Nov. 11, 2009

By Joshua R. Wilkins
Graduate Assistant

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -Since coming to Memphis in the early 1950s, former U of M Athletic Director Bob Patterson has cheered for thousands of Tiger athletes.

When talking to Patterson, you can't walk the distance from a softball mound to the plate without Patterson being able to tell you his favorite - Tiger softball outfielder Leigh Rowan, who just happens to be his granddaughter.

"I'm her biggest fan," Patterson said, fighting back prideful tears. "I'm so proud because she has worked so hard to achieve her goals and become a very good softball player. She's also worked very hard in the classroom to achieve her goals there. Her accomplishments far outweigh mine in my opinion. Mine weren't that great, but she's turned into a tremendous player."

That is high praise coming from the MVP of the 1953 Tiger football team, a member of the University of Tennessee's 1951 National Championship Team (before transferring to Memphis), an A.P. First Team Little All American and a long-time college and professional coach.

In her 133 games in three seasons thus far as a Tiger, Rowan, whose dad and uncle played college football for the University of Texas, has made her own mark for the school in her second home (Memphis). She is fourth all-time for the Tigers in slugging percentage and fifth in all-time batting average. That is despite overcoming rotator cuff surgery more than a year ago.

"She's an amazing hitter who has really come into her own in the past few years," Tiger coach Windy Thees said. "She's also a really good outfielder, which not everyone realizes because she's not the fastest outfielder. She's a very smart defender though, and she has a great arm."

"I had some trouble with the surgery, and had to DH a lot because it took me a while to get comfortable with everything again," said Rowan, who has played softball since she was five. "Hopefully, this year, I can put it all back together, have a good year and help us win a lot of games."

The picture of Rowan wearing the blue and gray started being put together long ago when she started making the seven-hour trip from her home in Marietta, Ga., to see her grandparents. Some of the regular recreational outings included Tiger football games at the Liberty Bowl or basketball games at The Pyramid. A trip to Graceland and an ensuing love of the barbecue nachos at Central Barbecue also added to her love of the Bluff City.

"I like all the tours and history of the city," Rowan said. "I've been to a few of them, and there are so many more I need to go on. I've never been to the zoo, but I hear it's the best. I definitely need to check it out."

At the time, Memphis had no softball program, but when one was established, Rowan was happy to turn down some offers from other schools closer to Georgia and become a Tiger.

"I'm really close to him," Rowan said of her grandfather. "I feel like I'm not just representing a school or town, but I get to represent my grandfather as well every time I put on a Memphis uniform. Not many people get a chance to do that. It's a cool feeling."

Patterson agrees with that sentiment.

"Her grandmother and myself have been going to watch her play in softball tournaments for a long time, but it's great to be able to see her play for Memphis," Patterson said. "It's a good solid program that is continuing to try and make progress under Coach Thees. I hope people continue to support its growth."

If everyone supported the program like the Pattersons do, the program would probably surpass many higher-revenue sports in popularity. Rarely do they ever miss a game.

"Since I've been in school here, we've gotten even closer," Rowan said. "I go see them a couple of times a week, and they come to all my games. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Not every player on our team has someone there supporting them at every game, but I always know I'm going to. When I get up to bat, he's the only person I hear out of everyone screaming. It's special to have him there."

"I don't try to coach her," Patterson said. "She has much more qualified coaches than me. I just want to show our support, not only to Leigh, but to the whole team. We love them all."

Thees gives credit to the Pattersons for not only supporting their granddaughter, but to many other Tigers, especially those who, like Rowan said, don't always have family members at the games due to the distance from their families.

"They are the sweetest people in the world," Thees said. "I think I may have met Bob before I ever met Leigh. He's always been around picking everyone up, and really supporting Tiger athletics. For Leigh, this is her second home, but some of the rest of the girls now know they have the Pattersons up there cheering for them too. They're irreplaceable."

Rowan looks to her senior year to try and make more irreplaceable memories with her grandparents. The Tigers recently completed an undefeated fall season, and look to continue to build the footing of a successful program at the Murphy Athletic Complex. If Rowan has many more days like she did in her two-home run day against C-USA power Tulsa last season, it would go a long way.

"That impressed me so much," Patterson said. "The team was losing to a very good team, but Leigh still showed that she was there to compete. I almost cry when I talk about it, but that showed so much about her character."

"I think character will be the biggest difference this year to whether we are successful or not," Rowan said. "I know I need to improve my leadership qualities. I think to win at this level every player on the team has to be extremely committed to the sport. If we get that type of commitment, we can be a very good team."

Success or not, this will be Rowan's last season to suit up for the Tigers, leaving questions about her future.

"I fell in love with softball immediately," Rowan, a sports and leisure management major, said. "My mom tried to get me to do gymnastics, but that didn't work out as well. I wanted to go outside and run around. I might coach one day and be like my grandpa, but to be honest, my biggest goal is to me a mom. I love kids."

Kids may be all that pulls Rowan away from her grandparents here in Memphis. Her sister has three children back in Georgia. Therefore, Rowan must decide where she wants to end up after graduating from U of M.

"I'd like to continue to have her close, but we're proud of her regardless," Patterson said. "It's so much of an honor to see her do so well. We love Leigh and all her teammates. We wish them the best."

After one more year, whether in Georgia or not, Rowan's affection for her grandfather, and vice versa, can be safely assumed to transcend any obstacles caused by distance.

"I think after this we'll always be close no matter what," Rowan said. "He's such a good person and role model, who'd do anything for me or anyone else really. He's confident in himself. He can go up to anyone and just start talking to them, and he's not worried about what everyone else thinks about him. He brightens people's days and makes Memphis a better place."