Editor's note: Ball State second-year coach Tracy Roller, who last season led the Cardinals to their first postseason appearance, will share a diary with ESPN.com throughout the season.

Dec. 22, 2002

	Roller

The holidays are a very interesting time for college coaches. All of my "non-coaching" friends talk about shopping trips and cookie baking. Who has time to shop or cook? I barely can fit in a drive-through trip to Taco Bell, let alone homemade Christmas cookies! While those friends are wrapping Christmas presents, my staff and I try to figure out how to beat a tough Wright State team. But whenever I can, I try to have some holiday cheer.

This is also the time that more than ever I love being an only child! I, of course, appreciate the obvious advantages of being the "only" in the lives of Ron and Sue Roller. The presents are usually large in number! Especially with a December birthday, too! With our holiday basketball madness, I am glad that I don't have siblings to buy for! Family is important to me, but who has time for siblings? Or nieces and nephews? Although, I actually do miss those Christmas visits to Toys"R"Us, so I do buy for all of our BSU staff babies instead! And there are a lot of them this year!

Yet, I notice more and more each year, the meaning of Christmas has become the annual holiday get-together with our team. In the past, our athletic trainer, Jenn and her husband, Kevin, would host the bash. This year, however, would be the first Christmas in my new house, so it would be very special to have our team over. I took a "therapy" day after our loss to Valpo to get prepared for the Christmas party. I put up the tree and with a little help, avoided major injury in putting up the outdoor lights. The house was all ready for the holiday cheer and a visit from our team.

A local restaurant, Stirlings, catered the meal, and I've decided that is the way to have a party! The Merry Maids came in the day before to clean, Stirlings set up all the food, and now if I can just find someone to clean up afterward, I'd be set! That would be a MERRY CHRISTMAS to ME!

The team drew Secret Santa names and we exchanged gifts from under the tree. As usual, our close-knit team had trouble keeping Secret Santa names a "secret." So, to humor me, they pretend to be surprised when a teammate brings them their gift. Even my staff leaked on the adult exchange! We finished up the night with several rounds on the karaoke machine and I found out that some of our players are just as talented off the court as on. And some just need to stick to the court ... and to COACHING!

But when I say that the get-togethers are starting to become for me the true meaning of Christmas, I'm not talking about the catering, or the Secret Santas, or the karaoke singing. For me, Christmas is being with the ones you love. I love every one of them! From the players who compete everyday for us, to my staff that personally sacrifices for the betterment of our program. And the support staff that never gets the thanks they deserve. And those dedicated family members and Cardinal Court members who have followed us on our weary road schedule this year. They all have a very special place in my heart.

So, as we all said our Christmas goodbyes after our win against Wright State, they all went to be with their loved ones for a short four-day break. And I went to give Ron and Sue a hug!

Merry Christmas everyone and travel safely!