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*** In Memory ***

Danielle Miller
1984- 2004

Chris Foat
1984-2007

Why We Do This
 

Words from Dani's coach...

On every dry erase board in Conference USA locker rooms there is written, "Dani rules the world." She was the social leader on the team. She always had a fun game for everyone to play - like skiing on the back of an SUV in the middle of a parking lot during a snow storm. She loved 80s and country music. Dani requested extra reps before each home match. She was the first of a couple of players who wanted to play with the coaches before practices. She was part of our leadership group that was working on getting the whole team headed in the right direction. She was a dynamic personality on the court. When she hit and jump served, her legs would go out like a jumping jack.

She was horrible at sitting the bench - she would sulk. She was a fantastic starter - she was light and energetic. She was such a free spirit that it was physically impossible for her to follow the rules that someone else set for her. Therefore, she got in trouble every now and then. But, it was so hard to stay upset with her for long because she would say something that would make me laugh. She liked to tease everyone.

I had all of the players come up with a personal goal. They also had to come up with 10 obstacles to their goal. The idea is that once you know what is standing in your way you can develop the tools to overcome them. Dani's goal was to be an All-American libero. There was something about the way that she presented her goal that you just knew that she would do it. One of the most interesting strategies to overcoming her obstacles was to "make a name for herself." We talked about various ways to do this so that the Conference USA coaches would remember her and vote for her in all-conference voting. Isn't it interesting that one of her strategies had already been accomplished? Maybe she didn't realize it and maybe we all didn't realize it then, but we do now.

Dani has made a name for herself in the hearts of everyone who knew her. She loved life, volleyball, her teammates and her friends and family deeply.