The University of Mississippi Athletics
An Integral Role, Behind The Scenes
4/18/2006 | Softball
April 18, 2006
By Chris Purser
Athletics Media Relations
When it comes to sports, the people that garner the most attention are the players and the coaches. They are the ones that play the games, control the tempo, and get the glory, the ones with their pictures in the paper and their names on the scoreboard.
But while those are the ones that get the headlines, there are always behind-the-scenes people working that are necessary to make the team function. They are the ones that do the grunt work. They do the laundry, pack the bags, prepare the playing field, and so on.
They are the managers.
They are the supporting cast that makes sure everything falls into place. Freshman Virginia Houston is a member of that cast for the Ole Miss Rebel softball team. A softball player in high school, Houston has been around the game since the age of nine.
"I love being a manager," said Houston. "I love this sport. Softball pretty much ruled my high school years, and it's still a big part of my life."
Houston was no slouch as a high school athlete, either. The Sweetwater (Tenn.) Lady Wilcat first baseman earned All-County and All-District distinctions as a junior before being named All-County, All-District, All-District Tournament, Blount Memorial Hospital Female Athlete of the Month for April and Outstanding Senior Female Athlete during her senior campaign.
Houston's playing experience has made her a valuable asset to the Rebel squad in 2006. She knows what the team's needs are and how to fulfill them, whether it is making sure all the equipment is ready to go or keeping the team's official book and records.
"Virginia is definitely an asset to our staff," said Ole Miss head coach Missy Dickerson. "She has put in a lot of hard work and effort to help the team this season."
Houston teams with Kristin Cox and Jana Truebenbach to form a helpful group of hands to assist the Ole Miss softball coaches and players. This group, along with managers for every sport at Ole Miss, should be recognized by fans for all the hard work and long hours they put in to help all the Rebel athletics programs.
And while most managerial duties are not the most glamorous, there are some perks to being a member of the team. Things like traveling to new places, not to mention the opportunity to earn a college scholarship, allow her to be close to the sport she loves.
"I get to stay close to the game," adds Houston. "Of course I would love to still be playing, but this is the next-best thing. And the girls on the team are like a second family to me."
And they should be.
It is people like Houston that help make the team click. From laundry duty to equipment repair to fetching foul balls, it is the manager's job to help the team keep up its winning ways.
And the team just can't do that without them.
