BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Today we continue SamfordSports.com's series giving alumni, fans and friends an in-depth video interview focused on the lives of our student-athletes, coaches and staff in the wake of COVID-19. In Tuesday's fifth episode, Jonathan McAfoos visits with softball junior Emily Barnett.
 
Barnett and the Samford softball team were taking on Bryant in a home game on Thursday, March 12, when the Southern Conference suspended the spring season due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. The season was eventually canceled. Barnett said going to the field that day, she did not really think the softball season would be affected.


 
"When I went to bed on Wednesday, I saw the NBA had canceled and some other things were starting to cancel," Barnett said. "I didn't really think it would affect us, but when I got to the locker room that Thursday, there was a weird vibe. Everyone was just kind of quiet and we all knew what was going on, but we knew it wasn't affecting us right then. Then we found out that Bryant's season was canceled before the game and they're from the northeast, so we were thinking, this isn't really going to affect us since we're down south."
 
Barnett said when schools and conferences in the south started suspending and eventually cancelling their seasons, they knew their season would soon be affected.
 
"But then, right before BP we figured out the SEC has suspended and that's when it really hit home, because I think a lot of us are friends with SEC players," Barnett said. "So we were starting to get messages and we were starting to build up the emotion and then we realized that maybe this could be us."
 
Following the game with Bryant, members of the athletic administration and softball coaching staff informed the team officially its season would be suspended. Barnett said it was an emotional time for her and her teammates.
 
"I think the instant reaction was love for each other, that we didn't want this to end for each other like this," Barnett said. "I locked eyes with our seniors and we just couldn't keep it together. We honestly have the tightest bond and love each other so much that we genuinely want the best for each other. Knowing that at that point it was out of our control, just like when you're in a game and you can't control certain things that happen, it's hard to battle those emotions when stuff it thrown at you like that."
 
Along with the seasons being canceled all classes were moved to strictly online instruction. Barnett said it has been a good transition so far.
 
"It's actually been fairly smooth," Barnett said. "The professors at Samford, in the classroom and online are known for reaching out to help you, and they haven't stopped doing that. Some of my classes are meeting via conference and some are just posting videos, but at the end of the video or the conference, the professors are always ready to reach out and they say send me an e-mail if you need anything, send me an e-mail if you need to talk. We'll get through this together and I know this is new for everyone, so it's a learning experience for everyone."
 
Barnett said she is settling into a routine with her "new normal" and looks forward to hopefully getting back to campus for next season.
 
"It's becoming normal, getting back into the academics and trying to work out and still pitch and still connect with the team," Barnett said. "We're all still talking and we can't believe it's happening, but we're ready for 2021 because we know that whatever we couldn't do in 2020 is going to be just as great in 2021."
 
Barnett added that she and her teammates will be getting together for their first conference call this afternoon. The group, like all Samford teams is staying positive throughout this process and looks forward to being back together soon.