Memphis Roar

Doneal Mack came to the University of Memphis under a crazy set of circumstances. One of the country’s top 50 players in the 2006 class, Mack was originally slated to head to the University of Florida under Billy Donovan. Some say they parted ways because the Gators decided to go another direction and some say it was grades. Either way, former head coach John Calipari was more than happy to swoop him up as part of his incoming recruiting class. The then 6′5″ 170-pound guard was set to join Willie Kemp, Pierre Henderson-Niles, Trevon Willis, Hashim Bailey and transfer Shawn Taggart.

The first two to go were Trevon Willis and Hashim Bailey. Next up was the coach that recruited him, John Calipari, followed by Shawn Taggart. Finally, Henderson-Niles recently parted ways with the program leaving behind only Mack and Willie Kemp.

“We call ourselves the last of a dying breed. We’re the last two of the seniors,” Mack said. “Things happen for a reason, but it’s good because I’ve still got Willie by my side.”

And that is the moral of this story. Some people may come and go, but there will always be those that are by your side no matter how many valleys you go through together. Those people that just stick around. Highs and lows, Willie Kemp and Doneal Mack have gone through their journey as student athletes at the University of Memphis together. They have given countless hours, had their lives put into the court of public opinion and bled blood for the sake of the Memphis program; blood that now, after four years, runs Tiger blue.

“This program has done wonders for me. I’ve given blood, sweat and tears back to the program, so this is going to be an emotional day…My blood is blue. I overcame a lot of adversity,” reflected Mack. “I think about how Cal used to treat us and us being sad and arguing. It’s good that I’ve overcome all of those adversities and I can stand here today and say, ‘I have no regrets.’ ”

Two seasons ago, Mack almost made a decision that would not only have changed the color of his metaphorical blood but also would have lengthened that list of regrets. Frustrated by playing time and his role on the team, Mack transferred out of Memphis for a week to the University of New Orleans. Mack’s father told Sporting News that the family was “not getting the positive feedback” they expected from the coaches and that transferring seemed the prudent option. Mack, though, realized right away that he had made a mistake.

“When I was down there, it didn’t feel right. It felt like I was leaving my heart still in Memphis,” Mack said. “Once I realized that, I felt I made a big mistake.”

Now two years later, Mack reflected on those events saying, “During that two week period, that was really my lowest point. It’s different when you go from one program to another and you see that it’s not the same; that you don’t have a whole city behind you. You don’t have a fan-base behind you. You don’t have a program that cares for you as much as the Tiger program. For me to overcome that and get back, my only objective was to fight for playing time. For me to be a senior now, playing a big role in this program and this team, it’s a big accomplishment.”

So, Mack returned and will now be remembered not for his abrupt transfer but for his desire to weather the storm despite the hardships. Mack could have stuck with a bad decision. He didn’t. Mack could have left or thrown in the towel when Calipari left. He didn’t. Mack could have spent time back in his hometown with friends and family this past summer instead of staying in Memphis getting to know a new staff and a few new teammates. He didn’t.

“I knew I had to do whatever it takes. I stayed here the whole summer,” said Mack. “It’s crazy. Ten months ago we didn’t know where we were going to be. To me, we persevered. No one saw us being second in the conference and 22-8. To me, I think we made the best of the situation.

Mack stuck around. He persevered yet again. Apparently that is Doneal Mack’s thing.