Photo by OSU Athletics
Stephen F. Austin Basketball
An SFA student’s letter to Brad Underwood
March 25, 2016
1,599
(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a letter sent to The Sawmill by a current student at SFA. We encourage fans to have their voices heard and welcome submissions like this one).
Dear Coach Underwood,
In the summer before I made the decision to attend Stephen F. Austin State University, I knew of few people who were associated with this school. The ones I did know were all students - except for you.
I first heard about you on March 21, 2014 when I was sitting at home about to watch what would turn out to be a monumental game between Stephen F. Austin and Virginia Commonwealth University. At the time, I had no plans of attending SFA.
When I watched the dramatic fashion by which the Lumberjacks came back and won that game, I realized this place was special. I went ahead and applied, although I still had little intention of enrolling.
I was fairly certain I would attend Baylor, maybe Texas A&M, or some big school with the "prestige" of a household name. As it turned out though, I missed an application deadline for A&M, made a financial decision not to attend Baylor, and by the Fall of 2014 I was hesitantly a student at SFA.
I knew absolutely nothing about my school other than the peculiar mascot. I knew the basketball team had a Cinderella-like upset in the NCAA Tournament, and that was about where my knowledge of SFA ended. I decided I would explore the student experience for awhile and transfer to Texas A&M the following year.
That all changed quickly when I actually arrived in Nacogdoches - and you're a big part of why.
I rushed a fraternity, made a lot of new friends, built relationships with my professors - you know, the usual stuff kids say when they go to college. Things were going well for me, maybe even better than expected.
And then basketball season started - and that's when I fell in love with my school.
Anyone who has watched me play an intramural basketball game knows that I can’t dribble, let alone shoot. To be honest, I don’t think I can correctly explain the difference between a small forward and a shooting guard. My basketball knowledge is limited, no doubt. But somehow, watching you coach the Lumberjacks over the past two seasons has been one of the biggest joys in my life here.
My first time at William R. Johnson Coliseum was 8 a.m. in the morning when SFA played Northern Iowa during ESPN's tip-off marathon. It would be your only loss in Nacogdoches, but I was hooked. I skipped an astronomy class to be there and even though we lost, it was an incredible showcase of school pride that I witnessed.
Throughout the last two seasons, I've witnessed some other special events. A few over-capacity crowds, one unusually competitive game at home against Texas Southern, a road game at Sam Houston, countless free chicken box combos from Raising Cane's, an undefeated-in-conference-play season, and another special NCAA Tournament run the last week.
Today, I'm here to thank you for these experiences.
On Friday night, my entire family watched as SFA took down West Virginia. Friends, my peers that just a few years ago had never heard of this school, texted me after the win saying that they were rooting for the Lumberjacks. People have said a number of times that you and this team put SFA on the map. For us, you actually did.
Your passion for the game has not gone unnoticed, and I sincerely hope your journey to Oklahoma State furthers the mass recognition you so rightly deserve.
Back here in Nacogdoches, you have set a standard that very few schools have the privilege of understanding. Its a standard of winning, hard work, and pride. My hope is that they continue, just as I will continue to root for the Jacks.
A few years ago, I never would've imagined I'd be going to school here. Today, I feel incredible pride when I put on my purple and white gear. I'm happy to say that my decision to not transfer last year was made largely because of you and this team. You helped make SFA become more than the school with mystical “prestige," and I can’t describe how special it has been to witness that growth.
I wish you all the best at Oklahoma State and I'll be forever grateful for what you have done here at Stephen F. Austin. I have a very good feeling that the future is bright for both institutions.
Sincerely,
Mac Moore
Dear Coach Underwood,
In the summer before I made the decision to attend Stephen F. Austin State University, I knew of few people who were associated with this school. The ones I did know were all students - except for you.
I first heard about you on March 21, 2014 when I was sitting at home about to watch what would turn out to be a monumental game between Stephen F. Austin and Virginia Commonwealth University. At the time, I had no plans of attending SFA.
When I watched the dramatic fashion by which the Lumberjacks came back and won that game, I realized this place was special. I went ahead and applied, although I still had little intention of enrolling.
I was fairly certain I would attend Baylor, maybe Texas A&M, or some big school with the "prestige" of a household name. As it turned out though, I missed an application deadline for A&M, made a financial decision not to attend Baylor, and by the Fall of 2014 I was hesitantly a student at SFA.
I knew absolutely nothing about my school other than the peculiar mascot. I knew the basketball team had a Cinderella-like upset in the NCAA Tournament, and that was about where my knowledge of SFA ended. I decided I would explore the student experience for awhile and transfer to Texas A&M the following year.
That all changed quickly when I actually arrived in Nacogdoches - and you're a big part of why.
I rushed a fraternity, made a lot of new friends, built relationships with my professors - you know, the usual stuff kids say when they go to college. Things were going well for me, maybe even better than expected.
And then basketball season started - and that's when I fell in love with my school.
Anyone who has watched me play an intramural basketball game knows that I can’t dribble, let alone shoot. To be honest, I don’t think I can correctly explain the difference between a small forward and a shooting guard. My basketball knowledge is limited, no doubt. But somehow, watching you coach the Lumberjacks over the past two seasons has been one of the biggest joys in my life here.
My first time at William R. Johnson Coliseum was 8 a.m. in the morning when SFA played Northern Iowa during ESPN's tip-off marathon. It would be your only loss in Nacogdoches, but I was hooked. I skipped an astronomy class to be there and even though we lost, it was an incredible showcase of school pride that I witnessed.
Throughout the last two seasons, I've witnessed some other special events. A few over-capacity crowds, one unusually competitive game at home against Texas Southern, a road game at Sam Houston, countless free chicken box combos from Raising Cane's, an undefeated-in-conference-play season, and another special NCAA Tournament run the last week.
Today, I'm here to thank you for these experiences.
On Friday night, my entire family watched as SFA took down West Virginia. Friends, my peers that just a few years ago had never heard of this school, texted me after the win saying that they were rooting for the Lumberjacks. People have said a number of times that you and this team put SFA on the map. For us, you actually did.
Your passion for the game has not gone unnoticed, and I sincerely hope your journey to Oklahoma State furthers the mass recognition you so rightly deserve.
Back here in Nacogdoches, you have set a standard that very few schools have the privilege of understanding. Its a standard of winning, hard work, and pride. My hope is that they continue, just as I will continue to root for the Jacks.
A few years ago, I never would've imagined I'd be going to school here. Today, I feel incredible pride when I put on my purple and white gear. I'm happy to say that my decision to not transfer last year was made largely because of you and this team. You helped make SFA become more than the school with mystical “prestige," and I can’t describe how special it has been to witness that growth.
I wish you all the best at Oklahoma State and I'll be forever grateful for what you have done here at Stephen F. Austin. I have a very good feeling that the future is bright for both institutions.
Sincerely,
Mac Moore
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