Reflection
What did you enjoy about this project?
The opportunity to meet a true Trinity legend. Mr. Jeffries essentially made the NBA coming from this school, and that entire concept looks baffling with today's context. Looking up to him comes naturally as a basketball player, especially when you appreciate how far ahead he is of everyone else statistically. If anything, investigating his story and the success he had on the court just makes you wonder what could've been in today's March Madness culture where mid-majors routinely pull of upsets. Maybe he could have done something along those lines at Trinity, and elevating this program to heights like that is a really cool concept.
What surprised you about this project?
How much had really changed at this school. The switch to D3 completely changes a school's culture, focusing much more on diversity and academic excellance. During Mr. Jeffries time at Trinity, the school had substantial athletic fanbase, as the photos from The Trinitonian almost all show packed stadiums. Today that rarely happens, generally only during big games or home openers. Prioritizing academics certainly makes Trinity an incredible school, but seeing that type of support at games today would be awesome.
What was the most challenging aspect of the project, and how did you manage it?
Balancing schedules with other people in the real world. As college students, our hours may not necessarly line up with a professional, and this creates conflict sometimes. Really I just tried to find a time where they would most likely be available in the near future, and lock it down so other plans couldn't be made around that time.
If you could start over, what would you do differently?
Interview Mr. Jeffries teammates to gain their side of the story. Jeffries himself gave a humble account of his career, and supplemented with information gleaned from publications paints a clear picture of a very talented player. Having firsthand witnesseses could provide some cool tidbits about specific highlight plays or epic comebacks he led, and would really have added to the story. Unfortunately, I just couldn't pin down an interview with any of them, but I certainly would like another chance to get after that earlier in the process.
What did you learn about history and/or the historical process through this project?
History has several different perspectives, and whatever lense you view it from often shapes the narrative. The language used in Trinitonian and Mirage articles makes Jeffries appear almost superhuman, but when he talks about himself speaks very humbly. You have to get all the perspectives possible to really tell the full story.
What did you learn through this project that can be applied to life outside the classroom?
People love to help, you just have to ask!