Sooner Profile: Savannah Long

Savannah Long \| Sr. \| Shortstop \| 5-8
	Birthdate: November 7, 1985 Hometown: Midwest City, Okla. Parents: Jim and Kari Long Siblings: Karolyne and Madisyn High School: Midwest City Multimedia Photo Gallery \| Bio

NORMAN, Okla. -- Growing up as the daughter of a professional athlete has its positives and negatives. Just ask Savannah Long.

She remembers the days when her dad, who played in the California Angels' organization, was on the road all the time and it was pretty much just her and her mom. She admits it took her a long time to warm up to her father because she hardly ever got to see him.

But sports also became an avenue through which they could connect, and eventually it helped them develop an extremely close relationship. Without her father, Long says, she would not be where she is today.

Now in her senior season, Long said her parents have not missed a single game since high school, except for the time when her younger sister was playing in the state tournament.

As it turns out, sports have helped bring the entire family closer together.

On growing up with a father who played professional baseball:
"We lived on the road quite a bit just because my dad played pro ball. I never got to see my dad much growing up until I was five and we moved back home. It was kind of just my mom and I for the first four years of my life. Since we were always at baseball games I always had a ball, a glove or something in my hand. Between watching his games and with the only time I really got to see him being at the ball field, I was always around it and was always playing catch or doing something with a ball. That's kind of the only entertainment I had at the time."

On how she handled not getting to see her dad very much:
"It was hard because he was on the road a lot. When we did move down to Texas after he stopped playing, he was still always gone because he worked at a country club. I didn't get to see him then either so it was just kind of my mom and I.

"My parents have been

at every game since

high school. They

haven't missed one on

the road or at home."

We had each other and that was basically it because it was really hard not ever seeing my dad. Sometimes when he came home he would attempt to bribe me with stuffed animals and stuff like that because it was hard for me to get used to him due to the fact that I never saw him."

On how her relationship with her dad developed:
"After we moved back home and everything we saw each other all the time. My dad and I are very close now and have been for a long time. He's the reason why I made it to this level.

"When I was around five I started tee-ball and dad got really involved. He coached my tee-ball team, helped at practice and things like that. It was just kind of a fun activity for us when he came home because I always wanted to play catch and that's what he loved was sports. It was kind of the way that we became closer because he knew so much about sports and had so much advice because he had gone so far in his career. That was really something that brought us closer together, as it did with my other two sisters as well."

On how often her parents attend her games:
"My parents have been at every one of my games since high school. They haven't missed one on the road or at home. Actually, they have missed two at home, but the only time they have ever missed me play was when my little sister was playing in her high school state tournament games."

On what it means to have that support from her parents:
"It means so much because there are games that don't exactly go the way that you want them to all the time. Just having them there throughout the good times and the bad times means a lot. After the bad games is when you need them the most just to know that everything is going to be OK. The fact that they are able to make it out to all these games is really something special because you know there's always somebody in the stands cheering for you home or away."

On this being her final season of college softball:
"I'm just having a good time right now. It doesn't really feel like I'm at that point yet. It's still preseason and everything and I know it's starting to come to a close, but I'm not looking at it that way at all. I'm just going out and having a good time, enjoying my teammates and enjoying playing softball because I do know I'm not going to be able to do it that much longer. At the same time, I'm not trying to put pressure on myself or anything like that because I can only do so much. My goal is to just go out and play every game like I know how and just have a good time and enjoy it."

On her most memorable experience up to this point:
"Just being able to go through this program and getting to know my teammates. I've developed a lot of frienships along the way that I think are going to be life-long friendships. The bus trips, the locker room talks, our practices and all the other little things -- there have been so many special experiences, I don't think I can pick just one out. My teammates are what has made it special for me."

On what it means to her being the team captain this year:
"It's been a tremendous honor. It's something that means so much to me and something I take very seriously. I've just been trying to be the best example I can be both on and off the field. I try to lead the team vocally but more importantly, I just try to lead by example. I just want to show my teammates what hard work is, what it takes to get the most out of yourself and to know that everything is about the team and it's not individual."

On her plans for the future:
"I plan on pursuing the National Pro Fastpitch league after this season, but I don't know for how long. Eventually I want to settle down, get married and have a family. As for my career, I'm planning on getting into the financial side of things as a personal finance advisor or something like that."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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