November 3, 2016

Carson-Newman women's basketball: Sylvia Hatchell interview written transcript

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Following Carson-Newman women basketball’s exhibition with North Carolina, Wednesday night Nov. 3, Eric Cain and the Eagle Sports Network caught up with Eagle Hall of Famer and current Tar Heel’s coach Sylvia Hatchell.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Following Carson-Newman women basketball's exhibition with North Carolina, Wednesday night Nov. 3, Eric Cain and the Eagle Sports Network caught up with Eagle Hall of Famer and current Tar Heel's coach Sylvia Hatchell.

The following is a written transcript from the Sylvia Hatchell interview.

Q1: After the game was over, you sought out Carson-Newman's team and had some things to say to them. What exactly did you address?

Hatchell: I just told them how good they were. They gave us all that we could handle. I told them that they could be in the Final Four and that they are a great team. They really are. I mean, they played well, they played smart, and they have great shooters and team chemistry. They were fearless out there. I told them that they have everything it takes to go to the Final Four and to be a national championship team. I was so proud of Carson-Newman tonight.

Q2: How unique is it for you to be on the other side of Carson-Newman in these types of games?

Hatchell: Again it makes me realize how special of a place it is because Carson-Newman is special. There is just a spirit, an atmosphere and a community-type environment there. It brings back a lot of memories. I talked to the girls about which dorms they live in and I actually lived in the same room a couple of them have lived in Burnett [dorm]. It just brings back so many memories, and again, what a special place it is because of the special people there. So many times we take for granted where we went to school and our relationships with people and friendships and everything like that. Whenever Carson-Newman comes to town, the team is always well coached, competes hard like they did tonight and really just make me proud that I went to school there and that I have a degree from Carson-Newman.

Q3: You have coached at the Division II level and you have coached at the Division I level. You have met a lot of people and made so many connections. How often do you keep up with what is going on around Mossy Creek and those people who are still there?

Hatchell: I keep up with a lot of people who are there and a lot of people who have been there. I check all of the scores and for years and years I brag about Carson-Newman, especially the football team. Of course, we have some people on our staff that went to Wingate, Mars Hill, Presbyterian and other places like that where Carson-Newman always beats up on them. I rub it in a little bit and brag about Carson-Newman. Then again, how well the alumni have done. We meet them and see them out at different places like that. There is such quality with the people that have went there. They are just tremendous people with character and all. Carson-Newman is not for everybody, but everybody is not special. If you are a special person, Carson-Newman is the place for you. You say Carson-Newman and I tell people that Carson-Newman is a place where Eagles are trained and released to soar. You train people there to become Eagles. When you go in there, you may only be a bird of some other type, but you leave an Eagle and are released to soar. There are many Carson-Newman graduates who are out there soaring and making the university proud and they are very, very proud of Carson-Newman. Any time I am somewhere and it comes up that I went to Carson-Newman, I am so proud to tell that story. If I see someone with a shirt on, I always go up and speak to them. It just brings back a lot of memories. This team is going to be really, really good. They played very well tonight and I am expecting great things from them.

I just want to say hello to everybody there in Jefferson City and Mossy Creek. Thank you for all your support, prayers and thank you for being a special part of my life.

-CN-