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Sooter
Dec 21, 2011 17:00:55 GMT -5
Post by nooram on Dec 21, 2011 17:00:55 GMT -5
Some of these same issues have come up recently in other threads. People make jokes about Minnesota's winters, and it is worse than other places in the midwest, I"ll grant you that, but that's more a matter of degree (or a few fewer degrees) than kind. If you're a Cali sun-lover, you're not going to like winter in Lincoln, Evanston, Champaign, Ann Arbor . . . the midwest, period. It would be interesting to see an analysis of vb players at Big 10 schools who came from sun states: how many left, how many stayed for the duration, and whether the percentage is significantly different from that applicable to non-sun state, out-of-staters. I don't know what Sooter's motivations were, but it isn't like everyone from a warm place decides it was a mistake to come here. E.g., Tan, Gentil, Bratford, Mallakis. more e.g.'s: Branagh, Berg, Fiamengo
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Sooter
Dec 21, 2011 17:17:34 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2011 17:17:34 GMT -5
College town atmosphere -- and tradition. Makes a huge difference, imo. I think maybe even more than that is that being on a team with so many local kids makes the out-of-staters maybe... realize?... how much they are missing their family. I'm sure there are several things that are factors. And it could just be 100% coincidence. Nobody can say these players wouldn't have left any other school, either.
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Sooter
Dec 21, 2011 17:47:01 GMT -5
Post by coltrane4 on Dec 21, 2011 17:47:01 GMT -5
Speaking of winters, for all you folks from other regions, we're staring at a Brown Christmas this year. No chance of any significant snowfall between now and the 25th they say. Temps have been decent. High of 35 today in the TC. That's the problem - the view that 35 is "decent." I don't live there anymore, but I lived in MN from birth until I went away to college. When I lived there, I would have totally agreed that a December 21 temp of 35 was perfectly "decent." But, the frame of reference for someone from Cali, Fla, TX, Ariz, or any other warmer place is compeletely different. In fact, I lived in central Illinois (Champaign and Springfield), which would still be considered "northern" and had 4 definitive seasons, but even there the weather was drastically different than what Minnesota could be. Yes, there were big snow falls at times, and it could get incredibly cold (especially in Jan and Feb), but the intensity, duration, and consistency of relatively bad winter weather was nothing compared to MN. In January there would be 8 inches of snow, 4 days of 20 degree weather, and then all the snow would melt and it would be 45 and sometimes even 50. "Summer" avticities could be enjoyed through the incredibly long fall with Sept, Oct, even haf of November being very moderate a lot of the time (along with expected "bad" days). I can see how people just can't, or don't want to, adjust to MN weather.
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Sooter
Dec 21, 2011 18:00:55 GMT -5
Post by gogophers on Dec 21, 2011 18:00:55 GMT -5
I spent three years in Central Illinois and have a different recollection of the weather. It seemed in winter that the winds went directly from the Van Allen belt or Neptune, or wherever they come from, directly into my face, with nothing on the flat prairie to interrupt them on their way. Again, I agree that Minn. winters are worse, but from the frame of reference of someone from Cali, Fla, et al., a real winter is a real winter and there isn't a drastic difference from one part to the next. (One classmate of mine, from Miami, repeatedly questioned his sanity for matriculating at a central Illinois school, vowing never to cross the Mason-Dixon line, post-graduation.) If you don't like Minnesota because of the weather, I doubt you're going to find Champaign and Springfield to your liking, either. I can certainly see, too, how people don't want to adjust to MN weather, but, again, if you don't want to adjust to cold weather, Minn is hardly the only place where you'll find weather you'll consider cold enough to be not worth adjusting to.
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Sooter
Dec 21, 2011 18:06:02 GMT -5
Post by gogophers on Dec 21, 2011 18:06:02 GMT -5
And it isn't just temp. I have visited the East Coast many, many times since moving to Minnesota, and have noticed how cold I felt in winter there, even if the temp were 15-20 degrees warmer. It's a cliche, but true: cold and damp is as bad or worse than really cold and dry. Now, I'm not saying the weather in NYC is as bad as in Minn in the winter. It's a lot shorter, for starters. But 25 in NYC is cold, usually, in a way that 25 in Minneapolis isn't. Again, if you want sunny and warm, don't come north.
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Sooter
Dec 21, 2011 18:07:42 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2011 18:07:42 GMT -5
coltrane touched on the difference. It's the duration. It's one thing to be cold occasionally. It's another to be cold for 3-4 months with no break. And then it can drag through most of the spring.
It makes us appreciate when these things don't happen. That much I'll admit.
The older I get, the more I sort of like being in a warm house when it's really cold outside. For one thing, it makes me less likely to feel like I'm missing something. But, mainly, I just like the cosiness of it all.
But, man, I'm never going to like driving in this crap.
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Sooter
Dec 21, 2011 18:08:26 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2011 18:08:26 GMT -5
I hope Steffi likes her thread.
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Sooter
Dec 22, 2011 0:42:19 GMT -5
Post by hddoc on Dec 22, 2011 0:42:19 GMT -5
I hope Steffi likes her thread. +1...
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Sooter
Dec 22, 2011 3:30:09 GMT -5
Post by coltrane4 on Dec 22, 2011 3:30:09 GMT -5
I spent three years in Central Illinois and have a different recollection of the weather. It seemed in winter that the winds went directly from the Van Allen belt or Neptune, or wherever they come from, directly into my face, with nothing on the flat prairie to interrupt them on their way. Again, I agree that Minn. winters are worse, but from the frame of reference of someone from Cali, Fla, et al., a real winter is a real winter and there isn't a drastic difference from one part to the next. (One classmate of mine, from Miami, repeatedly questioned his sanity for matriculating at a central Illinois school, vowing never to cross the Mason-Dixon line, post-graduation.) If you don't like Minnesota because of the weather, I doubt you're going to find Champaign and Springfield to your liking, either. I can certainly see, too, how people don't want to adjust to MN weather, but, again, if you don't want to adjust to cold weather, Minn is hardly the only place where you'll find weather you'll consider cold enough to be not worth adjusting to. But, I actually did like it much better. Maybe MN winters were consistently more severe when I grew up, but central Illinois was drastically different to me (and I moved to Champaign and then Springfield after 9 years in Evanston and Chicago). I like moderate weather and I thought the beautiful incredibly long period of fall-like weather was great. Same, but to a lesser degree, in the spring, which started earlier and became warmer earlier and was more consistently "nice" than when I lived in MN. Of course, central Illinois is still the midwest and, of course, there is going to be typical Midwest winter weather. But, as I said before, it just isn't as intense and really comes and goes. In Jan and Feb, and a lesser degree March, bitter cold and heavy snowfall is interrupted by periods when he snow completely melts and the temperature is very "mild" (I know that's subjective). Serious winter just doesn't have the same duration. But, your point is taken. These central IL v. Minnesota winter differences may make a difference to me, but if the distinction probably may not mean much to a person raised in a consistently warm place.
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Sooter
Dec 22, 2011 7:18:32 GMT -5
Post by gogophers on Dec 22, 2011 7:18:32 GMT -5
We're speculating of course that weather played a big role in Sooter's decision to leave. Does anyone know what her reasons actually are?
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Sooter
Dec 22, 2011 10:25:51 GMT -5
Post by gopher4now on Dec 22, 2011 10:25:51 GMT -5
A friend of mine is part of the team and told me that the reason for Steffi returning to California has nothing to do with the weather, or the "U", or the players. She just wanted to finish out her remaining 2 years playing volleyball closer to her family and friends.
I'm sure it must have been tough for her being this far from home. While most of the players get the luxury of seeing their family and friends in the stands for most of the games and then get to hang out, chat and go out to dinner following the matches. Steffi only experienced that on occasion when her family was able to visit.
All the while, she looked upbeat and positive while on the floor. I will always remember her passion and enthusiasm after big points, and I will never forget how she would walk over and hand a T-shirt to someone either handicapped or elderly...someone who would not have the chance to catch one. That shows such character.
And as for wanting to finish out her playing career playing in California in front of her family and friends, who can blame her for that. I think certain people realize sooner than others that playing volleyball, even in the BIG10, should not consume your entire life...only part of it. It sounds to me like somewhere along the way she realized what was more important to her.
Thank You Steffi and best of luck to you.
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Sooter
Dec 22, 2011 11:40:53 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2011 11:40:53 GMT -5
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Sooter
Dec 22, 2011 11:46:32 GMT -5
Post by smiley on Dec 22, 2011 11:46:32 GMT -5
Collen Ward moved from warm to cold to be with family and friends. It's a big deal to many players. Much more than weather. But then freezing your a$$ off isn't fun.
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Sooter
Dec 22, 2011 13:36:33 GMT -5
Post by stuntman on Dec 22, 2011 13:36:33 GMT -5
I wonder how much it had to do with the different style of passing and defense they were being taught by Hugh's coaches. I never heard the coaches or players talk about it, but it was obvious in warmups and matches that they were expected to perform the skills differently. They had a more upright posture in their ready position. They were obviously guiding the ball by following through with their arms on passes. Often times finishing with their arms at eye level. It was very strange to watch Hailey and Jessica try to do this. It didn't look natural or comfortable to Steffi either. I have not seen the National or Olympic team play, so I am just speculating that that is what they do. Steffi did not sign up for a school where she was going to be expected to change most everything she knows about passing. Maybe that contributed to her leaving. I personally think this style completely crippled Jessica and took her from the B1G libero of the year to almost falling off the radar. That and she clearly wasn't allowed to roam as much on defense.
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Sooter
Dec 22, 2011 14:17:20 GMT -5
Post by wolfgang1 on Dec 22, 2011 14:17:20 GMT -5
How can you grow as a person if you always stay within your comfort zone?
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