♪ ♪ >> ARE YOU GUYS READY?

>> YES.

>> IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU ARE READY?

(CHEERING) WE CAN GO LOUDER THAN THAT.

>> SOME PEOPLE THINK, WELL, IT MUST HAVE BEEN EASY FOR COACH FELISHA TO GET THE JOB.

SHE GREW UP HERE, PLAYED ALL AMERICAN HERE.

SHE EARNED THE RIGHT TO COACH THIS PROGRAM.

AND EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM IS SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE COACH JACK AS YOUR HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH.

(CHANTING).

>> I WANT TO SEE THE ENERGY.

I NEED THAT ENERGY.

COME ON NOW.

>> A SIX FOOT GUARD FROM CINCINNATI, OHIO, NUMBER 5, LAILA PHELIA.

NUMBER 20, DOMINIQUE DARIUS.

>> ACADEMIC ACCOLADES OF EACH ONE OF THESE LADIES 3.47 G.P.A.

OR HIGHER.

CHARACTER, HAPPENED SHAKE, THE LOOK IN YOUR EYE WHEN THEY SPEAK.

THE I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU ASK OF US.

AND THEY'RE TALENTED AND HIGH PROFILE YOUNG WOMEN WHO ARE WILLING TO DO ALL THE HUMBLE HUMILITY THINGS.

I'M THE LUCKIEST PERSON IN THE COUNTRY.

I GET TO COACH ALL OF YOU.

THIS YEAR WE DECIDED WE ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS SEASON THE SEASON OF THE WOMAN.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT I STAND HIGHER AND TALLER FOR THESE WOMEN AND I HAVE TO FIGHT HARDER FOR THEM BECAUSE AS 59 YEARS OLD, MY TIME IS SHORTER THAN THEIRS AND THEY HAVE TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO FIGHT HARD FOR SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE IN.

IT'S TIME.

IT'S TIME TO SUPPORT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL.

WE ARE HAVE RIVALRY ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE YET AND WE HAVE TO TAKE PRIDE.

AND YES, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD.

I NEED TO YOU STAY FOCUSED AND FIGHT HARD AND NOT GIVE UP ON US.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ME.

I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE TO DIG DEEPER EVERY POSSESSION.

HOW THEY DO THAT?

THEY HAVE TO SEE THEIR BOSS DO IT.

THEY CAN'T SEE ME GET TIRED.

SO TIRED DAYS ARE OVER.

I'M MAKING A COMMITMENT TO THEM ON THE SEASON OF THE WOMAN AND I'M ASKING YOU TO SUPPORT US.

NOBODY DID IT BY THEMSELVES.

>> THAT'S A SEE IT THROUGH.

DON'T GET EXCITED ABOUT THE FIRST FOUR GAMES OR THE SITUATION WITH UTAH AND WE PLAYED MICHIGAN.

DON'T GET EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

SEE IT THROUGH TO THE END.

SEE IT TO THE END.

IT TAKES WHAT IT TAKES AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO SEE IT THROUGH AND IF YOU SEE ME LOOKING FIRED, GRAB ME BY THE SHIRT AND SAY COME ON COACH.

I'LL HOLD YOUR JACKET UP.

YOU LOOK TIRED TO ME.

I NEED THAT SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND FIGHT FROM YOU ALL.

IF I GET THAT FROM YOU, I CAN POUR IT INTO THEM.

I PROMISE YOU.

AFFORD IT TO THEM AND I SET THESE LADIES LOOSE TO FIGHT AND IT WILL BE TREMENDOUS.