Spring Break
Montgomery now UConn's sole leader
Mike Northup
Issue date: 11/14/08 Section: Husky Hoopla
Maya Moore remembers when she realized that Renee Montgomery was going to be the unquestioned leader of this year's team. It was the end of the team's trip to YMCA Camp Jewell in Colebrook. Each player had to pick a name out of a hat and say something about that person, be it a player or coach.
Even though it wasn't what Montgomery picked from the hat, coach Geno Auriemma had her speak about the freshmen.
"She was accurate and said some different things about our freshmen like what their strengths and weaknesses are, and it really taught me that I have to be aware of, you know, everybody," Moore said. "And even though the freshmen wasn't her person to watch, she was observing them and knew how to help them at the time, and I just thought that was great for me to learn from her."
In Auriemma's eyes, potential for leadership is either something you've got within you, or something you don't. All it takes is the ability to impact the team physically and then the personality to follow up.
There was never any question for Auriemma. Montgomery had it.
"Some people just have that personality type and Renee Montgomery came here as a freshman and was like, 'This is what I do,'" Auriemma said.
Auriemma says the 2008-09 squad will have Montgomery's stamp on it. The 5-foot-7 guard's presence is unavoidable.
"If you're in the locker room or if you're in the training room or on the bus or in the restaurant, if you're on the court, in the huddle, or she's on the bench, you always know when Renee Montgomery is near," Auriemma said. "She's part of what we're doing. You always know she's there. She's a presence and not everybody has that presence."
Montgomery has always been one of the most outspoken members of the team; that part goes unquestioned by anyone familiar with the Huskies. If you ask Auriemma and Montgomery when she first truly emerged as a leader, however, you'll get differing answers.
"Renee's been of that mindset since freshman year," Auriemma said. "Renee's been the starting quarterback since freshman year."
Even though it wasn't what Montgomery picked from the hat, coach Geno Auriemma had her speak about the freshmen.
"She was accurate and said some different things about our freshmen like what their strengths and weaknesses are, and it really taught me that I have to be aware of, you know, everybody," Moore said. "And even though the freshmen wasn't her person to watch, she was observing them and knew how to help them at the time, and I just thought that was great for me to learn from her."
In Auriemma's eyes, potential for leadership is either something you've got within you, or something you don't. All it takes is the ability to impact the team physically and then the personality to follow up.
There was never any question for Auriemma. Montgomery had it.
"Some people just have that personality type and Renee Montgomery came here as a freshman and was like, 'This is what I do,'" Auriemma said.
Auriemma says the 2008-09 squad will have Montgomery's stamp on it. The 5-foot-7 guard's presence is unavoidable.
"If you're in the locker room or if you're in the training room or on the bus or in the restaurant, if you're on the court, in the huddle, or she's on the bench, you always know when Renee Montgomery is near," Auriemma said. "She's part of what we're doing. You always know she's there. She's a presence and not everybody has that presence."
Montgomery has always been one of the most outspoken members of the team; that part goes unquestioned by anyone familiar with the Huskies. If you ask Auriemma and Montgomery when she first truly emerged as a leader, however, you'll get differing answers.
"Renee's been of that mindset since freshman year," Auriemma said. "Renee's been the starting quarterback since freshman year."
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