Tara's Video Interview on 12/9/08

Tara answers questions about the progress of her players, talks about the upcoming game vs Fresno State and the important road games in the south against Duke, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Videographers focus on women’s basketball team

By Judy Richter

On the surface, it wouldn’t appear that a musician and a graphic artist have much in common with a championship-contending basketball team. Nevertheless, Bud Anderson and Sarah Boruta use those talents as videographers for the Stanford women’s team. Both in their first year with the team, Bud is the director of video operations while Sarah is the videography intern.

The recently married Bud is a singer and composer, part of a men’s quartet, Hookslide, that performed during halftime of the Minnesota game, sang the national anthem for the Rutgers game and entertained at the auction afterward. He also founded PSF PRO, a multimedia company that provides promotional tools to entertainers and businesses.

Sarah graduated in June from Ferris State University in her home state of Michigan with degrees in graphic design, visual design and Web media. As director of women’s basketball operations at Ferris State, she coordinated all aspects of video, organized camps and clinics, and assisted with special events, travel and game management.

They’re using their talents and experience to “provide a new creative direction” for the team, Bud said during a recent interview of him and Sarah. It’s the first time any team has had such positions.

Using music composed and performed by Bud (except for popular songs), Bud and Sarah have been creating the clever videos of various players seen on YouTube and now at the games. Some of them are what he calls the “We Like” series, such as the one featuring guard JJ Hones reflecting on various means of transportation from a skate board to a bus and deciding to run around campus, with a pause to pose by the Rodin statues. That's “We like to run”.

Guard Lindy La Rocque is shown waking up at 3:33, eating a triple-dip ice cream cone, reading “The Three Little Pigs” and watching “Three’s Company” before shooting a barrage of her signature three-pointers. Naturally, that’s “We like 3's”.

The introduction of the four freshmen had them singing a few words in four-part harmony composed and taught by Bud. Eventually he wants to create a music video of the team.

The two “get their inspiration from the players,” and Head Coach Tara VanDerveer helps. The idea is to promote the team as a “fun, energetic group,” Bud said. His goal is to create 80 YouTube videos this season, he said. Every game will have a short video featuring one of the players and referring viewers to the women’s basketball site for the full version. Forward Jillian Harmon was featured first. Guard Rosalyn Gold-Onwude was next. “The goal is to create a sense of connection to the team,” Bud said.

The JJ video took between 15 and 20 hours to create, while Lindy’s took about eight to 10. “The players are great,” Bud said. “They really enjoy doing it.” He also is pleased with the positive feedback he’s getting from fans, who often applaud after a video is shown at a game. “I’m glad my sense of humor fits with the team,” he said.

Noting that he grew up in Kansas and doesn’t know much about basketball, he said he depends on Sarah for her knowledge of the sport. “Sarah is a superstar,” he said, adding that she has a good eye for what will film well. Sarah said she has known she wants to be involved in basketball ever since she was a sophomore in high school.

Sarah has several direct responsibilities with the team. She films every practice from a half-court perspective and prepares videos for the coaches to review. She uses software programs that can single out all offensive or defensive plays and specific plays such as three-pointers. The coaches might ask for videos of an individual player to help her study and improve her overall play or a particular technique such as rebounding or free-throw shooting.

She does the same things with the videos of Stanford’s opponents so that the scouting coach can study them. As part of her responsibility for video exchange with other teams, she gets the videos from opponents of Stanford’s opponents. So instead of requesting the scouting video directly from Purdue, for example, she’ll ask for videos from teams that Purdue has played. Likewise, she fills other teams’ requests for videos of teams that Stanford has played.

“Teams playing us early in the season ask our opponents from last season for copies of their games against us,” she said in a follow-up e-mail. “Teams playing us later in the season will ask for our most recent games from our opponents.” However, the Pac-10 has a rule that “will not allow us to give out conference games,” she wrote.

During games, Sarah sits with her laptop at the scorers’ table near the Stanford bench to keep track of what offensive and defensive plays the team runs and to analyze their outcomes. She prints out the results and gives them to the coaches at the half and at the end of the game. Because she does this for all games, she travels with the team to its away games.

Yet another of Sarah’s responsibilities is to design newspaper ads promoting the team and ticket sales. She does “a lot of branding of the team,” Bud said.

Working together, Bud and Sarah call themselves Team Dominate. “We set the standard,” Bud said. Other teams might look at Stanford’s site to see their work, but “we don’t need to steal ideas” from them, he said. “We do the best work.”

Jillian Harmon: Looking to Lead

By Judy Richter

Over the past three years, fans of the Stanford women’s basketball team have cheered forward Jillian Harmon for her accomplishments on the court. Although she contributes her share of baskets and rebounds, she’s usually not the leader in either category.

Instead it’s the intangibles that she brings to the team -- her energy, alertness, tenacity and determination -- that have earned her the respect of fans, teammates and coaches alike. Just one example of those intangibles can be found on Stanford’s YouTube site, which has the TV recap of the team’s thrilling win over UConn at the Final Four in Tampa this year.

Her Stanford fans and teammates know they can always count on her. She gained even wider respect after the 2007-08 Stanford season ended and she became a stalwart on New Zealand’s Tall Ferns team, which played in the Good Luck Beijing Tournament and the Beijing Olympics.

She has already discussed her Olympics experience in other interviews, so we didn’t go into much detail about it during a telephone chat before she had to go to a class.

However, she talked about playing against former teammate Candice Wiggins, ’08, in the Good Luck Beijing Tournament. “It was great playing against Candice,” she said. The New Zealand and USA teams stayed in the same hotel, so Jill, Candice and Clare Bodensteiner, ’06, who also played for New Zealand, had a chance to spend some time together.

Now that she’s back on campus, the 6’ 1” senior talked about her goals for the year as well as her take on the team. Overall, “I just want to enjoy my final year here at Stanford” and relish each moment, she said.

On the academic side, she’s majoring in psychology and plans to complete her course work by the end of the winter quarter and graduate in June. She has high hopes that the season will extend into the spring quarter. “We always want to be playing in April,” she said. Therefore, she plans to apply for Stanford’s co-terminal program to start working on a master’s degree in the spring.

After graduation, she hopes to play overseas for a few years, perhaps with the New Zealand or maybe the Australian team. Beyond that, she’s not sure, but senior guard Rosalyn Gold-Onwude has been giving her some ideas after spending her summer as an events and marketing intern at Nike headquarters in Oregon, Jill’s home state.

In the meantime, “Now that I’ve played against some of the best players in the world,” some of them much older than she, Jill’s more confident about holding her own against players her own age or younger.

What she hopes to bring to her teammates is her senior leadership and experience. “I want to try to be a calm and steadying presence on the team.” She, like her teammates, also wants to get back to the Final Four. “We beat great teams to get to the Final Four” last season, she said, citing the win over UConn as “our best game of the season.” This year “we definitely have the talent” to go there again.

As for upcoming opponents, she always looks forward to going to Oregon to be closer to her home crowd. Before then, though, the Cardinal face some tough nonconference foes like Duke and Tennessee, which topped Stanford in the NCAA championship game after Stanford had defeated the Lady Vols during the season.

In the Pac 10, maybe Arizona State and for sure Cal will present the biggest challenges, she predicted, especially with Cal’s big three seniors: Alexis Gray-Lawson, Devanei Hampton and Ashley Walker. Nevertheless, she thinks the Cardinal team is more talented overall.

With a roster rich in bigs, Jill was expecting to play more on the perimeter this season, but with three of them recuperating from surgery – senior Morgan Clyburn (feet) and juniors Jayne Appel and Michelle Harrison (knees) – she’s back in the post rotation.

Head coach Tara VanDerveer has said she expects Jayne and Michelle to be ready to play when the season starts at home against Minnesota on Nov. 14, but Morgan’s return is more uncertain. Jill is looking forward to playing with her again. “Everyone looks up to her,” she said.

Besides the talent that Stanford fielded last year, the team was blessed with good chemistry. “Everyone really cared for each other, and it showed on the court,” Jill said. It appears that good chemistry is developing again. “We all love the freshmen,” she said.

There’s also “so much talent,” she said. She expects that it will be “different people’s turn to excel on different nights,” so that someone will always be there to pick up the slack if someone else is having a less-than-stellar night.

Besides the three seniors, Jill cited junior point guard JJ Hones as “a great leader. She has command of this team. We all trust JJ when she has the ball in her hands.”

She’s looking forward playing again with the other juniors: Jayne, who was last season’s second-leading scorer behind Candice; Michelle, who missed all of the season with a torn ACL; and guard Melanie Murphy, who played only a few games before tearing an ACL, too.

She has no worries about the sophomores. Forward Kayla Pedersen “is going to be one of the best players in the country,” while guard Jeanette Pohlen “is a great all-around player.” Guard Hannah Donaghe and forward Ashley Cimino were hampered by injuries during the first part of last season, but both have been working hard and have made good progress, Jill said.

She has good impressions of the four freshmen. Guard Lindy La Rocque is living up to her billing as a three-point shooter. Jill said Lindy reminds her of Krista Rappahahn, ’06. Jill first became acquainted with the other guard, Grace Mashore, when she was Grace’s counselor at Tara’s hoops camp in summer ’07. A point guard, she’s vocal and shoots well, Jill said. Highly heralded forwards Sarah Boothe and Nneka Ogwumike both have great attitudes to go with their basketball skills.

And of course she has nothing but high praise for the four coaches: Tara, Amy Tucker, Bobbie Kelsey and Kate Paye.

As a forward, Jill usually scores closer to the basket, but she wants to expand her repertoire by perfecting her three-point shot. She’s been working on it with the help of one of the male practice players, Matt McEvoy, who rebounds for her. He’s a good friend and “one of the best guys you’ll ever meet,” she said.

Winding up the interview before heading off to class, Jill thanked the Fast Break Club for its unwavering support for the team.

Jillian Harmon's Spring and Summer

David Gonzales/Stanford Athletics

Let's start with the trip to Tampa? What is life like for a member of a Final Four team? Was your time really regimented, with press and video shoots and various events?

Our Trip to Tampa was just a tremendous experience, and a first for all of the players. I think the coaches were really excited for us to be able to experience the final four since Tara and Amy had been there as coaches, and Kate and Bobbie as players. We had a lot of functions to attend while there, including the naming of Candice as National Player of the Year. It was really a special time, and I am sure we will all remember it forever.

David Gonzales/Stanford Athletics

Winning over UConn must have been a major thrill. What do you remember of that game?

I just remember thinking that our team played like a well-oiled machine. We were really clicking on all cylinders, and we showed that we weren’t satisfied just making it to the final four.

David Gonzales/Stanford Athletics

The championship game was a tough loss: somehow Tennessee seemed to break up the rhythm of everything the Cardinal had been doing so well up that point. Have you had any thoughts about that game since?

Since the game it's hit me just how close we really were. When you’re in the moment everything happens kind of fast, but now that I’ve had the chance to look back and reflect it's disappointing to get so close. However, we did lose to a great team and we have another chance this year.

Even during the Final Four weekend you had in your pocket an invitation to try out for the New Zealand national team, the Tall Ferns. From the championship game on April 8th, to the Tall Ferns's first game in the Good Luck Beijing tournament was less than two weeks! That must have been a fairly crazy period...

The past 6 months or so have been really hectic, but probably have included some of the best times in my life. To go to the final four and Olympics in less than one year was incredible. If you would have told me that last September I would have thought you were crazy.

In New Zealand for training, how were you and Clare Bodensteiner housed; did you have to live in a hotel or were you with a host family or what? Did you bring any relatives with you from the U.S. or was it just you and Clare?



Clare and I lived in a furnished house with Micaela Cocks and Jessica McCormack. They also provided us with a car to share, so we were pretty much on our own. It was a great experience living with those girls and getting to know Micaela (who plays at Oregon). She could be the funniest person I’ve ever met, so the house was never short on laughter. It was great to play and live with Clare again as well.

The Stratford Press of Taranaki ran a nice article about you visiting your cousins there. Was this the first time you had met them? What's the countryside like, around this area where your Mom grew up?

This was the first time that I had met my cousins, and the first time seeing my uncle in ten years. With all the basketball in the States that I’ve played, there hasn’t been much time to travel to New Zealand and visit family. My relatives actually live on the dairy farm my Mom grew up on, so it was really exciting for me to explore the area she grew up. I visited her old elementary school (now closed due to lack of students), high school, and some of her old friends. They have a 200 acre farm with over 300 cows, so they keep pretty busy. Ironically they had already planned a trip to visit my parents in Chicago and are visiting them now.

Apart from the visit to Taranaki did you have any time to get out and do any touristy things in New Zealand?

I went to an All Blacks game in Dunedin. They played South Africa, and I really fell in love with rugby!

After a month of training the Ferns headed out for Beijing. Rather than try to ask specific questions, I'll just say: give us your strongest impressions of life in the Olympic village.

We arrived at the Olympic Village on July 30 and stayed past the closing ceremonies all the way until the 26th of August. After living there for a month it almost felt like home. The village is just an exciting place that houses over 10,000 athletes. Each country has their own apartment. I really got to know some of the other New Zealand athletes, and I was pretty surprised that such a small country was able to send more than 200 athletes! The biggest adjustment I had to make while in the village was to not completely freak out each time I would pass a superstar athlete. By the end, I had myself pretty much under control! The place to hangout in the village is the dining hall, and in the dining hall our team ran into just about every famous athlete you could think of. Our team actually became pretty good friends with the Germans and Dirk Nowitzki.

We all felt bad when we heard the Tall Ferns didn't participate in the opening ceremony (because they had a game early next day), but we know you and Clare were at the closing ceremony because you were on NBC television for a whole 7 or 8 seconds! How was it viewed from the infield? Could you see much?

I was really disappointed that I couldn’t go to the Opening Ceremonies, but the closing definitely made up for it. It was truly amazing to be inside the Bird's Nest for the ceremony. The feeling of walking out onto the track during the ceremony is one that I will never forget.

Jillian, thank you so much for sharing these memories with us. We can hardly wait for your senior season to start.—— Dave Cortesi for the Fast Break Club

Thanks for the Questions! Jillian

Video interview with Kate Paye, Ass't Coach and player from 1992-1995

This 3-part video interview with current assistant women's basketball coach Kate Paye spans her playing career at Stanford, her experience as a professional and her coaching career.

In this wide ranging interview you'll find out if Kate remembers her longest three-point shot and learn what her brother John, former Stanford & 49er quarterback, is up to these days. You'll also hear what Kate thinks about her professional basketball experience and why everyone calls her by both names at the same time.

Part 1 of 3 includes: how Kate walked on at Stanford, what was the best part of playing at Stanford, how being a student of the game helped with coaching, some great game memories, her longest 3-point shot and her memories of Tara as head coach.

Part 2 of 3: Includes Kate's post-game college play for women, comparisons of her experiences playing in the ABL vs the WNBA, how women players today are different, the role of teamwork in preparing the defense for each game and her role as an assistant coach at Stanford. Part 3 of 3: Includes her role in calling in-bound plays, player nicknames, "Tara-isms", looking ahead at a coaching career, her graduate education at Stanford, the fun of coaching and comments about the Stanford Fast Break Club fans.

Part 3 & 4 - Video Interview with Ann Adkins Enthoven 1987-92

Ann Adkins Enthoven, CEO, 2-time Stanford national champion, coordinator of the C-Club (Stanford alumni basketball organization), talks in depth about her basketball life at Stanford and her full life since. You'll find Ann to be funny, engaging and passionate about what she shares.

The last two parts of this wide ranging interview covers her time with Stanford's national championship teams of 1990 and 1992.

Part 3 of 4

Part 4 of 4

Part 2 - Interview with Ann Adkins Enthoven 1987-1992

Ann Adkins Enthoven, CEO, 2-time Stanford national champion, coordinator of the C-Club (Stanford alumni basketball organization), talks in depth about her basketball life at Stanford and her full life since. You'll find Ann to be funny, engaging and passionate about what she shares.

The interview covers some remarkable highs during Stanford's glory years while also revealing one very personal basketball low point for Ann. She talks about her gifted teammates that led Stanford to play at the highest level in women's basketball including Jennifer Azzi, Vanessa Nygaard and others.

Many thanks to the team of Christine Forter and Don Fidler for creating this terrific interview!

Part 2

Part 1 - Interview with Ann Adkins Enthoven 1987-1992

Ann Adkins Enthoven, CEO, 2-time Stanford national champion, coordinator of the C-Club (Stanford alumni basketball organization), talks in depth about her basketball life at Stanford and her full life since. You'll find Ann to be funny, engaging and passionate about what she shares.

The interview covers some remarkable highs during Stanford's glory years while also revealing one very personal basketball low point for Ann. She talks about her gifted teammates that led Stanford to play at the highest level in women's basketball including Jennifer Azzi, Vanessa Nygaard and others.

Many thanks to the team of Christine Forter and Don Fidler for creating this terrific interview!

Part I

Sarah Dimson - 3 Part Video Interview

Sarah Dimson, a dynamic player for Stanford from 1997 to 2001 is featured in this 3-part video interview. Sarah came to the Cardinal from Oklahoma. This wide ranging interview touches on the great teams she played with, the unique personalities on the team including Vanessa Nygaard, her non-profit work in the LA area, Tara-isms, being Candice's camp counselor and much more.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Heather Owen - a two part video interview

Video Interviews by Christine Forter and Don Fidler
We are pleased to start a new series of interviews brought to Stanford fans by Christine Forter and Don Fidler. Both are long-time Stanford women's basketball fans and bring a wealth of experience and talent to this project to present an oral history of the great tradition that fans have grown to love over the years. This first interview is with Heather Owen who played for Stanford from 1994 to 1998. We hope you enjoy the first of what promises to be a series of videos.
Part I
Part II