Watching Proudly: Morgan Eye’s Basketball Journey Through My Eyes

Sunday was a bittersweet day. We hit the road to Columbia one last time to watch my sister Morgan play basketball at Mizzou.

It’s so hard to believe that four years have already passed us by! So much about this experience has changed her and her fans, friends and family. She has taken us all on a ride and I cannot even begin to express how proud I am of her accomplishments.

When I look back at Morgan’s journey, I always think back to the first weekend she came home from college. She was not herself. She seemed down, quiet and a little homesick. I remember my mom was concerned and asked me to talk to her. Knowing she needed someone to open up to, we headed down our gravel road in her ole Chevy S-10 pickup  with our pup, Copper, in tow. A familiar scene for the two of us on a Sunday afternoon.

We were probably a quarter-mile or more from home before I finally broke the silence. “What’s wrong?”

Although I don’t remember our specific conversation, I know she was mostly feeling self-conscious about playing basketball at such a high level.

She wasn’t sure she would be good enough.

She didn’t want to let anyone down if she didn’t get to play.

She seemed so worried about everyone else.

I wish I could say I had some amazing big sister advice that helped her overcome her fears but it didn’t happen that way. After our conversation, I think she left for school that day reassured that she had already exceeded everyones “expectations” so there was nothing to lose! At least I felt like I sent her off with a “go for it” attitude.

In the following months, she proved to no one but herself that she belonged in Division I basketball. Not only did she see playing time, she began what would be an amazing career at Mizzou!

We are all beyond proud of Morgan.

My dad may be Morgan’s biggest fan of all! He seriously has collected more memorabilia than he can hang on the walls of his man-cave! He proudly sports a Mizzou sticker on the side of his white farm pickup and hands out posters and magnets as souvenirs all over town! He just glows when he has a chance to talk about Morgan’s career at Mizzou.

I think my mom has every article ever written about Morgan, collected and ready for a HUGE scrapbook! She makes sure to DVR every game and I think she and my dad watch them regularly. They could probably cancel their cable and be totally content watching basketball. My mom gets so nervous before and during games. You would think she was the one playing. Like any mom, she just wants her child to do her best.

I’m guilty of all of it! Proud big sister probably annoying everyone with how much I boast about my sister. On social media, my blog, at the dentist office, I have no shame in bragging on my sister. I think I started out relaxed in the beginning because of the philosophy I tried to share with Morgan. “Nothing to lose!” However, with time I’ve become so invested in this entire team! They all feel like my little sisters! Before I know it, I’m cheering, on my feet, shouting at the refs (no shame I tell you), and holding my breath during every clutch play. We have all become super-fans during these four years.

Every game I think about the impact of Morgan’s accomplishments. She has little kids wearing her number on their jerseys, asking for her autograph and wanting to be just like her. Brings tears to my eyes because I know my sister was that way when she was younger and now she is the best role model I could every imagine for these kids. I can still see my little sister, maybe age 8 or so, throwing around a Mizzou basketball saying she wanted to play for Missouri. A dream is never too big.

If there is one thing we can all learn from Morgan, it is that attitude is everything. Takes me back to a favorite quote of mine.

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

Coming from a small town, it is easy to think you can’t do big things. But Morgan learned that anything is possible just by believing it. Building confidence in yourself is the first step to accomplishing your goals. There is no room for negativity in achievement.

The regular season may be finished but the madness of March begins. This week is the conference tournament and we are so pumped to watch our hardworking Mizzou Tigers in action!

We’ll be watching proudly. We love you, Morgan!

– Lauren