Toni Gockel joined the C-USA staff in August and is working in the Marketing Department. But she doesn't just stop there! She helps out in all areas here at C-USA, and we appreciate her hard work and enthusiasm! She is a former UAB Soccer player and gives us her insight from a student-athlete's perspective. C-USA conference play opens up tonight so be sure to check out and support C-USA soccer! Here is her post:

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Greetings Conference USA lovers and internet surfers! I'm kind of new to this blog thing, so take it easy on me!  I was asked to do a blog about my life as a student-athlete in C-USA, and now staff. My name is Toni Gockel and as previously hinted, I am one of the interns here at C-USA. I work alongside the fabulous staff of the marketing department, particularly Kelly Carney. I arrived here, in Dallas, Texas, at the beginning of August from Birmingham, Ala.  And let me tell you, it was HOT here. Not hot like 90 degrees where you could still manage to exit air-condition and be okay...No, hot like 109 degrees to the point where metal was melting.  Oh well, enough about weather chit chat. Let me tell you a little about me and C-USA!

I was a former C-USA soccer athlete that competed with the UAB Blazers from 2006-2009ish. I say "ish" because I was still eligible to play in the Spring of 2010, but our season is a Fall sport, therefore spring matches were more or less for new players to get confidence playing in game experiences.  Being part of a collegiate team is like being part of a family. You have your ups and downs, but at the end of the day everyone is family and we love each other.  You do everything with your teammates. Traveling, practicing, eating, class, study hall, living together, going out, exploring....you get the picture. And yes, we actually went to study hall (believe it or not). There were fights, there were smiles, there were tears and there were hugs. It was definitely part of my life that I wouldn't trade for anything. Before I go on, I have to give my UAB teammates a shout-out for being the 2006 C-USA champions! I have a ring to prove it Look!

After soccer life was over, I took some time to be a "normal" student for my last year at school. It was bizarre not having to wake up at 5:45 a.m. for practice or conditioning anymore.  Some days I would wake up and feel guilty, as if I was skipping...but I wasn't. It took some serious time before I finally got out of the swing of being a competitive athlete.  But those first few weeks felt so free and wonderful. Your body isn't sore, you can actually sleep until 8 a.m., no more training room visits between classes, and no more fitness tests! Life was grand, but then after the high of feeling free and independent wears off, it hits you like a brick in the face.  I truly missed being part of a team and doing what I love to do every day. I would trade soreness and lack of sleep all over again for my soccer family. True friendships were made to last a lifetime. It was a bittersweet goodbye to a great chapter in my life.

Now it was time for the real world! I knew I always wanted to be surrounded by the athletic world one way or another. I began my college career thinking I was going to become a physical therapist, boy was I wrong. I began being very fascinated in the intricate workings of what goes on inside sports operations. It all looked so magnificent and well put together. As a student-athlete, you don't always appreciate what staff members do to bring a game or tournament to life. I decided to take the opportunity of doing an internship with the UAB athletic marketing department before I faced the work force. It was exhausting yet exciting! I finally knew what really needed to be done just for a single event to take place. Cameras needed to be up, promotions needed to be set, production trucks had to be ready, and the script needed to be finalized! It is a full-time job and most gets unnoticed by the student- athletes. I can take blame; I was one of those unaware until this opportunity opened my eyes.

So, after finishing up at UAB, I was lucky enough to keep my passion alive by an internship offer here at C-USA!

It's pretty awesome getting to work for the conference that supported me for four years.  The life of a C-USA intern has some nice perks. I get a chance to see what all it takes for a major athletics conference to succeed.  It's pretty sweet to now be on the other side of the playing field. I no longer battle on the field, but now I compete for all of our student-athletes off the field here within C-USA.  I somehow still feel a relationship with all those athletes, like I am one of them. This is a perfect way to still stay connected.

Every day for me so far has been different. One day I might be on the phone and writing e-mails to our member schools and the next day I might be meeting coaches, players, or other important people that deal with our sponsorships and television deals. I basically assist whoever may need a helping hand at that particular time. As an intern, I get to experience bits and pieces of everyone's line of work.  I'm grateful to have the opportunity to learn from so many great people and watch them do what they do best. Since I just began working at the beginning of August, I have not seen the full picture nor made any trips yet.  However, I will travel to the football championship site (TBA) and the Men's basketball tournament in Memphis, TN. I look forward to experiencing a whirlwind of events.

There is a lot of work and effort that goes on around here that keeps Conference USA productive and well established. So keep cheering for your favorite team and keep supporting Conference USA! Oh, and all of you student athletes out there reading this...keep up those grades, because nobody likes a dummy! :)

Sadly,the time has come for me to say good-bye for now. Thank you all for reading my thoughts and expressions on the transition of being a student-athlete to a working gal. If any of you ever have any questions, comments, funny jokes, concerns, etc. feel free to drop me a line.

As much I as love football, I also love fashion.  When choosing a career path, sports journalism got the edge but the creative bug managed to manifest itself in other ways.  So being the artistic type, it's not surprising that when I am watching or attending an athletic event, my eye is drawn not only to the action on the field, but the details surrounding it - including signage, advertisements, souvenirs, the video board and  what the teams are wearing.

It's no surprise then that September is a month I look forward to every year - fashion week, football kickoff and the thickest editions of the fashion and beauty magazines detailing all the trends of the season.  While the X's and O's are still the most important part of the game, there is a definite interest in who and what teams are wearing on the "green carpet" as evidenced by a few national sports blogs dedicated strictly to covering uniforms.  With fashion, you are making a statement and with continued emphasis on promotion and branding across college athletic programs, the football uniform is an opportunity to create buzz - public relations speak for publicity.  Last week's debut of Maryland's custom look generated as much watercooler talk as Lady Gaga's meat dress at the MTV music video awards.

Current trends of the football uniform include an emphasis on fit and fabric relative to sports performance and safety.  Popular uniform manufacturers like Nike, Under Armour and adidas feature cutting edge designs with improved ergonomics, ventilation, fabric weight, streamlined pads and increased protection.  Custom design also incorporate team colors with distinctive striping and accents, numbers and color combinations.  The standard home and away uniforms have been enhanced with different pant and jersey combinations, along with specialty uniforms such as throwbacks, single-game custom designs, commemorative jerseys and helmets.  Trendsetter Oregon boasts a Kardashian-sized closet when it comes to its uniform arsenal, with more than 80 different combinations for uniform choices.

To prepare for game day each team has its own equivalent of Rachel Zoe  - the equipment manager.  This group is one of the hardest working in college football and in preparing to write this blog, I chatted with each one of them about all things uniform in Conference USA. 

Football uniforms among Conference USA teams are primarily traditional - much like your favorite pair of Levis jeans - clean cut and classic - think Ralph Lauren or Tommy Hilfiger.  The head coach is the primary decision maker when it comes to the uniform style and design, but several favor input from the equipment managers and the players.  Nike is the uniform manufacturer for 11 of the C-USA teams (adidas outfits SMU) and the traits of those companies can be seen in the current attire.

New coaches and wear and tear are the main reasons for a uniform change, but sometimes the players or a logo change may inspire it.  East Carolina recently debuted new helmets featuring the pirate skull and crossbones mark which has become a popular favorite in Greenville.  The Pirates also upgraded their jerseys to the Nike Pro Combat material that has received positive player feedback due to its fit and feel.  Memphis also upgraded to the new Nike material when it introduced new uniforms this year, along with a slight color adjustment to the blue/gray home sets.  Memphis was added as a vertical accent to the pants.  UTEP made several changes to their Nike uniforms this year, including material, streamlining color, upgrading to twill letters and numbers and incorporating "MINERS" down the side of the pants.  SMU is also enjoying a new seamless tech fit jersey, produced by adidas, as well as a few tweaks to the pony on the helmet.

Houston is one of the only teams in the league to wear throwback jerseys and helmets this season reminiscent of the Yeoman era.  The jersey also features an arched chest insignia.  The throwbacks celebrate the history of UH football for the 2011 homecoming celebration in October.

Tulane changed the face masks of its white helmets from black to green.  Southern Miss added a new helmet this year,  black with a matte finish, which is another look that is popping up on the field.  The Golden Eagles are mixing it up by wearing a new helmet decal every three games.  The decal designs are top secret until revealed the week before they will be worn.

Helmet decals are a great way to keep the uniforms traditional, but incorporate a custom touch for a special occasion.  Rice and Tulsa made a patriotic statements with red, white and blue American flag inspired versions of their logos on the helmets.  Rice will also add a pink script "R" for breast cancer awareness in October. 

Tulsa and UCF keep their equipment stylists very busy as they may have the most uniform combinations in the league.  The Knights feature straightforward uni sets in black, gold and white and to keep things running smooth, a game day look has already been assigned for each game on the schedule this year.   The Golden Hurricane, whose blue jersey/gold pants/gold helmet uniforms look stunning on HD TV, have a designated group of players who decide the uniform look for each game.  Be on the lookout for a new helmet Tulsa has under wraps, designed by the equipment manager himself. 

If you are tuning in to a college football game or the Oscars, you could be asking yourself, "What are they wearing?"  Fashion has turned the 50-yard line into a runway of sorts, an opportunity for athletic programs to make their own style statement.  For this football fan and fashionista, I can't wait to see what's next.

There's nothing like gameday. If your team is playing at home, you've got your friends and family tailgating outside the stadium with you, your marching band playing that same familiar fight song you just happen to know all the words to and you've got everyone in the city wearing the same color. (Total fashion faux pas to walk in somewhere and have someone else wearing the same thing as you! But game day is where we let it slide...)

As I've traveled to all of the schools and into the heart of their home cities, it's always so wonderful to be greeted by the fans. They have such passion for their programs, and where I am equally a fan of every C-USA school, I can't help but smile, nod, and listen to what is in someone's heart as they talk about their school.

 I was once and am still a very big fan of my alma mater, but now it's grown to appreciating everyone who cheers for their school and athletic program---because I can empathize when that OT game results in a loss, or can be on cloud nine when that game results in victory after a last-minute play. Afterall, we all have a heart and passion and we all appreciate what fans bring to the game... except of course if it's that day's opponent.

Darren Clark, Marshall Almnus and Thundering Herd fan for life.

There are moments that are permanently etched in our minds - associated with a special thought, feeling, maybe a person or a song.  And they are private.  Then there are moments that define history, reshape lives and become a common thread of people that may never have had a reason to know of each other.  And those moments are not always private, but shared, to provide remembrance, healing and hope.

September 11, 2001 was a day filled with moments of images, thoughts and emotions that will always seem fresh, almost surreal.  It was a day that you will always remember where you were and what you were doing in those moments when you first heard the news of the terror attacks, and how those moments of tragedy, horror and heroism left their mark.

On the 10th anniversary of September 11, Conference USA staff reflected on those moments:

Britton Banowsky, Commissioner

I was on staff at the Big 12 Conference on September 11, 2001. Kevin Weiberg and I were on a Board of Directors teleconference when our chair suggested that something was going on in New York City and that we should all turn on our television sets as the images were astounding.

On Labor Day, 10 years ago, my wife Cindy and I were with our kids in New York City and we spent a couple of hours in the World Trade Center, going up to the observation deck. The very next week, I remember my feeble effort at explaining to our youngest son, who was seven at the time, what had happened to those buildings and the people in them. The visual images he saw were horrific.  I simply could not explain the situation.

The whole idea that a group of human beings could be so passionate about their religious beliefs that they would purposefully kill thousands of other humans, while these evil acts are not uncommon throughout history, they remain inexplicable. Certainly, it shaped our futures like nothing else in my generation's lifetime has. Not only the public and foreign policy of our country has been affected, but it made a deep and lasting impact on the attitudes of its people.

We will forever remember that day and pray there will never be another one like it.

Alfred White, Associate Commissioner

I was working in Asheville, North Carolina for the NBA as President of the Asheville Altitude of the National Basketball Development League (NBDL). The 2001-02 season was the inaugural year of the NBDL and much time was spent on the telephone with the NBA offices in Manhattan. I just happened to be on the telephone with the league office when the first plane crashed into the first World Trade Center building. The sound was so loud that the person I was talking with said they had to hang-up to go find out what it was. We had a television in our offices and programming was interrupted immediately. People in the office quickly congregated to the television and about the time I got to it, the second plane was crashing into the second World Trade Center building. In the days that followed the crashes of the airplanes and the names of the passengers began to be revealed, I learned that one of the passengers on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon was Barbara Olson, the older sister of a high school classmate of mine. In the weeks following the crashes, the telephone meetings with people at the NBA offices resumed and many times I was informed that Funerals for New York City first responders were taking place at Churches (Saint Thomas, St. Bartholomew's and Saint Patrick's) nearby the NBA offices.

Kelly Carney, Associate Commissioner

Just thinking about 9/11 puts me right back in my car...which is exactly where I was when I heard of the first plane crashing into the Twin Tower.  I was headed to work and was on the Dallas Parkway getting ready to u-turn to the other side to get to my office.  I was listening to The Ticket and they had just started to talk about what they were seeing on the TV from in their studio.  I remember them being confused and trying to explain it as if it was a random, yet major, airplane accident.  I immediately called my husband Drue who was at home.  He was already watching the TV and was my eyes and ears for the entire day.  We had a TV at the office - but it was for watching VHS tapes as we didn't have it connected to cable or satellite.  Through the rabbit ears we were able to get a bad black and white picture, but the audio was in Spanish and I did not understand a word.  Drue taped two networks on two of our TVs that day, so I was able to re-watch everything when I got home that night. I was in a daze all day at work, but can remember being very emotional that night, when I could finally hear the commentary and interviews from the various people affected that day.  My Dad is from NY and having gone to school on the East Coast, I have quite a few friends from NY.  So I knew people that lost people and it was just heartbreaking. I just can't believe 10 years has past...it sure seems like just yesterday to me.

Russell Anderson, Assistant Commissioner

When 9/11 occurred, I was working at Conference USA when its offices were in downtown Chicago on Wacker Drive, about six blocks from the Sears Tower.  Early that morning, several of us had gathered in the Commissioner's office to watch the news coverage and we saw the second plane fly into the World Trade Center.  As we continued to watch and saw that there were other planes in peril in the Eastern United States, our thoughts turned to wondering if Chicago and the Sears Tower were among the potential terrorist targets on that day.  Thankfully, they were not.  But, it was certainly an uncomfortable location to be in during the morning hours of that horrific day. 

The other thing that stands out to me about that day and the following days was the feeling that hung over our entire country.  A feeling of shock, sadness, despair and disbelief.  A feeling that contained some anger, as well.  But, a feeling eventually evolved into resiliency and renewed patriotism.

 Courtney Morrison Archer, Assistant Commissioner

It is hard to believe 10 years has passed since Sept. 11. That fall, I was pregnant with my first child and working for the Orange Bowl Committee. Normally I was at my Miami office early, but that morning there had been a planning meeting scheduled at the stadium near our home.

My husband and I were watching the Today Show when they broke into coverage that a plane had slammed into one of the World Trade Centers. Just when we thought it was a horrible accident the second plane slammed into the South Tower. It was all so difficult to comprehend and my first thought was to leave for the meeting. The car radio had news about the Pentagon and when I arrived at the stadium lobby, we watched in horror as the Towers collapsed.

A few days later we stood in front of a neighbor's house with candles to commemorate those who died. Everybody on our street did the same thing. It was as quiet a night as we can ever remember. However, it did bring us closer to the neighbors we already knew and introduced us to many we didn't. As our family would be growing, I realized the importance in appreciating those around you.

I knew the world my daughter would enter would be entirely different than the one I knew before Sept. 11. I hope she never has to experience a time like that, but is always thankful to the heroes of that day and that she could come across any day. 

Keisha Dunlap, Assistant Commissioner

On September 11, 2001, I was interning at Loyola College in Maryland (Baltimore).  It was my first time truly being "away" from home and I had plans to fly home that weekend for a family wedding.  It was terrifying being so close to Washington DC. Loyola was shut down for a couple days, the World Trade Center in Baltimore was on alert; it was a very scary time.  I remember being completely consumed with the news coverage surrounding the event and having nightmares of the images of people falling and jumping from the twin towers.  Ten years later, my heart continues to ache for all the families affected by the attack.

Erika Amstadt Hirschfield, Coordinator of Multimedia/Creative Services

For me it was just a regular work at home day and my daughter's first day of preschool.  My home office at the time was a corner in our family room, but I never had the TV on while I was working.  I was focused on a deadline for the Conference USA basketball guide - specifically ad copy that we needed from our corporate partner - Aeropsotale - whose office was in downtown New York City.  I remember talking to my colleague Pete Rhoda, who was at the league office in downtown Chicago.  Something he said made me turn on the TV.  There was the second WTC tower falling.  I mistakenly thought it was a replay of the first one.  The TV stayed on for the entire day.  A few hours later I got a call from the person I was working with about the ad copy from Aeropostale in New York.  At this point, the ad copy deadline seemed so insignificant and I asked this person, who was essentially a stranger, "Where are you?  Is everyone in your office okay?  What is going on? Don't even worry about this ad right now."  All he could say in a calm steady voice was that working was the only thing he could do to keep some normalcy to the day, especially because he didn't realize what was happening and work was the safest place to be at that time.

I know I made and received many more phone calls that day - to my family, friends, co-workers and my daughter's school - but I honestly can't remember those conversations.  What I remember most is the few short minutes on the phone with a relative stranger working in a building in downtown New York who was grasping for "normal" among the turmoil.  And sadly realizing that day there was an entire nation hopeful for the same.

Monay Lyles, Director of Events

Reflecting back to the morning of September 11, 2001 can be extremely difficult for people.  Everyone I've spoken to regarding that historic day will never forget where they were when they heard about the horrible news.  That morning I had the NBC Today Show on in my bedroom as I got ready for work.  I heard Katie Couric and Matt Lauer saying something about one of the Twin Towers in NYC being hit by a plane so I walked towards my bedroom to see the breaking news.  Standing in my bedroom doorway I watched as the second plane hit the South Twin Tower.  Immediately a sense of denial hit me.  Was America really under attack?  Was this actually happening to our country?  Watching the towers crumble to the ground was heart wrenching.  No one would have ever thought the Twin Towers could or would fall.  I felt many emotions that day but most of all there was a pain in my stomach knowing so many lives were lost and my heart went out to all those victims and their families.  Seeing videos and pictures from that day reminds me to live for today and not for tomorrow.   

Debbie Davis, Associate Director of Media Relations

Even though I didn't have a family member or loved one killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001, my life changed. I no longer feel 100 percent safe in my country. When I'm at airports, sporting events and even the local grocery stores my mind wonders about the people around me and who they really are - could they hurt our homeland? Even with those insecurities, the greatest thing I gained from the attacks of 9/11 was my true aspiration for our service men and women. I now see them in a totally different light. Our first responders, along with our soldiers, are our true heroes. I now realize and appreciate the fact that they risk their lives on a daily bases for people they don't even know. The 9/11 terrorist attack put fear into my soul but it also opened my eyes to the kindness, love and compassion Americans have for each other. God Bless America!

Kelly Ninemire, Sports Services & Officiating Assistant

September 11^th was a day that I will always remember very well because of the impact it had on our country. I was sitting in my AP English class and our principal came over the loud speaker to inform us of this horrible tragedy. Our teacher immediately turned on the television to watch the news reports of what was going on. One of the fathers of a student in my class was in New York for business and in that moment that we found out, our attention immediately went to comforting her. I remember my heart breaking for her because I couldn't imagine the thoughts or feelings she was having. I will never forget the sense of togetherness that came over that entire room and school. I immediately wanted to be at home with my family because it was such a scary feeling and time. I remembering watching hours of footage on TV and just when we thought the worst thing that could happen had, another plane hit the other tower. I didn't want to go to school or be anywhere other than home because I was fearful of the events that could potentially happen. That day affected so many lives and 10 years later, it is still one that I can vividly remember.

Toni Gockel, Marketing Intern

Wow, has it really been 10 years already? That heart retched moment was like nothing I have ever experienced before.  I was in my 8^th grade social studies class with Coach Clay giving out our pointless worksheets for the day. You remember those worksheets for busy work, right?  The ones that just filled up time for coach to read his ESPN magazine or draw up football plays for the big game that week.  He took a break from teaching while we had to search through hundreds of vocabulary words and chapters to find one word answers.  I flipped through the book to find the answer to question 1, and then it all happened. The announcement came over the intercom ... everyone stood silent. We turned the T.V. on and it was like a scene from the movie Independence Day. Some class mates were crying others in complete disbelief. We were all so young we did not know what to make of it. After the entire incident had happened, the school released us to go home to be with our families.

 I personally did not have any family members or close friends that were directly affected by the attack, but it hit everyone extremely hard...one way or another. For the next couple days I began understanding what detrimental impact this had on our nation.  My heart goes out to all families that lost their hero that day. Our country stood strong through such a tragedy. Thank you to all of our first responders and military that dedicate their lives to protect our country. That was definitely a day that I will never forget.