1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: Long Shot is a production of McClatchy Studios and I 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:08,879 Speaker 1: Heart Radio previously on Payback. The whole family is like legendary, 3 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:11,479 Speaker 1: and especially Jessica. So as soon as he said the 4 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: last name, I'm like, whatever, you need to come in 5 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: and you know what you want. There was some of 6 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: the schools obviously they would have given do scholarships for 7 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:20,599 Speaker 1: jess you know, I mean at that time she was 8 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: just that dominant but ansome dolence. Is it thought time? 9 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,319 Speaker 1: He's God, you know, and some Dareance was coming to 10 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 1: meet my mom. This is my dream school, and we're 11 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 1: in the car and she just punched me right in 12 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,919 Speaker 1: my mouth. My recollections are mostly trying to find her. 13 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: I'm thinking, oh gosh, I know why the grandmother's involved. 14 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: Gifts don't have no reading this stuff, but we don't 15 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:56,279 Speaker 1: choose apparently doing we get by the way, Mia Ham's here. 16 00:00:57,920 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 1: If you look through there, she might be standing. There's 17 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: I'm worker ants and Dorrance is showing me around the 18 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,680 Speaker 1: University of North Carolina soccer facility that bears his name, 19 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: Doran's Field. We have one sum here because back in 20 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 1: the day, if here were the top seed, then you 21 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: would host opened in the stadium, has brand new offices, 22 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 1: team meeting areas and locker rooms for both the men's 23 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,960 Speaker 1: and women's soccer programs, and more than four thousand seats 24 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: for spectators. But the crown Jewel is a small room 25 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: up the stairs at one end of the field in 26 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 1: a brown brick building called the mc caskill Soccer Center. 27 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: The closing room, as Dorance calls it, for prized recruits. 28 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: So that's our first national championship. That's our second, that's 29 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: our third, that's our fourth. The room isn't massive, maybet 30 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: long by fifteen ft wide, but its contents feel grand. 31 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 1: That's our fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, eleven, twelve. The 32 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: walls are painted deep blue with lighter Carolina blew ur guyle, 33 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: adding a stylish crown molding along the tops of each wall. 34 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: Shelves run the length of the walls, each filled with 35 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,519 Speaker 1: the tar Heel Women's National Championship trophies standing shoulder to 36 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: shoulder fifteen sixteen, and then we finished second. So this 37 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: stretch was that's a pretty good stretch, right. We're hunting 38 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: for the trophies from two thousand eight and two thousand nine, 39 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 1: which is trickier than you might imagine, and that here 40 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: are the presidents, by the way, every time we win 41 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: a national championship, the presidents in vitus in so here 42 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 1: we are with Obama, the Bushes. There's another Bush. Yeah, 43 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: and I've got a couple in my office as well. 44 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,639 Speaker 1: The players and coaches who have passed through u n 45 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: c S women's program are not just icons of the game. 46 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: In many ways, they're the very architects of an entire sport. 47 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 1: And here's Christine Lily mia Hamm, there's Kaylia Ohi, and 48 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: there's me again, and there's April Heinrich. She's also just 49 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 1: a very important figure our history. Dorance's teams have been 50 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:05,960 Speaker 1: winning national titles since before women's soccer was even recognized 51 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: as a sport by the n C Double A and 52 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 1: was instead overseen by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for 53 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:16,359 Speaker 1: Women or the ai a W. It's twenty two national championships, 54 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: but not two n C Double A championships, because that 55 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:24,240 Speaker 1: first one was an ai W championship. Finally, along the 56 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: third wall of the room, nearly all the way in 57 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,399 Speaker 1: the corner, after what feels like a gold plated eternity, 58 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 1: Dorrence finds the trophies were looking for, so yeah, so 59 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: there you go. Those are justice from the Charlotte Observer, 60 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: Raleigh News and Observer, McClatchy Studios, and I Heart Radio. 61 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: This is Payback. I'm Alexandreev and this is part four 62 00:03:49,080 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: Tough as Nails. I even remember the room we were in. 63 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: It was on the left off the main hallway, so 64 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: I know the room we were in, and I think 65 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: the principal was in the room with me. They're in 66 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: a little room off the main hallway at Cactus High School. 67 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,479 Speaker 1: Just sat with her father and grandmother. It was two 68 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: thousand five and Anson Dorens made his recruiting pitch for 69 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: Just to come play at the University of North Carolina. 70 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,679 Speaker 1: It was a pitch Dorens had carefully honed over time. 71 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 1: I think at first, when you start coaching, it's about 72 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,719 Speaker 1: you know, the system, the four four two or whatever. 73 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 1: It's about player development, But honestly, it's not what it is. 74 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 1: At the highest level of coaching. It's about getting as 75 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: close to as many people as possible. Dorrence began his 76 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 1: UNC coaching career in n with the Tar Hills men's 77 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: team Two years later, players on the women's club team 78 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: at u NC petition the school for their team to 79 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:58,280 Speaker 1: be upgraded to the varsity level. Doran's argued on their behalf, 80 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 1: so the athletic director at the time and let him 81 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: or maybe just made him coach both teams, and the 82 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: biggest challenge in coaching the women was learning to lead 83 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: them effectively. They have to get a sense that you 84 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 1: respect and admire them for reasons beyond the game. A 85 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 1: male athlete has no issue with his respect coming entirely 86 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: from his capacity to dominate competition. A woman doesn't embrace 87 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 1: that as her north star. For nearly a decade, Doran's 88 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 1: coached both squads before committing to the women's game exclusively, 89 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: and the North Carolina tar Heels knock off the Ohio 90 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: State buck Eyes by a score of two to nothing. 91 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: But counting his wins with both the men's and women's teams, 92 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: Dorrance has found rarefied air among coaches at any level 93 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 1: of any sport. And coach Dorrance gets is one thousandth 94 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: victory as a head coach at the University of North Carolina. 95 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 1: He's got to be aware that the Gatorade is coming 96 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: and there it is there at Cactus High. Drance told 97 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 1: Jess that was the growing legacy she could be part of. 98 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 1: At the time, just finished high school, she had won 99 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 1: six state championships with Sereno Sports Programs and a regional championship. 100 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: She made a collection of all American teams and was 101 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,840 Speaker 1: a member of multiple youth national teams. Darence was giving 102 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: Jess the best news of her life on what might 103 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 1: have been the worst day of it. Anson had highlight 104 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: tapes of you know, all the seasons, all the trophies. 105 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 1: He's pumping us up, but like, I have all these 106 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:30,920 Speaker 1: mixed emotions going on. I'm nervous, so I'm excited, I'm 107 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,679 Speaker 1: angry every emotion and this is my dream come true 108 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 1: meeting and my mood is like changing that. During my reporting, 109 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: I tried multiple times to interview Jess's mom, Tracy, but 110 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: we couldn't seem to connect with her. Sorry, l box 111 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: is full. I asked Lawrence if back in two thousand 112 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 1: five he had any idea of the drama that unfolded 113 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: behind the scenes of that recruiting trip. She described a 114 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: pretty formative moment for her when she was said to 115 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: meet you for the first time at her high school, 116 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: and you know, she had to change plans, she said, 117 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 1: and call her dad and her grandmother. And so I'm 118 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: curious if you remember those plans shifting at all, what 119 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: that meeting was like, I don't remember anything shifting. Um, 120 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: I thrive in chaos. So for me, if there was 121 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: anything that was disruptive, I'm going with a flow. So 122 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: she was pleasant. I mean, she didn't wear her struggles. 123 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: Did she have bruises at all or anything, not to 124 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,840 Speaker 1: my recollection, But if she did, I wouldn't have associated 125 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: it with anything negative. So maybe if she did, for me, 126 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 1: it wasn't a like a social worker where you know 127 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 1: someone beating. You know, for me, it's like, oh yeah, 128 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 1: so you went in on that one and maybe hit 129 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 1: the goalkeeper punch in the face trying to go for 130 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 1: the ball. How cool is that? So my reaction would 131 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: be different than you know, someone else that afternoon, someone 132 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: else in that room did react differently. A man experienced 133 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: with life outside the law in the aftermath of a 134 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: fist fight. I can't remember how the words winning and stuff, 135 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: but I was asking it, which he hits you full 136 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: just as father, since myers, you don't need to be 137 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: getting hit. Not at this age period. I was say, 138 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: my mom and dam didn't hit me at this age. 139 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 1: I ain't gonna lie nobody to be hit, no my 140 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: keys at this age. He's like, why haven't you told 141 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: me like that. It's not like you've been consistently in 142 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: my life. You know, you're in and out of prison, 143 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: You're in and out of you know, South Phoenix, which 144 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,239 Speaker 1: is like he said, it is a very dangerous place. 145 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:36,560 Speaker 1: So I said, since it's bad between YouTube, just pack 146 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: your bags up and you just come stay with me. 147 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:42,679 Speaker 1: So to split decisions this game for her to come 148 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: stay with me right then and there. Mama didn't like it, 149 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 1: but I ain't care. Just ran away from home that day, 150 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: clearing out her childhood bedroom with the help of her 151 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 1: estranged father. It began an odyssey of couch surfing, begging 152 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: friends for places to stay, and making do on her 153 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:05,840 Speaker 1: own that lasted Jess the next two years. But so 154 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: often in Jess's life, success in sports has been directly 155 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 1: driven by adversity. She was battling off the field, and 156 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 1: that has rarely been truer than the day of that 157 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:18,520 Speaker 1: recruiting visit. Because after clearing out her bedroom, Jess had 158 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: another competition that evening, and it's one that seemingly everyone 159 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: we spoke with an Arizona remembers, even nearly twenty years later. 160 00:09:28,559 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: We'll tell you more about that in a moment. Jesse's 161 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 1: time with the Sereno Soccer Club made her a top 162 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:51,439 Speaker 1: national recruit that she cemented her local legend on the track. 163 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 1: Right around that same time, she met with Dlorance Jess 164 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: as old basketball coach Mark Ryan mentioned it to us 165 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 1: on the phone. Used to be a journalists and I 166 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: was covering the state track meet. I can remember She's 167 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: at the state record for the four d and her 168 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: first year ever running track. Dorrance has a story about it. 169 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: Jess has a story about it. Jess's father, Vince, has 170 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 1: a story about it, and like any good legend, the 171 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 1: details seem to have evolved over time. I had a 172 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: track meet that day. This is all the same day, 173 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 1: so me moving my stuff out like thanks happen with 174 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:29,480 Speaker 1: my mom, aunts and Dorance track meet that day. From 175 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:31,559 Speaker 1: what I can tell from my reporting, all of these 176 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 1: storytellers get at least some of the facts right. So 177 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:38,559 Speaker 1: this is a kid that doesn't know anything except first gear. 178 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 1: It's one of Doran's favorite tales about Jess, delivered with 179 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,320 Speaker 1: his distinctive flourish. She's walking through the halls of her 180 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 1: high school one day and the track coach has just 181 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: lost his four runners. She's never running the four hunders 182 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: in her life, and the track coach walks up to 183 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: her high school and says, hey, do you mind just, 184 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: you know, running the race, just so I don't have 185 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: to forfeit the spot. Sure, I mean, she's such a 186 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 1: nice girl. Sure, I'll jump in. She sets an Arizona 187 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: state record in She's never run it in our life. 188 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: So let's pause here for a moment. I didn't. True. 189 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 1: It's not possible to determine exactly which spring day Dorn's 190 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:15,959 Speaker 1: visited Cactus High School, but we know from state and 191 00:11:16,040 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: local records that the week of May fourth that year, 192 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: Just competed in her school's regional tournament with a shot 193 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:26,559 Speaker 1: at States on the line. In that last race, one 194 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 1: lap around the track, she beat the second place finisher 195 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: by three full seconds. The next week, just turned even 196 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: more heads at the state Track and Field Championships held 197 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: a nearby Mesa Community College. That's the event Jess's former 198 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:46,079 Speaker 1: basketball coach, Mark Ryan remembered from this time as a 199 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: local sports reporter. By that state meet, Jess was alternating 200 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: between her grandmother's house and Vince's place in South Phoenix, 201 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 1: and Jess's father did something he had rarely done before 202 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: attend one of her competitions. Oh there that meat, I know, 203 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: she said, a record she ran aft according to state 204 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: high school athletic records. Thence watched his daughter run a 205 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: four hundred dash. They clocked fifty five point to six seconds. Oh, like, 206 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: I didn't even know she could run like that was 207 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: shocking for the state record it happened. That wasn't even 208 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:26,880 Speaker 1: a goal of mine. At the Finnish lide. My coach 209 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: is just like you literally just at the Arizona state record, 210 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: and I was like, excuse me. I had no idea 211 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: I was even remotely close to something like that. I 212 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:39,040 Speaker 1: was doing track and field in the first place, not seriously, 213 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: just to stay in shape. Four other sports really and 214 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: or something like that to happen. I mean, I am 215 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: proud of myself for the things that I have accomplished, 216 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: you know, along my my journey. It was yet another 217 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: sports accolade for Jess to go along with the two 218 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: state titles she would win at Cactus High in basketball, 219 00:12:58,840 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 1: and the various other honors she received playing the game 220 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 1: her mother once loved. At that point just told us 221 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:06,959 Speaker 1: the biggest growth may well have come from the people 222 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:11,840 Speaker 1: around her, particularly her father. He was helping me. You know, 223 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 1: he's she's my dad. Even though I knew how risky 224 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 1: of a lifestyle. I knew he lived. I needed a parent, 225 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 1: and my grandmother stepped in as well. So those two 226 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: definitely helped me throughout the rest of my high school career. 227 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 1: Since is the first to acknowledge he didn't exactly turn 228 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 1: into Father of the Year. When she stayed with him, 229 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 1: he was often out late, so he had her take 230 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: his navigator and drive herself to school in the mornings, 231 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:42,559 Speaker 1: even though she didn't have a license. I can't get 232 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: up at that time. You're gonna have to drive. So 233 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,439 Speaker 1: you know, she was driving driving life and that's it. 234 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 1: I can't go. You know, I was coming in too late, 235 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:53,839 Speaker 1: and you know I had you know, last did had 236 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: bad habits, you know, but I had to get rid 237 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: of She made I say just drive com you know, 238 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 1: he was calling the rich key. This is like really 239 00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: the first time my father was like really there for 240 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 1: me when I needed him most. I didn't wish her 241 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:15,680 Speaker 1: to stay with me, but I was happy she stayed 242 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: with me. I was really proud of what she was 243 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 1: going through. I'm even more proud of Rent to day. 244 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,120 Speaker 1: She got what she wants, She get to do what 245 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: she wanted to do. I'm very proud of her. Eventually, 246 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: Vince about Jesse used car for her own. That made 247 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: it easier for her to get out of South Phoenix periodically. 248 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:41,160 Speaker 1: Do you go stay a few days with her friends 249 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: or her grandmother Abby? If I want to find you know, 250 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: I went to a grandma. Y'all know what Jessica, you know, 251 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: and they give me the number. Everything just like that, 252 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 1: you know, was no problem. And you know, even if 253 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 1: Fince hadn't always gotten along with Big Abby during Jesse's 254 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: junior and senior years high school, their priorities were clearly 255 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 1: the same. I like bench he took care of her 256 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: when she was at my house. Is she going to 257 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: get because she had an own car? He did what 258 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: he want to do, did like which he had then 259 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: to do with Jessica. Right, He loved his daughter. He 260 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,280 Speaker 1: took care of her, So I don't have been saying 261 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: against I don't have been against anybody. There's not me. Still, 262 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 1: the turmoil of couch surfing, particularly with Jess's extracurricular schedule, 263 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: was terrible for a kid in school. She was driving 264 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 1: all over Phoenix for school, then basketball practice opens, freaking 265 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: McDonald to the basket, then club soccer, then track meets, 266 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 1: then to wherever she was going to sleep that night. 267 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: I didn't know how to handle it mentally at that point. 268 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: You know, my grade started to decline after that had happened. 269 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 1: S A T score sucked. By that point, my g 270 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: p A wasn't up to far with my SAT scores 271 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 1: you would see was out of the window. Joran's took 272 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 1: the news almost as hard as Jes died. I tried 273 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: to get her in out of high school, and I 274 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 1: wasn't able to get her in. You know, someone that 275 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: is stripped of the tools in high school to try 276 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: to succeed at collegiate level is going to continue to 277 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: have to fight you tooth and nail to recover. Because 278 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: obviously what was critical is we had to get her 279 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: academics up to a level where we could admit her. 280 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: Jesse's dreams of UNC would have to wait, big time 281 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 1: college sports at all, We're off the table for the moment. 282 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: So Jess looked down the street at a scholarship opportunity 283 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 1: from a school where grades wouldn't keep her from playing, 284 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: a small community college that plays something like minor league soccer, 285 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: and the Bears are blowing it open here in the 286 00:16:56,680 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: first half. She had no idea how large an impact 287 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: it would have on her life. Shoot so stuff. When 288 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 1: it was she hall of fame, So it's two hall 289 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: of fame. Phoenix College is an eight thousand student community 290 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: college located just north of downtown. You want to see 291 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 1: them played. The Bears play under the National Junior College 292 00:17:33,359 --> 00:17:36,960 Speaker 1: Athletic Association, so not knowing that the women's soccer team 293 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: just won the n j c A A national championship, 294 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,080 Speaker 1: or that the men's soccer team has won more than 295 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:46,400 Speaker 1: a dozen county and regional titles might be forgivable. That's 296 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:51,200 Speaker 1: the old gym, and they just redid it. College sports 297 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:53,480 Speaker 1: rosters at this level can be full of players who 298 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: were down on their look or couldn't make the grade, 299 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: Those looking for a last chance at playing time or 300 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: a final path to the big time. All their security, 301 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: they wouldn't get into. Dave Cameron is the men's head 302 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:10,520 Speaker 1: soccer coach. Hey, guys, we're doing a story about Jessica McDonald. 303 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,919 Speaker 1: Is there any way we can get into the Handley Center? 304 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: You mean just for a few minutes or in fluent 305 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: from North Carolina, thank you. Sure. Cameron isn't one to 306 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 1: men's words, and it isn't often he sees an athlete 307 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: like Jess McDonald come through Phoenix College. She came here 308 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: because she had to and we were just fortunate enough 309 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 1: to have her heard for soccer. Phoenix College is a 310 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: two year school, and in his twenty years there, Cameron 311 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,480 Speaker 1: has seen a handful of Bears athletes in various sports 312 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: move up to larger Division One programs and even eventually 313 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: go pro. So her stuff is right there. Oh yeah, 314 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: the entire trophy case. She almost has a wall to 315 00:18:56,080 --> 00:19:01,280 Speaker 1: herself until Jess came along. Phoenix Colledge's most famous athlete 316 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: alone was probably Nick Nolty, who only became famous once 317 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: he stopped playing college football. So for a Blue Chips 318 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:10,359 Speaker 1: soccer recruit like Jess had been, the talent level for 319 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:14,360 Speaker 1: the Bears women was a little inconsistent when she came 320 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 1: on campus. The women's team at the time wasn't competitive 321 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 1: enough for her, so she was moved up to the 322 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 1: men's team to challenge her. And that's kind of how 323 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 1: I met her. Her first practice, she scored a bicycle 324 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: kick and I even wonder on the men's team, so 325 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: that's kind of how we met. She just started training 326 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 1: with us because she needed more competition. Jess was on 327 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: scholarship at Phoenix College for both soccer and track. She 328 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 1: also played on the women's basketball team. Years later, during 329 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: a ceremony at the school in her honor, Morgan Lee, 330 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 1: the women's soccer coach at the time, admitted Jess hadn't 331 00:19:48,440 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: been on the recruiting board at all. I didn't know 332 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:54,159 Speaker 1: anything about her because I was recruiting men's so the 333 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:56,359 Speaker 1: women's side. Morgan Lee at the time, who was the 334 00:19:56,359 --> 00:19:59,760 Speaker 1: head coach, definitely knew who she was and was shocked 335 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: that even had an opportunity. So he was very fortunate 336 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 1: to have a player of that caliber at this level. 337 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 1: And that two thousand six women's soccer season, Jess recorded 338 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: eighteen goals and tennis sists. She was named the Player 339 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:15,359 Speaker 1: of the Year and a first team All American by 340 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:18,399 Speaker 1: the associations that oversee women soccer at that level, but 341 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:20,760 Speaker 1: they have been on a hot streak of late. It's 342 00:20:20,840 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: just a different team. On the basketball court, Jess received 343 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,000 Speaker 1: various honors and was the top rebounder in the nation 344 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 1: among JUCO players with thirteen point six rebounds per game, 345 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:33,879 Speaker 1: Phoenix walking it up, taking some time off that clock 346 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: shortly game, so to speak. At the time she was 347 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 1: done at Phoenix College, she was the most decorated women's 348 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 1: athlete in the school's history. With talent like that, any 349 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 1: coach would attempted to play Jess as much as possible. 350 00:20:49,119 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: And for a player who only has one gear, the 351 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 1: wear and tear of year round sports for years on 352 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:57,000 Speaker 1: end was bound to add up Phoenix able to hold 353 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: on for the two point win down into Son. When 354 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: I was watching and played basketball, you could see her 355 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: LYMPI and the coach at the time we just player, 356 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: player player. I remember watching her play like why are 357 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 1: we playing her so many minutes? But she led him rebound, 358 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:16,919 Speaker 1: she led him scoring, so we presented a different problem. 359 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: Despite growing knee pain on the basketball court, when Jess 360 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,560 Speaker 1: wasn't practicing with her own teams, she could be found 361 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: practicing with Cameron's men's squad. With the men's team, everyone 362 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: appreciated her because she was talented. If she couldn't compete, 363 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: then she wouldn't be accepted. I don't think as much, 364 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 1: but a lot of her friends are from that team. 365 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 1: She has a the ability to relate to anybody. It's 366 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 1: a unique quality. Jess might have been the most talented 367 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 1: soccer player on campus, men or women, and thanks in 368 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: part to her help at practice, that men's team went 369 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: on to win their county championship. Shot the goal and 370 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 1: Phoenix ties it. The Bears get the goal, but more importantly, 371 00:21:58,119 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: just his time at Phoenix College, it's the very model 372 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:03,160 Speaker 1: of something larger. It was an example of how community 373 00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 1: colleges can provide lifelines to struggling students and acted springboards 374 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: for more significant opportunities. In Jess's heart, that still meant 375 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 1: to vision one soccer in the tar Heel State. Absolutely, 376 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: I needed to get to you and see I knew, 377 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: even at such a young age, I can just throw 378 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:22,200 Speaker 1: it away. And one of the most incredible things that 379 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,800 Speaker 1: I was able to have at Phoenix College was great mentorship. 380 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 1: They were like, this is what you literally have to 381 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:30,680 Speaker 1: do if you want to make it to D one, 382 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 1: and I did it, and it was kind of like 383 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 1: hitting the restart button, you know. And if junior college 384 00:22:38,080 --> 00:22:40,119 Speaker 1: wasn't even an option for me, I probably wouldn't have 385 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:42,680 Speaker 1: made it to D one. In general, I just didn't 386 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 1: see that realistically happening, and so I took advantage of it. 387 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: And that was because of the leadership that I had 388 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:52,399 Speaker 1: on campus. As much as Jess never gave up on 389 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 1: u n C, Dren's never gave up on her. He 390 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:58,159 Speaker 1: kept in touch with her regularly to check on school, 391 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 1: in Jess's home life, and to let her know that 392 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:02,919 Speaker 1: a roster spot would be available for her as soon 393 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:06,640 Speaker 1: as she qualified academically, though Dorn's did have one request. 394 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:09,399 Speaker 1: At the Division one level, the n C Double A 395 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 1: grants players four seasons of eligibility, but the n C 396 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 1: Double A includes seasons played at the community college level, 397 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: like Jess was doing. We only played her in soccer 398 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,400 Speaker 1: one year because we didn't want to lose eligibility at 399 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:26,520 Speaker 1: the n C Double A. Dave Cameron again mainly because 400 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:30,800 Speaker 1: Ants and Dorrence asked us. Ay, we howeverr not play 401 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: the second year, which is very hard for us to do. 402 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:34,800 Speaker 1: If I was a coach, I'd be like, I want 403 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:36,200 Speaker 1: to play her, and you know, I want to win, 404 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 1: but we put her in basketball, so when affect her 405 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:42,919 Speaker 1: eligibility and soccer. In less than two years at Phoenix College, 406 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:47,639 Speaker 1: Jess graduated with honors and an associative arts degree. A 407 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,199 Speaker 1: spot on u n c's roster was waiting, Just as 408 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 1: Dorrence had said it would be, Jess finally had Chapel 409 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:56,159 Speaker 1: Hill in her sights. That was like one of the 410 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,159 Speaker 1: artist times of my life, from junior year all the 411 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 1: way through my soft where you're in junior college, just 412 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 1: four years of me just trying to figure out who 413 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:07,160 Speaker 1: are you, Jess? You know, just like at myself a mayor, 414 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:09,199 Speaker 1: Who the heck are you? What are you doing? What 415 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 1: do you want to do? And I'm a jock at heart. 416 00:24:12,640 --> 00:24:15,359 Speaker 1: I always have been in sports, has always been my life. 417 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 1: And graduate with honors and I was able to transferred 418 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,400 Speaker 1: the University of North Carolina. It's not easy being here either. 419 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:24,680 Speaker 1: I mean it's not like you're handed anything. I mean 420 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: you have to work for everything. Can't run again. We 421 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,640 Speaker 1: can't pick them up, we can't provide him a food card, 422 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: we can't provide them housing we can pay for their 423 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:36,280 Speaker 1: school and books and give them hope. That's pretty much 424 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: all we can do. Justice success still makes him emotional. 425 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 1: We're here because we get to witness miracles like that. 426 00:24:43,840 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 1: I considered a miracle when anyone coming from where she 427 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:50,919 Speaker 1: came from having nothing, I mean nothing is she was homeless. 428 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,679 Speaker 1: I don't know how many times. And uh when she 429 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:58,680 Speaker 1: told me what was going on, I was crying, like, 430 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:04,120 Speaker 1: which was she dealt with? I was just in tears. 431 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: I'm like, how how do you deal with that? We're 432 00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 1: an outlet to help people like Jessica McDonald. We'll be 433 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:24,359 Speaker 1: back after the break. Jess arrived at u n C 434 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:27,680 Speaker 1: early in the two thousand eight soccer season. Not all 435 00:25:27,720 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: of her Phoenix College credits transferred over, making her sophomore 436 00:25:31,119 --> 00:25:34,439 Speaker 1: in Chapel Hill, but that was still in line with 437 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: the three years of soccer eligibility she had remaining. Building 438 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 1: on her grandmother's early influence, just chose African American Studies 439 00:25:41,560 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: as her major. It was my first time I ever 440 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:46,199 Speaker 1: learning about true black history. I feel like that you 441 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 1: learn in school growing up. MLK Malcolm x Rosa Parks. 442 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:54,399 Speaker 1: We get nothing else, Okay, Slavery happened knowing slaves built 443 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: my school. I had no idea what slaves built UNC 444 00:25:56,760 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: until I went there, and it was just such a 445 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:01,400 Speaker 1: beautiful thing to be able to learn a little more 446 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 1: in depth about my history here in the United States. 447 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:14,399 Speaker 1: Jess joined the tar Heels seven games into their two 448 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: thousand eight season. Jess was joining a team that felt 449 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:21,160 Speaker 1: a fire in them, coming off of a rare loss 450 00:26:21,200 --> 00:26:23,119 Speaker 1: the year before in the quarterfinals of the n C 451 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,919 Speaker 1: Double A tournament to Notre Dame, and once she finally 452 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,920 Speaker 1: got her shot, she made the most of it. Despite 453 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:33,639 Speaker 1: missing the first quarter of the season, Jess would finish 454 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:36,399 Speaker 1: that year with five goals, catching up statistically to the 455 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,680 Speaker 1: rest of the team. By season's end, she led the 456 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:43,920 Speaker 1: squad and assists. Soon, the Tar Heels were once again 457 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: on a collision course with Notre Dame in the n 458 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: C Double A championship game. I remember drawing a foul 459 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:53,680 Speaker 1: about twenty yards out from the goal and Casey Gara 460 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 1: just took this quick free kick and ended up scoring, 461 00:26:56,200 --> 00:27:00,280 Speaker 1: and I was like, Yes, things just kind of went 462 00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: upboard from that point on. North Carolina won that game 463 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 1: two to one. Jess was celebrating a national championship at 464 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:12,960 Speaker 1: her dream school. It seemed so far from where she 465 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 1: had started. You know, here is this young woman who 466 00:27:19,000 --> 00:27:22,639 Speaker 1: had some really great challenges in her life before she 467 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 1: got to u n C. Cindy Parlo Cone was an 468 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 1: assistant coach on that two thousand eight u n C team. 469 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 1: You first heard from her in part one of this season. 470 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:38,680 Speaker 1: As a member of that historic US women's national team 471 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: during her college days, when she was known as Cindy Parlow, 472 00:27:42,119 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 1: she won national titles as a tar heel player. Then, 473 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:47,919 Speaker 1: after rising all the way up to play for the 474 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:50,399 Speaker 1: women's national team, she came back to u n C 475 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:54,639 Speaker 1: to begin her coaching career. Perhaps more than anyone in 476 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:58,199 Speaker 1: all of women's soccer today, Carlo Cone represents the intermingling 477 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:02,680 Speaker 1: of elite, amateur, professional, and international women's soccer in the 478 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:06,400 Speaker 1: United States. That two thousand eight season was the first 479 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 1: time Parlocone cross paths with Jess, but it certainly wouldn't 480 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:14,199 Speaker 1: be the last. She was obviously a great player, but 481 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:17,439 Speaker 1: then to see her get there and be one of 482 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:20,680 Speaker 1: the players that reaches out to others to lift others up, 483 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:23,359 Speaker 1: when you know that she's one that has been struggling. 484 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:26,400 Speaker 1: I didn't have the full story at the time, which 485 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:30,359 Speaker 1: makes it even a better story now. Players from that 486 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 1: EURA told us that fitting in with the culture Dorance 487 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 1: fostered on the team it was almost as important as 488 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 1: understanding their assignments on the field. Anson he just creates 489 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:43,160 Speaker 1: this culture where you have to be a good person 490 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 1: or you're not gonna last. He Leah Watt is a 491 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 1: forward for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's 492 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: Soccer League. She played at u n C a few 493 00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:53,200 Speaker 1: years after Jess. We got to know Jess well in 494 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:55,760 Speaker 1: the pro game. We had to read books and we 495 00:28:55,840 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 1: had values that you had to live by, and when 496 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:01,760 Speaker 1: you get to a with someone that went to u 497 00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 1: n C, you just have this connection. And it is 498 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: definitely one of the reasons Jess and I have been 499 00:29:07,360 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 1: so close and have loved playing together. As a tactician, 500 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:15,000 Speaker 1: Dorance has long employed a specific style of play, and 501 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:17,520 Speaker 1: by the start of the two thousand nine season just 502 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 1: fit in perfectly. And you see we have a substitution 503 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 1: pattern because we try to press for ninety minutes, and 504 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,120 Speaker 1: to press for ninety minutes, you've got to be extraordinarily fit. 505 00:29:27,560 --> 00:29:30,760 Speaker 1: We spoke with Dorance on multiple occasions for this podcast. 506 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 1: This time it was over the phone. We would start 507 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 1: Jess because she was certainly one of our best players, 508 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 1: and after about thirty minutes in the first half, we 509 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:43,320 Speaker 1: would supper. Dorrance's scheme is notorious for its defensive pressure. 510 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 1: While three defenders hold a high line, three forwards disrupted plays. 511 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 1: It's been described as like a pass Russian football before 512 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,600 Speaker 1: checking in hockey. Meant to press an opponent in their 513 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 1: space and not give them time to settle. And I 514 00:29:56,400 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 1: have a lot of stories of other players that we 515 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 1: would sell about this one play. She would get so 516 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 1: upset and say I'm not even tired, and my response 517 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:06,560 Speaker 1: to her was exactly In other words, you didn't do 518 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:08,239 Speaker 1: a bloody thing the whole time you are in there, 519 00:30:08,280 --> 00:30:11,760 Speaker 1: which is why we're taking you out. Jess exerted extraordinary 520 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:14,360 Speaker 1: effort in Dorance's scheme, which led to peer out of 521 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:17,720 Speaker 1: cortisone shots for her nagging me pain, but her attitude 522 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 1: never wavered. Momly would supper out. Just would be breathing 523 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:24,800 Speaker 1: so hard it sounded like she was going to have 524 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,160 Speaker 1: a heart attack or an aneurysm, and she would high 525 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:32,240 Speaker 1: five me my coaching staff in the entire bench. This 526 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:40,360 Speaker 1: just doesn't happen in our game. Jess and her grandmother 527 00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,959 Speaker 1: Abby made a habit out of talking before most games, 528 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:46,960 Speaker 1: certainly the big ones. I just told her that never 529 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:52,520 Speaker 1: go up, stay strong, and you guys say, focus on 530 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:56,400 Speaker 1: your steph. Nobody else you know, and ain't gottadn't do it, 531 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: nobody else you know, you can do it, do it, 532 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:04,760 Speaker 1: don't worry about the team. Anybody support him, but don't 533 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:10,480 Speaker 1: let him abody take your joy away. The two thousand 534 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:13,719 Speaker 1: nine tar Heels blew through the regular season, then toppled 535 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 1: Notre Dame again in the n C Double A semifinals. 536 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:19,800 Speaker 1: All that remains was the championship match in the top ranked, 537 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:25,040 Speaker 1: undefeated Stanford. For that clash of Titans, Abby wanted to 538 00:31:25,080 --> 00:31:28,000 Speaker 1: be in the stands, and before that final, Abby would 539 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 1: give her signature pep talk in person. She clearly remembers 540 00:31:31,520 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 1: the pregame conversation she had with her granddaughter and what 541 00:31:35,040 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 1: she said were the perils of an undefeated team getting overconfident. Grandma, 542 00:31:39,600 --> 00:31:42,320 Speaker 1: who you say, don't win the game, as we're gonna 543 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: win the game, step and lost the game. Ain't nobody 544 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 1: gonna beat us? Be dea you hear me and welcome 545 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 1: to College Station Texas. Signed about in just the third 546 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 1: minute of the game, just made an impact. That girl 547 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 1: chased someone down. Kevin mcdone remembers exactly how it happened. 548 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:04,360 Speaker 1: She chick came all the way from the other side 549 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:07,479 Speaker 1: of the field, chased her down, stole the ball, got foul. 550 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 1: Fellow Tar Heel striker Casey A. Gara lined up her 551 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:14,200 Speaker 1: free kick on Stanford's side of midfield. She crossed the 552 00:32:14,200 --> 00:32:17,280 Speaker 1: ball deep into Stanford's penalty box, where Jess split two 553 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 1: defenders and met the ball with her right foot on 554 00:32:19,480 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 1: a dead sprint. The garret play the tar Heels Jessica McDonald, 555 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:32,880 Speaker 1: what's up? Jesse's gold was the only one of the match. 556 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:36,080 Speaker 1: The Tar Heels held on one to nothing, but their 557 00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 1: second straight national title final change seconds the mess girl 558 00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:54,320 Speaker 1: in the third minute the Jesse's There's some players I'm 559 00:32:54,320 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 1: paid to coach. There's some players that coach for free. 560 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:01,280 Speaker 1: And that's a player I would pay to coach. Hands 561 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:04,640 Speaker 1: and durance. Again, I didn't have to do anything for Jess. 562 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 1: She came in fully formed, she came in tough as nails, 563 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:14,720 Speaker 1: and yet somehow she just ended up so positive that 564 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: two thousand nine Championship would be her final game for 565 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:20,840 Speaker 1: the Tar Heels, but that signature toughness would have to 566 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:22,960 Speaker 1: last Jess far beyond her time at U n C, 567 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:27,440 Speaker 1: and on part five of Payback, I end up getting 568 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:31,600 Speaker 1: drafted and within minutes here I am thinking my pro 569 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 1: career is done. When she came to me, I was 570 00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: looking at her, going, Holy cow, we've got an uphill 571 00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 1: battle here in her head. She want to play in 572 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:40,200 Speaker 1: the World Cup. If I was going to bet on it, 573 00:33:40,400 --> 00:33:42,480 Speaker 1: I wouldn't bet on it. I was going to tell 574 00:33:42,520 --> 00:33:44,959 Speaker 1: her that it's not uncommon to come back, but it's 575 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:47,560 Speaker 1: uncommon to come back as good or better than your world. 576 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:52,280 Speaker 1: It absolutely does seem plausible that pregnancy could help the 577 00:33:52,640 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: healing process. I'm Alexandrea. Payback is a production of The 578 00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 1: Charlotte Observer, Raleigh News, An Observer, McClatchy Studios, and I 579 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:06,040 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. It's produced by Cotta Stevens, Casey Toth, Julia Wall, 580 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:10,160 Speaker 1: and Davin Cockburn. The executive producer for iHeart Radio is 581 00:34:10,160 --> 00:34:13,320 Speaker 1: Shawn ty Tone. For lots more on this story and 582 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:16,600 Speaker 1: to support journalism like this, visit Charlotte observer dot com 583 00:34:16,760 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 1: slash payback or news observer dot com slash payback. And 584 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:25,360 Speaker 1: for more podcasts for My heart Radio, visit the i 585 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:29,120 Speaker 1: heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 586 00:34:29,160 --> 00:34:29,920 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.