“Teammates are forever, the time you spend is family. To leave the program better than I found it, to be able to see them today, remember who they were, and to see them today is virtually my proudest moment. My job as a coach wasn’t just to coach, it was to teach them life lessons as well.”
Cook, had a very decorative career here at the University of Cincinnati, and got to play under coach Laurie Pirtle. Her time at Cincinnati was special to say the least, she dominated the court, back when the Bearcats played in the Armory Fieldhouse in the 1980’s.
“We didn’t play for the name on our backs, we played for the name across the chest, Cincinnati. I’ll forever be grateful, but there’s a lot of people that contributed to my success, and it’s just nice to know that I was the first woman to have their jersey retired, but I won’t be the last, there will be more. This is a class organization, I’ll continue to keep pushing the next young lady to have her name in the rafters, and that’s what it’s all about, not just Cheryl Cook, but the name across the front, The University of Cincinnati. This is family, this is my home, I’m so glad to be back,” said Cheryl Cook Member of the 1981-85 Bearcats Women’s Basketball team.
Laurie Pirtle was very excited to be back on campus, after making an everlasting impact on the basketball program that will forever be engraved within history at Cincinnati, you could sense the emotion after standing back in Fifth Third Arena.
“Just to stand on this court again, times i have shared with the kids, good, bad, it’s just a great feeling to know we did something to make it better. I’m a firm believer in you leave a place better than you found it, that be a person, place or thing. I think if everyone in the world did that, this world would be a better place, and to say we did that, and our players have done that. To get a chance to see them in a few minutes, hang out with them, see who they are, know we played a big role in developing them, and the time we spent here, it was a really great time, I’m starting to get teary eyed,” said Pirtle.
“Just to come back, to see these young people benefit, at one point we had to buy our own tennis shoes, we were riding in white vans, there was no charter jets. I’m happy for the younger people. Hopefully I can talk to these younger guys and say you guys could be up there (pointing at the rafters). just enjoy the moment. I want them to know they’re more than athletes,” said Cheryl Cook.
Laurie Pertile got a nice surprise today where she found out she was being inducted to the Bearcats Hall of Fame, but what stood out to me the most was before she found out she said, “First thing id want is to make sure the players that played here, get in the Hall of Fame first, but to get in the Hall of Fame would be a great honor, look whose there, to be in that group among all of sports, all of the coaches, contributors here at Cincinnati, it would be humbling.”
Shortly after talking to Cook and Pirtle this morning, Pirtle found out she was going to be the next member of the Hall of Fame, where she was left in tears, and raw emotion as she saw her 21 years as head coach pay off to where her name will not only be engraved in the Women’s Basketball program, but in the Bearcats Hall of Fame forever.
The Bearcats former Head Coach Laurie Pirtle is caught by Suprise by her Hall of Fame announcement. Pirtle leads the program with 310 career wins, was a huge part of putting the Bearcats Basketball program on the maps, leading them to their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance, Pirtle played such a huge role for not only the program but the University of Cincinnati during her 21-year coaching career, that ends with her in the Bearcats Hall of Fame. A huge congratulations to Laurie Pirtle as what she did for this program won’t ever be forgotten as she left her impact on not only the program but the University and City of Cincinnati as well.
The Bearcats 50th season celebration was capped off with more than 50 alumni coming to the game, as well as to recognize Laurie Pirtle for her accomplishments at the University of Cincinnati, to have all the alumni back in the arena for an event like today was amazing too see all the former athletes, coaches, everyone involved get together to celebrate the 50th season in Bearcats Women’s Basketball program history.
