One of the greatest things about sports is its ability to draw people in and bring them together. It is one of the few things that many people have in common. That can be as an athlete or a family member or friend that used to play or is even just watching. Almost everyone has come in contact with sports in some way and any avid sports fan has their own individual reason and story as unique as them. Rachel Carroll is no different.
Carroll attended Blackburn during the 1990s, where she witnessed numerous banners find their way to their now permanent spot in Dawes Gymnasium. For the work program, she spent her time in the athletic department writing stories and compiling stats – you name it, and she did it.
She recalled a time when Blackburn won a championship and the Springfield paper refused to come down and cover the ceremony, so naturally, Carroll picked up the phone and asked, “So what time should I expect you here?” Needless to say, she’s a very persuasive person, especially when it comes to something she is so passionate about. Blackburn women’s basketball is on the top of that list.
During her time as a student, she loved her job and the atmosphere of athletics, so once she graduated she refused to turn her back on the program. In the years since her graduation, Carroll attends games every chance she gets and seems to hardly ever miss one, making the trip from her home in St. Louis, Missouri, regularly.
To say Carroll is an ordinary fan wouldn’t just be an understatement, it would be a flat out lie. She doesn’t just attend the games, she is part of the game and part of the team. She doesn’t just watch the game, she lives it. It’s one thing to go to a game and cheer; it’s another thing to show even a fraction of the support that Carroll does.
For a team that has struggled to be successful, there is a clear difference in attendance and support for the women’s basketball team compared to the men’s – that’s no secret. But to Carroll, it makes no difference. She’s still there, cheering louder than anyone in the whole gym, heckling the referees after a bad call, loving every moment.
Carroll has formed a close relationship with both Coach Fonseca and the members of the team, striking up conversations after every game and giving them the love and support she believes everyone should give them. “I just love watching [the team] play. I’m just doing what I think that everyone should do.”
For “Super Fan Rachel,” the game is more than a game, and the team is more than a team. It’s a family – a family that Rachel Carroll will always be a proud part of. Thank you, to Blackburn’s biggest fan.
*The author is a member of the women’s basketball team.