UCSB Gauchos answer emotional Texas tweet calling for sports supplies

A handful of Gauchos basketball players made moves Thursday afternoon that you won’t see on the court: folding and stacking.

Their call to action was inspired by Coach Kelvin Sampson in Houston who put out one simple tweet just days ago.

“If you can, please send 20 of your schools t-shirts and 10 pairs of shoes,” Sampson posted in an emotional tweet.

Since then, Coach Sampson’s request has created a collective slam-dunk of supplies from throughout the country, including the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB).

“A lot of programs in Houston, theyve lost it all and so they’re going to be able to use all of our Gaucho gear,” said Joe Pasternack, Head Coach of the Gaucho men’s basketball team.

Pasternack said his Assistant Coach Louis Reynaud used to work for Coach Sampson and spear-headed the effort at UCSB to ship the sports supplies to Texas.

Shoes, socks, shirts, shorts, all types of basketball gear to help to replace what’s been lost, boxed up and headed for hurricane-ravaged Houston. The Gauchos women’s team and baseball players are doing the same.

“It means a lot to me personally,” said Marcus Jackson, the Gauchos point guard who transfered from Rice University in Houston. “I have a lot of friends and former teammates and former coaches who invested a lot of time in me.”

Jackson said his former coach, along with tens of thousands of others, lost his home to Harvey.

“It’s pretty heartbreaking for me,” Jackson said.

Pasternack knows hurricane devastation first hand. His family lost their New Orleans home to Katrina in 2005.

“It’s just great for our players to see that we’re very fortunate and it can be taken from you in an instant,” Pasternack said. “I think that’s really, really important.”

Pasternack said he has no doubt that Houston will rebuild and hopes, like his hometown of New Orleans, The Bayou City will rise within the next five years.

“Just keep praying for Houston and do what you can,” Jackson said.