By T. Scott Boatright
Fifty years of Lady Techsters’ basketball history was celebrated in the Thomas Assembly Center (TAC) over the weekend — festivities that were as much about the people who created the experiences than the storied hoops program being honored half a century after its creation.
On Jan. 7, 1975, Louisiana Tech played Southeastern Louisiana in the program’s first game, a 59-55 loss at Memorial Gym.
Fifty seasons later, the Lady Techsters defeated Sam Houston 66-62 on Saturday to earn their 1,200th win, becoming only the fifth program in NCAA women’s basketball history to reach that milestone.
The Lady Techsters first head coach — Sonja Hogg, who co-directed her Tech teams to two national championships with then assistant/co-head coach Leon Barmore right at her side — was on hand for last weekend’s celebration.
“It’s been an unbelievable weekend — 50 years — that’s a lot of love and memories,” Hogg said Saturday afternoon. “We met (Friday) night and while I didn’t talk long, I talked about the very beginning and how we got this thing rolling. It’s been a great 50 years.”
Talking about the start of Lady Techsters basketball, Hogg became obviously emotional as she remembered the architect who directed the building of the program from scratch — former Louisiana Tech President Dr. F. Jay Taylor.
“This is a really special place — it’s the house Dr. Taylor built for the program he built,” Hogg said, choking back tears. “He deserves the credit. He saw what it could be, and he built it.”
Barmore was also at Friday’s reception and Saturday’s game, relishing in the moments all the while as he rekindled relationships and cheered on one of his former players, current Lady Techsters coach Brooke Stoher, and her team.
“Seeing some of the players I haven’t seen for a long time, like Janice Lawrence, one of the greatest players who ever played here who came down from Ohio — that’s a big part of what makes all of this so special,” Barmore said. “This is a great day and I’m just rooting for Brooke to get the win and that for everyone to have a good time.”
Barmore admitted Dr. Taylor picked a good time to try and build a women’s basketball program.
“We got in on the ground level of women’s basketball and won a couple of championships early on — that’s a big part of the magic,” Barmore said. “The magic is still here. The magic will always be here.”
Carolyn Ashley has been a Lady Techsters fan since the beginning, attending nearly every home game and many road contests over the years along with her husband Charles.
“I’ve been here since 1981 when the TAC opened — we had season tickets to the old gym before that,” Ashley said Saturday afternoon. “I’m amazed at the way some of these players have aged, because I don’t think I really have.
“There are so many special memories, but that’s what we chose to do — be Tech fans and especially Lady Techsters fans. I’ve had these same seats since the beginning of this building.”
Ashley quickly pointed out that it wasn’t necessarily the Tech women’s basketball program but the people who have participated in it that have built a sense of magic and allure that still runs strong half a century later.”
“I like the game, but that’s not what all of this is about,” Ashley said. “It’s really about the people, and there are a whole lot of them that have come through this program.
“When I first got these seats (located behind the Lady Techsters bench), Coach Barmore came to know and told me that he knew where we were going to be sitting. He said, ‘I want you to disregard a lot of what you’re going to hear.’ And I’ve reminded him many times of some of the things I watched him pull. We’ve traveled with the team over the years. It really is all about the and the personalities — that’s what makes this Lady Techsters basketball program so special.”
Michelle Jimmerson, a member of Louisiana Tech’s English faculty, has been a loyal Lady Techsters supporter since childhood.
“My parents were involved from the opening jump — from the very start,” Jimmerson said. “They were on the Tip-Off Board in the 1970s. So we were there at Memorial Gym. My parents went to the first two national championship games and they took my sisters and me to the second national championship game in Virginia.
“So I have this really unique perspective of growing up and idolizing the Lady Techsters and then attending Tech and going to classes with some of them. Teresa Weatherspoon was an English minor and we had a lot of classes together. And now as a faculty member at Tech, it’s been like a full-circle thing for me and so much fun.”
Former Lady Techster Katie Cochran Hall, now head girls hoops coach at Ruston’s Cedar Creek School, arrived back in town less than an hour before Tech tipped off Saturday’s game against Sam Houston State.
Cedar Creek’s basketball teams played in the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Friday and then went to Friday’s night’s New Orleans Pelicans game against the Los Angeles Clippers before returning to Ruston on Saturday.
“If I could have been here (Friday night) I would have, but we had everything scheduled for Cedar Creek down in New Orleans and I had to take care of that,” Hall said. “But I was going to get back in time for today’s game.
“All of this brings back memories and the common bond we all share. It’s an honor to be part of all of this. It’s an honor to have played for the Lady Techsters. I still admire a lot of these former players. I’m in awe of all of us to be able to have this sisterhood. It’s very unique and special.”
Former Lady Techsters Tasha Williams also returned for the festivities and echoed the overall sentiment that the weekend was much about the people involved than the storied women’s basketball program itself.
“Just to come back and see everyone —- all these people who were here helping guide and mentor me while I was growing up — is amazing,” Williams said. “Everyone who has been part of this for so long is part of my village, so to see everyone again is amazing.
“The festivities are cool, but what today is about is getting to see all the people. That’s what today is all about — the relationships we made and still last after all these years.”
