Shawn Andaya-Pulliam talks Texas Sports HOF induction

Notes from Shawn Andaya-Pulliam Interview

* Has had a blessed softball career her whole life. Coming to A&M was one of the greatest things she’s ever done. It gave her the opportunity to compete in and win a national championship and to also get her degree. Both things were very important to her during her time at A&M and she is blessed to be an Aggie.

* Being inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame is a huge honor. Has been told she is the first A&M female and first softball player to get into the Hall of Fame. Thinks the future of the Hall of Fame looks good for Aggies because she was not the best athlete to come out of A&M during her time on campus.

* Being able to win the national championship her senior year and to walk off on top is one of the greatest honors she has had in her career. Being able to say that your last game was as high as you could possibly go, because at that time softball was not an Olympic sport, is something you can build your life on. All things that applied to her as an athlete, now apply to her as a professional and as a mom. It was a huge part of who she is today and is very proud of it.

* At one time, there were four All-Americans on her team which is unheard of. At that time, there were only a first and second team All-Americans as opposed to having third team and honorable mention All-Americans. Coach Brock did an amazing job recruiting girls to come to A&M. When the girls got on campus, they performed at their highest level. The team that had four All-Americans on it actually did not make the World Series that year. Sometimes when there are that many superstars on a team, people can get caught sitting back and waiting for someone else to do the work for them. By the time her senior year rolled around, her team learned that it was not about sitting around and waiting for someone else to do your work, but rather getting out there and doing it yourself.

* Coach Brock was able to get the girls to play at the highest level possible. She owes so much to him because he gave her the opportunity that changed her life. Coach Brock was a personable man and made the team believe in themselves. He tended to be cocky sometimes, but that is what made the team feel like they were the best team out there. He was a confident coach and a confident coach makes confident players.

* Coach Brock had a lot of swagger and confidence and she hopes that he is the next Aggie to get into the Hall of Fame. He has three national championships under his belt and not many coaches from any sport in the state can say that. Coach Brock never saw her play in high school and relied strictly on word of mouth when it came to recruiting her from California. She was not highly recruited since she was shorter than the average pitcher and Coach Brock believed in her when no one else did. He gave her the opportunity to change her life by coming to A&M and playing for him.

* She currently works for St. Joe’s Hospital in College Station and loves working in the community. As a former athlete, a lot of people come to meet her and it gives her the opportunity to give back to the city. She used to be kind of shy and didn’t like to speak a whole lot, but that has changed through her work she has done in the community.

* She will be winging her speech at her induction ceremony today. She is not good with speeches and it would end up sounding like it was read off a piece of paper if she prepared one in advance. She knows what she needs to say and it will come from the heart.

* It’s something special to be inducted in with Coach Blair. Coach Blair is a great coach and she can relate to what the team is going through in some ways. When you’re up on top, you have to come back the next year with a different vengeance because you will be getting everyone’s best shot. Anybody who beats them can claim a moral victory by beating the defending national champion which makes other teams play to the best of their abilities.