It’s hard for Ida Edwards to answer the question.
She sits in the cushioned yellow chair just a few down from where she’s spent most of her time at White Auditorium — in the last seat on the Emporia State bench.
Edwards puts her head down. Then covers her face.
No, this isn’t an exam or a difficult quiz. This is a question about why she’s playing at ESU.
She starts to put on a serious face but only holds it for a second.
Her mother calls Ida silly. A prankster. Says she’s never serious enough.
It’s easy to see now.
ESU’s newest addition — and perhaps best athlete — can’t answer the simple question, at least not right away.
That’s because Ida Edwards can’t stop herself from laughing. For no reason at all.
***
So how exactly did Edwards end up at ESU?
The simple question seems to have quite a few answers.
This is the same player who started for her Yazoo City (Miss.) high school team as an eighth grader, then put up 28 points against a top-5 team that same year. It’s the same player who signed with Kentucky out of high school, then with perennial power Louisiana Tech after two years of junior college.
So what kept her from the Division-I schools, from the big stage of Division-I basketball?
Her mother, Carolyn Edwards, said there was one thing.
“The only stumbling blocks that were in Ida’s way,” Carolyn said, “was Ida.”
Poor grades kept Edwards from being able to attend the big-name schools after she signed.
The difficulties forced her to Division II, where she was recruited by West Texas A&M assistant coach Brett Schneider.
When Brett didn’t get the head-coaching position after his father, Bob, retired that season, Edwards immediately asked for her release.
Brett gave Edwards the phone number of a coach whom he believed would be good for her — the number of his brother, ESU coach Brandon Schneider.
Edwards enrolled at ESU in the second semester of last year.
“She’s not the first player that has gone through some struggles and ended up playing in a place maybe that she never expected,” ESU coach Brandon Schneider said. “She knows that this is her last opportunity to play college basketball. She had a lot to do with that.
“Sometimes people need a second chance or a third chance or whatever. Her time that she’s been here, she’s made the most of her opportunity.”
***
The most frustrating part for Carolyn — and for Ida — was that school shouldn’t have held Ida back.
Ida’s grades weren’t low because of a lack of understanding. They were low because of a lack of effort.
Carolyn always believed that Ida had made things difficult on herself. Even in high school, it was hard to keep Ida focused on her studies.
“As many skills as she has on the basketball court — and she does have a few skills on the basketball court — she really has a mind,” Carolyn said, “but she just did enough to get by and to keep me from fussing.”
Shortly after Ida transferred to ESU, Brandon Schneider made a trip down to Yazoo City to visit with Carolyn. The coach told her his lofty goals for Ida — many of which had nothing to do with a basketball court.
“She’s capable of being a very good student. She’s very bright,” Schneider said. “I just think she has not been as responsible or hasn’t been held accountable.
“That’s changed.”
Edwards, in her second semester at ESU, finished the fall term with a 3.4 grade-point average.
***
Edwards is asked what the biggest difference is between Mississippi and Emporia.
The weather, she says with a smile.
“I’m used to two types of weather: It’s either hot or it’s raining,” Edwards says.
She stops to laugh.
“Last year, when I had to skate on ice when I was walking to class, that was something new.”
***
Wednesday has been a long time coming for Edwards.
She will finally be able to play in her first home game at White Auditorium. And also will finally be able to leave that yellow seat that has kept her captive for more than a year.
“I thought they were going to carve my name into the last chair right here on the end of the bench,” Edwards said. “I thought they were going to put ‘Edwards’ in the back of it.”
The toughest time was last year. In the second semester, Edwards practiced with the team even though she knew she wouldn’t get to compete in until this year because of transfer rules.
Through it all, she kept her spot on the sideline, waiting patiently for her chance.
“I’ve sat back and watched these teams for a whole year that we play against. I think I can do a lot of things that’s going to help this team,” Edwards said. “I don’t even have to score a lot to help our team get better.”
Edwards’ athleticism already has proved to be an asset for ESU.
The 6-foot forward, who is averaging 14.5 points and 8.8 rebounds since becoming eligible four games ago, plays like a small forward in a half-court game but is a good enough ball-handler to play as a shooting guard or even point guard in transition.
“I think that we’re going to find out,” Schneider said, “that we have a very good player, given some time.”
***
Edwards is asked what ESU fans can expect from her during her playing days. It doesn’t take her long to answer.
“Once the game shape kicks in — which I think is going to be soon here — it’s going to be crazy. It’s going to be ... domination.”
She laughs for a moment.
“For real.”