Around Campus

Off-Court With UT Superstar Jamie Carey

Jamie Carey is one of the most heralded basketball players in the nation. Last year, she was tabbed an All-American, All-Big 12 First Team standout, Academic All-American, National Player of the Year candidate, and the 2004 Jimmy V Foundation "Comeback Player of the Year," to name a few of her honors. In many ways, Jamie Carey's journey to her final year of collegiate basketball - six years after she began her collegiate eligibility at Stanford during the 1999-2000 season - is a sentimental one for many sports fans. But, "sentimental" and "Jamie Carey" are not synonymous when it comes to discussing her passion - the sport of basketball - and what she anticipates heading into the 2004-05 campaign.

When you spend time "outside the lines" (of the basketball court) with the 5-6 superstar, you find a student-athlete deeply committed to "giving back" to the youth in the community and who loves to read and spend quality down-time with friends and her dog, Hope. You discover that Jamie is Jamie - focused, driven, philosophical, intense, and on a lighter side, knowing how to take the time to relax this summer.

Jamie, you've had such a whirlwind time since last summer. You captained the 2003 USA Pan American Team to a silver medal, returned to school, received an NCAA sixth-year of eligibility, finished up your undergraduate courses, entered graduate school in January, helped lead UT to a 30-5 record, another Big 12 title and NCAA Sweet 16 showing, went to summer school here at UT, and were chosen to be a counselor at the elite Nike Camp. Whew! When have you taken a break?

Carey: "Well, actually, this summer has been really, really different for me. I took grad summer courses the first summer session, went to the Nike Camp, and then, for the first time ever, I didn't take any classes the second summer session. It's the first real break I've had in a long, long while. So, I spent my time working out in the morning and in the evenings, and had the afternoons to myself. It‘s been fun. It was very, very strange at first, not having anything to do with my time."

What does Jamie Carey do for relaxation in her free time?

Carey: "Well, first, it took me awhile to get used to it! First summer session, I took classes in philosophy of sports and physical activity, and in sociology of sport and physical activity. I took them along with working out and working UT basketball camp sessions. Sleep was very minimal! The second summer session, with no classes, I would get up, work out about 8, 8:30 in the morning, be done by 11:30 or so, and then have until 6:30 at night to do what I want! So much time! So, I went kayaking, spent time on Lake Travis and on Lake Austin, did pleasure reading, played with my dog, Hope, did some road biking and – slept!"

What books are catching your interest these days?

Carey: "I've read a couple different things... Recently, I read the sequel to 'Tuesday's with Morrie' (by Mitch Albom), which is 'The Five People You Meet in Heaven'. Then, I just re-read Lance's (Armstrong's) first book [It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life] in order to get prepared to read his new book coming out."

Your academic experiences now as a graduate student (in the College of Education as a sport management major) are so different than the academic experiences of your teammates. How do you balance the demands of grad school and basketball?

Carey: "Truthfully, it is very difficult. Speaking from summer school experience, I took two graduate classes in the first summer session. You are considered full-time in UT's grad summer school if you take one class. During a regular semester, three grad school classes are considered a full-time load. It has been very, very intensive. It's made me work beyond what I thought I could in the classroom. Summer school was a huge challenge, and I ended up doing well. That was a good thing for me –to be that challenged. This fall, I am taking three classes. Each grad class meets once per week for three hours per night. I will go Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. I might not be in class as much as my teammates, but outside of grad class you have to do a ton of work. The reading load is incredible as compared to an undergraduate reading load, and you do a lot more writing, reflecting, projects and working in a group. In grad school, you are expected to go above and beyond to complete your projects and essays. You have to be a lot more self-motivated."

What's it like to miss those night graduate classes when you are traveling for basketball or playing a game?

Carey: "It's really hard – if you miss one grad class, you've basically missed an entire week. That's difficult to deal with, but there is not a lot of choice in the matter. The thing that is really nice about UT's sports management program is that it is a small group and you really get to know everyone in your classes and you help each other out. I think there are 50-60 people in our program. We've become sort of a family. We sometimes go out together on the weekends. You can lean on people when you need to."

You certainly excelled in the classroom last year, gaining prestigious Academic All-America honors. Only 45 women's basketball players from Division I were voted Academic All-America out of 320-plus programs with at least 12 players each. Your commitment to academics is extraordinary!

Carey: "Wow. I didn't realize only 45 Division I players received that honor. Academics have always been really important to me. Something I really stress when I go and speak to kids is the importance of academics. Sometimes, a kid may hear the importance of excelling in both academics and sports from a parent or a teacher, but for them to hear it from a role model – a college student-athlete, someone they look up to - is a very different experience. Any academic award I've ever gotten means a little more to me than any athletic award or accomplishment. I think anyone can be a great athlete, but I think it takes a lot to be both a great athlete and great in the classroom. So, when I got the Academic All-America award, I was very honored. I remember getting a phone call from Coach (Conradt), and she was really excited, too. It's good to be well-balanced, and I think it presents a lot of challenges which I like to take on."

Talk about your experience at the Nike All-America Camp. You have to be hand-picked to become a counselor there. Congratulations on that!

Carey: "Thanks. Right after UT's first summer session, I went to St. Louis to work at the Nike All-America Camp. It was a blast. It's by invitation only to coach, as you mentioned. I was honored to be invited to help coach the top 80 kids in the country who attend that elite camp. The Nike camp administrators chose eight collegiate counselors from around the country to coach. They flew us out there, and I met a lot of great people. Some of the other counselors were Monique Curry from Duke, Simeone Augustus from LSU, Jennelle McCarville from Minnesota, Tech's Erin Grant. It was a tremendous experience!"

You also spoke earlier about getting out into the community and speaking to children. You are always willing to do so, and you are one of the most popular Longhorns student-athletes to do motivational speaking in the community. With such a busy schedule, what propels you to do so much public speaking and community volunteerism?

Carey: "If there is one thing I love doing it is trying to touch a child's life. Kids are really precious, and a lot of times they have a lot to teach us adults. I've been through lots of situations in my life, and I've played on lots of different teams. I think it is really important to share the things I've gone through, both on and off the court, with younger kids. I believe that if you learn things, you should share them with people. I have a lot to offer youngsters and aspiring athletes. When you walk into a room to speak to young kids, you see an entire group of young females and young males just light up just from your presence. If you can teach them one thing, then that trip to visit with them was worth it and your time has been well spent. Things like that sometimes mean more to me than winning a game – because you are making a difference in someone's life. Talking to youth in the community is something I really enjoy doing, and I will continue to do it always."

Note: Jamie Carey has already gained Preseason Wooden All-America honors and is on the ballot for Wooden Award and The State Farm Wade Trophy as the National Player of the Year. Texas women’s basketball will officially kick off the 2004-05 basketball season on Sunday, Nov. 14 at the State Farm Tipoff Classic at the Erwin Center. LSU and Baylor play at noon, followed by Texas and Penn State at 3:30 p.m.; for tickets, go to www.TexasBoxOffice.com.