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Looking at West Virginia's 10th-ranked women's basketball team today, it's hard to imagine there was a time when the program's mere survival was unsure.
However, according to WVU's first head coach Kittie Blakemore, it was hard to imagine the program having the success it enjoys today when she thinks back on the first days of its existence.
"We certainly hoped the program would grow," Blakemore said. "We could have started in either the physical education department or the athletic department. We were hoping that the athletic department would take us over. Then we would be able to survive."
When Title IX was implemented in 1972, women's basketball was brought into the athletic department, ensuring more funding and the program's longevity.
"I feel a lot of pride in that I did start the program, and they were successful," Blakemore said.
Along with gymnastics and women's tennis, WVU women's basketball began a slow progression toward national prominence.
During her 20-year coaching stint at West Virginia, Blakemore compiled a career record of 301-214 in 19 seasons, including the 1989 Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Championship, the 1992 regular season A-10 Title and NCAA Tournament berths in 1989 and 1992.
Over her career, she saw plenty of progress in the women's game and the quality of WVU's program.
During tryouts for the 1974 team, there were some girls who had never played the game before. However, WVU transitioned quickly from a struggling upstart to a respectable program.
Only 10 years later in 1984, former 6-foot-7 center Georgeann Wells became the first woman to dunk in an official college game.
According to Blakemore, the progression of the women's game has done nothing but speed up since her retirement in 1992.
"They are always getting stronger, faster, bigger and taller," Blakemore said.
There has also been a rise in the amount of instruction and conditioning players receive, she said.
"Particularly women's basketball was not as big in high schools across the country," Blakemore said. "Today, there are much better camps and better instruction."
In the early days of the program, Blakemore barely had enough money to recruit players from surrounding states. Today, WVU has recruited players from across the country and internationally.
Blakemore points to the increased resources as one of the keys to the success of today's team.
"There has been a tremendous change in the way athletic departments everywhere approach and fund women's sports," Blakemore said. "They didn't used to think women's sports could be a draw."
Since her retirement from the athletic department in 1997, Blakemore has moved back to her hometown of Manassas, Va., but still remains associated with West Virginia University. She has been back to Morgantown often since her WVU Hall of Fame induction in 2003, and occasionally talks with current head coach Mike Carey and others close to the women's basketball program.
"I'm going to watch the men's and the women's NCAA Tournament," she said.
"I come to as many games as I can. I've never lost my interest in WVU or basketball or any of the other sports. I watch whatever is on."
Outside of her Virginia home, Blakemore flies a WVU flag, and she can often be seen around in West Virginia T-shirts and sweats.
Proud of what she began, she hopes for more success from her former team.
"I'm really happy that the team is winning, and I'm happy with the job Mike is doing," she said. "I hope they keep winning."
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