University of Minnesota Athletics
Best Friends: Freshman Guard Ryan Saunders
12/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Most people have one of these friends in their lives, and Ryan Saunders was lucky enough to have his best friend by his side since the day he was born. His father, Phil "Flip" Saunders is his best friend. He looks up to him as a father, but also as a friend he can go to for anything.
Ryan and Flip have grown even closer over the years. Flip has strong ties to the University of Minnesota and now that his son is a freshman on the Golden Gopher basketball team, his connection grows stronger. He was a Golden Gopher basketball player from 1974-77. As a senior, he teamed with Kevin McHale, now the Timberwolves' vice president of basketball operations, to lead the Gophers to an all-time school-best 24-3 record. During his career as a Gopher he started in 101 of 103 games, was a three-time letterwinner and ranked seventh for all-time career assists. Flip was also a Minnesota assistant coach to Jim Dutcher from 1981-86. Currently, Flip is in his ninth season as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves and recently led them to the NBA Western Conference Finals. From the day that Ryan was brought home from the hospital, the signs of maroon and gold in his future were quite evident. It was April of 1986. Jim Dutcher had just retired and Clem Haskins became head coach. Flip was on a recruiting trip in Buffalo when Debbie Saunders went into labor. Soon after Flip arrived home, Ryan was born. "We brought Ryan to my office at the U where I had one of those mini Minnesota basketball hoops," Flip explained. "I held him up to get a picture and he grabbed the rim of the gopher hoop." Flip wanted to make sure that his son's direction in life was not forced, but assisted with guidance and understanding. "I did not expect him to go to the University of Minnesota. It was his choice and I told him I would be supportive."
From an outsider's perspective, it is easy to assume that Ryan came to Minnesota to follow in his father's footsteps. However, in Ryan's situation, that was not the case. Ryan's decision was his alone. Since he was a kid, he would come to campus with his parents and hear stories about their days at the `U.' Flip and Debbie met while they were at the U and have special memories form their college years.
"My parents made it very clear that it was my choice to come to Minnesota," Ryan explained. "I knew that coming to the U was the best thing for me. I wanted to stay relatively close to home and the coaches were so welcoming. They made me feel like I was one of the guys even though I was not on a scholarship."
Walking on to a Division I basketball team is not an easy task and Ryan was well aware of the battle ahead of him. However, he is no stranger to fighting through tough times. In high school he had to deal with the pressure of being the son of an NBA coach. Every gym Ryan entered he got harassed because of the high expectations placed upon him. "It is always tough to follow the same path as someone in your family as well as trying to battle the pressures of being a coach's son, it makes Ryan extremely visible," Flip expressed. "That is a lot of pressure to live up to. I told him the pressure will only increase. He has to deal with a lot more than I ever faced."
Ryan was aware of the disadvantages and advantages of going to the U and he decided the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. "His ambitions are to get into coaching," Flip said. "He envisioned that playing at a big school would help facilitate that career. When he went to visit, we thought he went to see the campus and when he came back he said `I committed to Minnesota.' Debbie and I were surprised, but I knew in his heart he wanted to be a Gopher. My wife was on the dance line at the U and I played, so there are a lot of connections."
Being able to share a common bond with your son or father is something very unique. It is so special because is allows memories to be passed on and relived through another generation. Flip and Ryan's bond developed early as Flip, Debbie, and Ryan traveled around while he coached in the CBA.
"The first seven years of Ryan's life we spent moving around while I coached in the CBA," Flip explained. "We lived in six different houses and five different cities. I think when you are young like that and moving so much your family becomes your anchor, you rely on each other and don't have a chance to lock into other friends."
After Ryan committed to the U, his father would tell him he would realize all his hard work was worth it when he ran up the steps to Williams Arena floor for the first time. "I was like, `yeah right dad,' but the first game I ran up those steps, heard the Rouser, looked around and realized he was exactly right. It was a feeling I will never forget," Ryan confessed. Flip could not be more proud of his son. He is honored Ryan is attending such a great institution and can experience playing basketball. "I have always said there is no greater place to play a college game then Williams Arena," Flip stated. "I would get there early and smell the popcorn. They have fans that have been there for fifty years and you see the same faces at every game. There is a great amount of loyalty and tradition and Ryan is lucky to be a part of that."
The University of Minnesota is the only Division I school in the state and to be on that roster is a great accomplishment. "It is an honor for me to have worn the maroon and gold and I fell obligated to live up to that," Flip stated.
Ryan agrees and as a newcomer on the team, he understands his role. "My role is to answer when called upon," Ryan responded. "I accept that and work hard every day." Flip is a firm believer that as a freshman, you cannot go anywhere with any expectations. You arrive with the idea of learning, improving and adjusting and whatever happens, happens. If you focus on that and work hard then that opportunity may come down the road.
Growing up in a home where there is so much attention centered on the game of basketball, it was inevitable for Ryan to fall in love with the game. He was fortunate to be surrounded by the knowledge and wisdom that helped him learn so much. "Ryan is extremely analytical," Flip explained. "He has a very good balance of the game and understands the responsibility you have as a player to your coach. Whether it is in college or the pros, what you do off the court has a huge bearing on the coach and his livelihood." Flip believes that Ryan understands that better then anyone.
"I try and stay upbeat and take it all in stride," Ryan said. "My dad had always stressed the importance of listening, understanding and respect, and I focus on that."
Having a coach as a father has both its positive and negative sides and Ryan has learned that throughout his life. "My dad is hard on me at times, but when we are done playing basketball he is just dad again," Ryan commented. "As a coach you always are telling athletes what they are doing wrong and what they can do better," Flip said. "I try and put on the other hat a little bit with Ryan and be more supportive."
The fatherly advice that every son receives is something every young man needs to accept. Over time, Ryan has realized he can benefit from his dad's experience and knowledge. "My main advice to Ryan and to my players it this: Play with passion and have fun doing it," Flip said. "You have to listen to the coaches. Lastly, and most importantly, you have an obligation to the U, or whomever you are playing for, to yourself, your family, the student body, administration, and the coach to act professionally both on the court and off the court. To have people around you be proud to say that you are apart of that program." Going to college is an unforgettable experience that is over before you know it. There are days you cannot get back and Flip and Debbie have encouraged Ryan to work hard, but enjoy his days as a Golden Gopher just as they did.
"The University of Minnesota is a special place, and it is not all about basketball," Flip commented. "It is about the environment and people around you. To this day, whenever we are on campus Debbie and I bring Ryan and the girls to Campus Pizza. It is places like that, Vescio's, and the Big Ten that you remember most. Or walking up frat row to Memorial Stadium for a football game. I want Ryan to cherish moments like that, because that is what you remember."
The Saunders' are a close knit family and they are there for each other whether it is going to a Gopher game, a Timberwolves game or watching one of the girls dance. Flip and Debbie put their kids first and Ryan feels fortunate to have amazing parents. "My dad is my best friend. I talk to him everyday no matter where we are," Ryan explained. "We try and have lunch or dinner once a week. My mom is my strength and she helped me get through a lot in high school. She has done so much and I look up to her."
Ryan's experience as a Gopher thus far has been wonderful and rewarding. He has enjoyed every minute of it and he cannot imagine being anywhere else. "I have loved it and I look forward to everything ahead," Ryan said. "It has been a transition, but all freshmen go through that. I have had to make changes and adjust to balance everything. But it is worth it."
To this day, Flip recalls the first time he ran onto Williams Arena floor and hearing the Rouser. This memory is now cherished by his son. These are moments in life that some people never get the opportunity to experience. There are moments that are unexplainable and only those that live them can relate. Ryan has his best friend, his father, to share those feelings and emotions with. Ryan will make his own memories and have his own experiences, just as his dad did. But there will be some very special moments they can share and remember together, as father and son, and best friends.
story by Jessica Fleischmann, athletics development assistant Throughout life there are people you meet and relationships formed. Best friends are made and a unique bond develops. These friends are always there for you, regardless of where you go, they are by your side and supporting you every step of the way. When you are happy, they are ecstatic. When you are sad, they hurt as well. When you are going through a difficult time, they look for the answers.
Most people have one of these friends in their lives, and Ryan Saunders was lucky enough to have his best friend by his side since the day he was born. His father, Phil "Flip" Saunders is his best friend. He looks up to him as a father, but also as a friend he can go to for anything.
Ryan and Flip have grown even closer over the years. Flip has strong ties to the University of Minnesota and now that his son is a freshman on the Golden Gopher basketball team, his connection grows stronger. He was a Golden Gopher basketball player from 1974-77. As a senior, he teamed with Kevin McHale, now the Timberwolves' vice president of basketball operations, to lead the Gophers to an all-time school-best 24-3 record. During his career as a Gopher he started in 101 of 103 games, was a three-time letterwinner and ranked seventh for all-time career assists. Flip was also a Minnesota assistant coach to Jim Dutcher from 1981-86. Currently, Flip is in his ninth season as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves and recently led them to the NBA Western Conference Finals. From the day that Ryan was brought home from the hospital, the signs of maroon and gold in his future were quite evident. It was April of 1986. Jim Dutcher had just retired and Clem Haskins became head coach. Flip was on a recruiting trip in Buffalo when Debbie Saunders went into labor. Soon after Flip arrived home, Ryan was born. "We brought Ryan to my office at the U where I had one of those mini Minnesota basketball hoops," Flip explained. "I held him up to get a picture and he grabbed the rim of the gopher hoop." Flip wanted to make sure that his son's direction in life was not forced, but assisted with guidance and understanding. "I did not expect him to go to the University of Minnesota. It was his choice and I told him I would be supportive."
From an outsider's perspective, it is easy to assume that Ryan came to Minnesota to follow in his father's footsteps. However, in Ryan's situation, that was not the case. Ryan's decision was his alone. Since he was a kid, he would come to campus with his parents and hear stories about their days at the `U.' Flip and Debbie met while they were at the U and have special memories form their college years.
"My parents made it very clear that it was my choice to come to Minnesota," Ryan explained. "I knew that coming to the U was the best thing for me. I wanted to stay relatively close to home and the coaches were so welcoming. They made me feel like I was one of the guys even though I was not on a scholarship."
Walking on to a Division I basketball team is not an easy task and Ryan was well aware of the battle ahead of him. However, he is no stranger to fighting through tough times. In high school he had to deal with the pressure of being the son of an NBA coach. Every gym Ryan entered he got harassed because of the high expectations placed upon him. "It is always tough to follow the same path as someone in your family as well as trying to battle the pressures of being a coach's son, it makes Ryan extremely visible," Flip expressed. "That is a lot of pressure to live up to. I told him the pressure will only increase. He has to deal with a lot more than I ever faced."
Ryan was aware of the disadvantages and advantages of going to the U and he decided the advantages outweighed the disadvantages. "His ambitions are to get into coaching," Flip said. "He envisioned that playing at a big school would help facilitate that career. When he went to visit, we thought he went to see the campus and when he came back he said `I committed to Minnesota.' Debbie and I were surprised, but I knew in his heart he wanted to be a Gopher. My wife was on the dance line at the U and I played, so there are a lot of connections."
Being able to share a common bond with your son or father is something very unique. It is so special because is allows memories to be passed on and relived through another generation. Flip and Ryan's bond developed early as Flip, Debbie, and Ryan traveled around while he coached in the CBA.
"The first seven years of Ryan's life we spent moving around while I coached in the CBA," Flip explained. "We lived in six different houses and five different cities. I think when you are young like that and moving so much your family becomes your anchor, you rely on each other and don't have a chance to lock into other friends."
After Ryan committed to the U, his father would tell him he would realize all his hard work was worth it when he ran up the steps to Williams Arena floor for the first time. "I was like, `yeah right dad,' but the first game I ran up those steps, heard the Rouser, looked around and realized he was exactly right. It was a feeling I will never forget," Ryan confessed. Flip could not be more proud of his son. He is honored Ryan is attending such a great institution and can experience playing basketball. "I have always said there is no greater place to play a college game then Williams Arena," Flip stated. "I would get there early and smell the popcorn. They have fans that have been there for fifty years and you see the same faces at every game. There is a great amount of loyalty and tradition and Ryan is lucky to be a part of that."
The University of Minnesota is the only Division I school in the state and to be on that roster is a great accomplishment. "It is an honor for me to have worn the maroon and gold and I fell obligated to live up to that," Flip stated.
Ryan agrees and as a newcomer on the team, he understands his role. "My role is to answer when called upon," Ryan responded. "I accept that and work hard every day." Flip is a firm believer that as a freshman, you cannot go anywhere with any expectations. You arrive with the idea of learning, improving and adjusting and whatever happens, happens. If you focus on that and work hard then that opportunity may come down the road.
Growing up in a home where there is so much attention centered on the game of basketball, it was inevitable for Ryan to fall in love with the game. He was fortunate to be surrounded by the knowledge and wisdom that helped him learn so much. "Ryan is extremely analytical," Flip explained. "He has a very good balance of the game and understands the responsibility you have as a player to your coach. Whether it is in college or the pros, what you do off the court has a huge bearing on the coach and his livelihood." Flip believes that Ryan understands that better then anyone.
"I try and stay upbeat and take it all in stride," Ryan said. "My dad had always stressed the importance of listening, understanding and respect, and I focus on that."
Having a coach as a father has both its positive and negative sides and Ryan has learned that throughout his life. "My dad is hard on me at times, but when we are done playing basketball he is just dad again," Ryan commented. "As a coach you always are telling athletes what they are doing wrong and what they can do better," Flip said. "I try and put on the other hat a little bit with Ryan and be more supportive."
The fatherly advice that every son receives is something every young man needs to accept. Over time, Ryan has realized he can benefit from his dad's experience and knowledge. "My main advice to Ryan and to my players it this: Play with passion and have fun doing it," Flip said. "You have to listen to the coaches. Lastly, and most importantly, you have an obligation to the U, or whomever you are playing for, to yourself, your family, the student body, administration, and the coach to act professionally both on the court and off the court. To have people around you be proud to say that you are apart of that program." Going to college is an unforgettable experience that is over before you know it. There are days you cannot get back and Flip and Debbie have encouraged Ryan to work hard, but enjoy his days as a Golden Gopher just as they did.
"The University of Minnesota is a special place, and it is not all about basketball," Flip commented. "It is about the environment and people around you. To this day, whenever we are on campus Debbie and I bring Ryan and the girls to Campus Pizza. It is places like that, Vescio's, and the Big Ten that you remember most. Or walking up frat row to Memorial Stadium for a football game. I want Ryan to cherish moments like that, because that is what you remember."
The Saunders' are a close knit family and they are there for each other whether it is going to a Gopher game, a Timberwolves game or watching one of the girls dance. Flip and Debbie put their kids first and Ryan feels fortunate to have amazing parents. "My dad is my best friend. I talk to him everyday no matter where we are," Ryan explained. "We try and have lunch or dinner once a week. My mom is my strength and she helped me get through a lot in high school. She has done so much and I look up to her."
Ryan's experience as a Gopher thus far has been wonderful and rewarding. He has enjoyed every minute of it and he cannot imagine being anywhere else. "I have loved it and I look forward to everything ahead," Ryan said. "It has been a transition, but all freshmen go through that. I have had to make changes and adjust to balance everything. But it is worth it."
To this day, Flip recalls the first time he ran onto Williams Arena floor and hearing the Rouser. This memory is now cherished by his son. These are moments in life that some people never get the opportunity to experience. There are moments that are unexplainable and only those that live them can relate. Ryan has his best friend, his father, to share those feelings and emotions with. Ryan will make his own memories and have his own experiences, just as his dad did. But there will be some very special moments they can share and remember together, as father and son, and best friends.
story by Jessica Fleischmann, athletics development assistant
