Dear Rob :: Letters from the decades

On Friday night at 7 p.m., right about the time Robin Selvig is stepping up to the podium to address the crowd before the court inside Dahlberg Arena is named in his honor, Utah and Washington will tip off at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.

The Utes are 20-2, ranked No. 7 in the nation, tied atop the Pac-12 standings with Stanford. In her first year as an assistant coach at Utah is Jordan Sullivan, former Lady Griz player, former Lady Griz assistant coach but #LG4L. Lady Griz For Life.

On the other bench will be Katie (Baker) Faulkner, in her second year as an assistant coach for the Huskies, who are coming off a home win on Sunday over Stanford, just the third loss of the season for the Cardinal.

Besides being an important Pac-12 matchup – though which of them isn't? – it's Women in Sports Night, a fine way to conclude the "Dear Rob" series, with two women who had the opportunities growing up to pursue their passion for sports, then turned that into coaching careers.

They've taken what they learned from their coach, made it their own and are now passing it on to a new generation of players, what Selvig first did in the 1970s for a group of wanna-be ballers at Plentywood High, not long after the country was forced to admit that, yes, girls can be athletes too.

It also ties the series back to the very first letter, from Jeanne McNulty King, who wrote for the 1980s Lady Griz on Monday. She would go on to represent both players as their agent, when they took their talents overseas when their Lady Griz careers were complete.

McNulty King's first player she represented? Former Lady Griz Greta Koss. Today she has McKenzie Johnston, Nyah Morris-Nelson and Abby Anderson playing overseas. She is the gateway to a player's professional basketball dreams.

If Selvig is the patriarch of the Lady Griz family, it's just another example of the sisterhood, four decades strong, looking out for each other, taking care of each other, just like the coach always hoped they would.

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Dear Rob,

I'll never forget that day in the Adams Center parking lot that changed my life. It was the last day of Lady Griz Cage Camp my senior year of high school. Walking out to my car accompanied by legendary head coach Robin Selvig, carrying my bags. Before saying goodbye, he offered me a scholarship and then proceeded to give me a hug and instructions to be sure and say hello to my folks. And as I got in my car and my mom asked how it went I kinda looked out the window and smiled … because I knew I was going to be a Lady Griz.

Playing for the Lady Griz meant a lot of things. It meant you were going to play in front a committed, high IQ, consistent and loyal fan base. It meant you were going to have a good chance to compete and play in the NCAA tournament each year. It meant every bar and restaurant in town was going to have your poster slapped on its wall and people in the grocery store would come up and ask for your autograph. It meant you would learn to play defense. And learn to love defense. And learn that you, at times, couldn't beat the worst team in America until you learned to play defense. You learned the glasses on Rob's face better stay on his face because if they ever came off, you were coming OUT. Playing for the Lady Griz meant something, and that something was much, much bigger than yourself.

Flash forward to 2016 when we all get the notice that Rob, indeed, was retiring. You pick up the phone to call him, but how do you thank a legend? How do you leave a voicemail for a future Hall of Famer? How do you sum up the overwhelming pride, gratitude, joy, sadness and sentiment in a rushed 45-second, tear-muffled message? Amongst the hundreds of well-wishes and meaningful voicemails already clogging up his phone, how do you say that which hasn't already been said? Luckily, I didn't have to figure it out … because Rob picked up.

That's what Rob has been doing for the past 60-some years. He's been picking up. Picking up the lives of young women; picking up the hearts and souls of Griz fans; picking up the community of Missoula, the state of Montana and picking up the reputation of college women's basketball across the nation. Forty-some years ago, Coach Selvig managed to take a highly unlikely program, using unlikely, unranked girls, to reach vastly unlikely heights. What is success? Over 800 wins? I mean, sure, that's a start. But take a deep look at the hearts of 600 some girls who suited up and went to bat for him and you'll find a much more profound definition of success. It becomes bigger than basketball the moment you realize that the man hollering and ranting from the sidelines actually cared more about your value as a person than your ability to make a turnaround jump shot. Where he demanded your best, he empowered your game. Where he challenged you, he believed in you. Where Rob walked, he loved.

And while I've taken my fair share of tirades from Rob for my lack of defense, messing up the play, being the best player on the other team, not playing defense … again, dribbling at any point in time, more bad defense, not realizing we had a game going on and many, many more things (all well-deserved at the time, I just didn't realize it), I would run through a wall for that man. We all would. Because we weren't just meal tickets to championships or more money or the next job or personal agendas. We were family. And at the end of the day, when the confetti has finally settled, the fireworks have faded, the crowd has left and the years have passed, he'd do the least for us. He'd pick up the phone.

I have the privilege to coach college basketball and live out my love for the game in real time. I would only hope I can teach, correct, inspire, command and challenge young women in the profound way Rob did for me. I would hope that someday down the road I, too, can simply pick up the phone. Rob, I am one among thousands whose world will forever be a little different because of four years spent with and molded by you. Two Big Sky Conference championships and NCAA appearances is far more than the majority of college athletes will ever be able to put on a resume. But the value of holding those trophies are nickels and dimes compared to the weight of you even just taking the time and picking up the phone. You never were one for personal accolades or attention, but this honor is what women's basketball needs. Robin Selvig Court means something to a lot of folks. And it's the least we can do for you. Thank you.

Forever a Lady Griz,

Katie Baker Faulkner

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Dear Rob,

I'm puzzled with how I can find more words to share,
That haven't been said or are words I SHOULD probably spare.
I guess I can go back to when it all first began,
When I was born inevitably into the Lady Griz clan.

At that time, you were my uncle – the Montana coach, how cool!
I honestly remembered you most back then for your swimming pool.
The Lady Griz basketball camp was my constant summer highlight,
Playing basketball all day and beating you in cards at night.

I now know you better as my uncle, coach, mentor and friend,
Whose advice, love, guidance and sweet tooth seem to have no end.
You're humble, loyal, competitive and full of compassion,
And I think it's safe to say you're a little old-fashioned.

Somehow you figured out a way to unite decades of women as one,
That can relate to riding as your passenger, sweating and thinking, "oh, fun."
You pushed us through your feistiness, fire, passion and grit,
And some may even generously include your humor and wit.

I love how much you ingrained in me that playing hard was a must.
There's a reason we had bracelets made saying "In Rob We Trust!"
You found that fine line that pushed us all to our max,
And taught us so many plays that my mind could rarely relax.

As a coach that's decided to try and follow your crazy footsteps,
I better understand, now, why you had us practice a million reps.
But now, even more, I cherish and admire your big heart,
Which was the number one quality that set you far apart.

The mutual respect that was shared between your players and you,
Factored in to why we most often left the other team in the state feeling "blue."
Win or lose, we knew you loved us; in that you've never come up short,
And as a result, we are celebrating the well-earned ROBIN SELVIG COURT!

Enjoy this precious moment with players, friends and loved ones too,
And know that Grandpa is beaming with pride looking down on you.
Congrats to the entire family, Robin, Janie, Jeff and Dan,
And know that in me you have a lifelong, #1, grateful fan.

Love you and miss you and am sorry to miss your big day!

Jordy

University of Montana Athletics

Players Mentioned

Abby Anderson

Nyah Morris-Nelson

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