By Mel Greenberg
STORRS, Conn. - The Phillies' capture of the national league pennant was a prominent part of the conversation Thursday at the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's annual media day less than 24 hours after the win over the Los Angeles Dodgers leading to baseball's World Series.
Several members of the Huskies contingent, overwhelming favorites to win the 2009 NCAA title in St. Louis next April, have direct hometown ties to the City of Brotherly Love.
The group consists of head coach Geno Auriemma, who grew up in Norristown; operations director Jack Eisenmann, prized freshman Caroline Doty, a Doylestown native who starred at Germantown Academy; and junior Meghan Gardler of Springfield, Delaware County, who starred at Cardinal O'Hara.
"How about those Phillies? Is the town still standing?" greeted Eisenmann in Gampel Pavilion.
Doty, who missed her senior season recovering from a knee injury, is eager for Friday night's annual Super Show activities and the start of her collegiate career with the formal launch of practice Saturday.
Still, Doty spent some time Thursday among the large contingent of media members discussing her passion for the Phillies.
"I'm a huge Phillies fan," Doty said with a big smile. "I've been watching the whole series. I mean, it's hard up here because people don't have a lot of interest for them. But I've found time. I've been watching them. I've been rooting for them."
Auriemma said he was gratified the Phils won away from home.
"*I have to call home and make sure everything is in one piece," Auriemma deadpanned. "I'm so happy they won on the road. It's such a nice ballpark. I would've hated for (the fans) to tear it up. If they win the World Series, I hope they win it on the road."
Auriemma was in Veterans Stadium when the Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals to win the World Series in 1980.
"I was there when (former Mayor) Frank Rizzo had the police horses and the dogs (to control the fans and protect the stadium)," said Auriemma, who is also a big fan of the Boston Red Sox.
"It looked the old Coliseum in Rome. I expected any minute for the chariots to come out of the bullpen."
Doty, meanwhile, said she's fully recovered from her surgery.
"I think I felt like I was really back when conditioning started and we were doing court work and we were doing our cuts and defensive slides and I felt like `Everything's fine. Nothing's going to happen. and things are going to go well.'"
In discussing her return to action, Doty said, "It's more mental than physical (about being cautious). I'm still going to ice it and be smart about. But thinking about driving (to the basket), in the beginning, `What if I do this, what if I do that?' But if you see our pickup (games), I'll go in for a layup and try to take my (defender).
"Once practice starts and I get on the court, I think I'm going to do anything I can to win," she explained. "Anything to prove I want to be on the court. I will be fearless and I will be going the extra mile to prove my injury is all better."
Doty bubbled over finally getting to the next level and looked forward to the annual night in which the men's and women's teams are introduced to the sellout crowd.
"To be in this uniform is unbelievable. It's a dream come true. It's so real. Friday night, just coming out here and seeing all the fans, I'm thinking, `Wow! I'm finally here and part of a great, great team. Great coaches and great fans. It's just awesome.'"
Doty is separated from her twin brother for the first time, but has compensation.
"Now I have a whole group of sisters. I've always wanted a sister and now I have like 14, so it's really cool."
What is missing is her former AAU teammate and longtime friend Elena Delle Donne, the nation's top prospect out of Wilmington's Ursuline Academy. who officially rejected her UConn scholarship in late August and is now playing volleyball at the University of Delaware.
"I try to stay in touch, but it's tough because she's in season," Doty said. "I've been reading about her and seeing how she's doing."
Doty changed back to her collegiate career and new experiences.
"It's probably the hardest thing I've done, but I have a lot of support and it's going to all pay off in the end," Doty said. "It's rewarding. So you know, you just have to keep fighting through, even when you want to stop. And have everybody fight through every single second, fight through every drill, every single running, every single conditioning. And after you're done, you're just so relieved, so happy.
"I know several weeks ago we were (running) doing hills and we were walking down and everyone was singing. Everyone was hollering. You just know that everything we do here is going to help us in the long run."
Asked whether she would be playing the point or off-guard spot, Doty said, "I don't know yet. Maybe both. Whatever `Coach' wants me to do."
-- Mel
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