Culture Shock

Bedell changing the culture and mindset surrounding the Eagles

By Brenden Martin
TCC Sports Information
@brendenmartin28

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (October 30, 2013) - A new season brings new faces, new challenges and new hope to Tallahassee Community College’s women’s basketball program.

The Eagles and first-year head coach Franqua “Q” Bedell will open the regular season on the road against Hillsborough Community College on Friday, November 1. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. eastern. Bedell says that his number one expectation this year is to change the culture of the program. 

“We are changing the culture to accept much more of a championship effort, much more of a championship caliber mentality and character every day,” Bedell said on Monday. 

Bedell stressed the importance of winning every home game. He also said he would like his team to have the mentality of being a top two team in the Panhandle Conference and hopes that the Eagles can hold a top ten spot in the national rankings this season. Currently, the team is not ranked in the NJCAA preseason poll, but is ranked No. 5 in the FCSAA Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Poll. 

Bedell was hired as the head coach at Tallahassee Community College back in June. With any new coach comes a unique set of challenges that teams must face and overcome in order to win games, and the Eagles are no exception. While it has taken the team time to adapt to Bedell’s new coaching system mentally and physically, he says the players have done a good job putting everything together on the court and giving a collective effort. 

The lack of time spent together thus far will not be used as an excuse for poor play this season. When speaking about what he expects from his team on the court Bedell said, “Our young ladies are expected to play at a high level every night no matter the competition.” 

He pointed out a few players who will be exciting and fun to watch this season including forward Aariel Allen and guards Teleshia Riley, Tyeshia Guinnie and Marija Pacar. He said they all have a great shooting ability and other skills that they each can bring to the court night in and night out. 

The Eagles will be on the road for a couple of weeks as they begin the 2013 season. The game following the opener will be at St. Petersburg College on November 2.