If you don’t know already, I am a BIG football fan. There are the obvious things like supporting your school or state, spending a beautiful fall afternoon outside with friends and the general thrill of competition. But there is also something much greater that surrounds the athletes, coaches and fans. I grew up playing sports and have no doubt that what I learned on those courts and fields has made me a better person today. Teamwork, persistence, the value of hard work, the power of positive thinking and sportsmanship are the invaluable lessons being taught in locker rooms around the world.
Aside from the fact that my beloved Arkansas Razorbacks suffered an embarrassing loss, this weekend in college football was pretty devastating.
Early in the afternoon Tulane safety Devon Walker collided with a teammate in a head-to-head hit. The result was a fractured spine.
Hours later Arkansas cornerback Tevin Mitchel was injured during a very similar play and had to be carted off the field.
The Razorbacks senior quarterback, Tyler Wilson, took several major hits and did not play the second half due to an “injury above the shoulders” which most people took to mean concussion.
Scary, right? Despite my unending love and respect for football/athletic competition, Saturday served as a stark reminder of how brutal the “game” can be. Even scarier is the fact that most of the athletes are doing such serious damage to their bodies at a very young age. The point of this post is to remind us (myself included) that while it is easy to get lost in trash talk, game day parties, and Ws and Ls, the players and their safety are the star of the show. In short, have some respect. Take a moment to thank the players and coaches from all teams for giving us something to cheer for and keep those injured in your thoughts and prayers as we get ready to watch it all over again next Saturday.
