' social media posts after a big conference honor.
There can be bigger moments too. Jordan Ferguson's teammates helping him start his charity last year. Chris Edge taking time out of his day to come back to lead cheers at men's tennis. And yes, even something like a sideline being as engaged at the end of a 29-point win as they were at the very start of the game
It speaks to not only to the teams and programs involved, but more importantly to the student athletes themselves, that so many of them maintain that level of respect and friendship across the trials of a full season in collegiate athletics. Where there's only so many minutes, so many snaps, so many sets to go around.
There's a big week ahead for both the Lady Raiders and Blue Raiders at Murphy Center, with three games between the two programs on tap. Track, men's tennis and women's tennis all got their spring journeys started this weekend. More importantly for the current Blue Raiders across campus, classes start for the semester on Tuesday.
Here's hoping the great teammates we've seen out and about for MTSU already this year will keep up that support for one another as the action rolls on.
But on Wednesday night, scrolling through my Twitter feed after another dominant win for the Lady Raiders, the words I had gotten from Rick Insell after the game were not necessary, when a photo his Associate Head Coach shared captured that same sentiment.
Great Team Win #ProudCoach #BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/yFrfhoXcrA
— Matt Insell (@minsell) January 12, 2023
It's an image that could be from just about any home game this year, with Jalynn Gregory following through another corner three-point shot as her teammates all raise their hands in anticipation of the coming swish. The only way one might be able to guess it was from Wednesday's 85-56 win over Rice is the rare occasion of both Courtney Whitson and Alexis Whittington being on the bench at the same time, a product of the foul trouble each got into on the day.
But more than anything, it captures something I've observed not just in Insell's program this season, but in so many programs we have around MTSU this year: the tight-knit, selfless attitude shared by teammates, celebrating each other's triumphs and picking each other up through the adversity they face.
"It's about Team, Sam," Insell taught me during that day's press conference. "There's a real simple term for that: Team."
Watching the Lady Raiders bench throughout the game gives that sort of insight as well. Regardless of who's on the bench, whether it be filled with reserves in a tight game or starters enjoying the end of a blowout, the energy is the same. Its expression varies, Courtney Whitson is far more extroverted in her support than others, for instance. But the sentiment remains clear: everyone wants their teammates in the game to succeed.
That's by design, Insell went on to say.
"When you sit on that bench and you're for your fellow player in that game, when you get a chance to go out there, you're going to do good," Insell said. "If you sit over there all sulled up, pissed off, envious, greedy, you know what's going to happen when you get on the floor? You're not going to do good.
"We sell that every day in practice, that's why you see that."
I'll admit to being a cynic when it comes to things like team chemistry or team culture, which in my experience tend to be more buzz words than substance. It's very easy to be a good teammate when the times are great. Not so much when things are going poorly. A younger me would've stuck with the adage that "Winning solves a lot of problems" and left the conversation at that.
But at some point, after seeing these teams up close, all those little things I see on a day-to-day basis around the Murphy Center with MTSU's programs start to add up. Players driving one another to practice after class, hanging late with a teammate getting treatment who needs a little extra support. Getting each other up on the sideline, or on the court, or on the field, without the help or encouragement of the coach. Making sure they're in the replies of their friends' social media posts after a big conference honor.
There can be bigger moments too. Jordan Ferguson's teammates helping him start his charity last year. Chris Edge taking time out of his day to come back to lead cheers at men's tennis. And yes, even something like a sideline being as engaged at the end of a 29-point win as they were at the very start of the game
It speaks to not only to the teams and programs involved, but more importantly to the student athletes themselves, that so many of them maintain that level of respect and friendship across the trials of a full season in collegiate athletics. Where there's only so many minutes, so many snaps, so many sets to go around.
There's a big week ahead for both the Lady Raiders and Blue Raiders at Murphy Center, with three games between the two programs on tap. Track, men's tennis and women's tennis all got their spring journeys started this weekend. More importantly for the current Blue Raiders across campus, classes start for the semester on Tuesday.
Here's hoping the great teammates we've seen out and about for MTSU already this year will keep up that support for one another as the action rolls on.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballBlue Raider Breakdown Postgame Show - December 16th - Women's Basketball
Wednesday, December 17
MT Women's Basketball | Together: Episode Three | It's gotta mean something to you
Tuesday, December 16
MTSU Women's Basketball vs. Auburn Postgame Press Conference on 12/16/25
Tuesday, December 16
Blue Raider Breakdown Postgame Show - December 7th - Women's Basketball
Monday, December 08
