When Lisa Joplin moved fans with her singing of the national anthem before the men’s basketball game against Creighton in January — and the Jumbotron captured her son, senior forward David Joplin, overcome with pride and giving her a fist pump — it capped off a week that’s unique in college basketball: Marquette Moms Week.
Featuring 17 mothers of student-athletes on the men’s basketball team engaging in everything from team dinners to on-court shooting contests, the week expressed the strong bonds these women feel for each other and the identity they’ve formed over several years.
The “Moms” came together organically three years ago — and stuck together. Lisa Joplin gives a nod to team members themselves, who stayed together despite the draw of the NCAA transfer portal and personal licensing deals with other teams. “I truly feel our group is special because of the fact there are no transfers. No one has left other than going to the NBA, and that gives us more years together, more time to become friends and then become family.”
The mothers established a WhatsApp chat, then a Facebook group and Instagram presence. A graduating senior’s mom has managed their online presence and will hand the reins to a rising senior’s mom for next season. Even the idea of a “Moms Day” at a home game grew in the group chat, where each mom volunteered how she could be involved.
Lisa Joplin’s rendition of the national anthem at Fiserv Forum was not her first. She performed at her graduation from the Milwaukee Police Academy years ago. Stephanie Mitchell, mother of senior guard Stevie Mitchell, became her biggest advocate, working with Head Coach Shaka Smart to make it happen at the game.
“These very special families are part of what make the young men on our team so special,” Smart said after the game. “Everyone in attendance shared that feeling: Marquette is about relationships.”
