A dad first: Coach's breakdown what is right about college sports

There has not been much to cheer about in the last few years when it comes to college sports.

Scandals, egos and stories that make you wonder why we don't just make college athletes semi-pros and be done with it.

And then comes the story of Georgia State Head Coach Ron Hunter.

It is not a story about a team's victory. The Panthers were not able to carry their Cinderella story any further than their buzzer-beating three-point shot that beat Baylor.

But what Coach Hunter said at the post-game press conference after his team's loss to Xavier on Saturday is what you should listen to if you want to be reminded of how many good people there are in college sports.

He applauded his team's effort and said that he told them they should be proud of what they had done. And then he broke down in tears as he said, "As a coach, best time of my life, but as a father ... ." As he buried his head in one of his hands, the other was on his son, R.J.'s shoulder. R.J. shot the winning basket in the Baylor game.

And there it is -- a real emotion from a real man and a reminder that this might just be a game, but it is full of moments of heart, just like this.

Ron Hunter knew that the week's events were magical and that his team had played its hearts out -- that's why it was "his greatest week as a coach ever."

But he also understood that he had just had a moment with the most important person in his life -- one he will treasure forever.

And the fact that he did is why he is good for the game and a role model for the rest of us.

We need more fathers, and coaches, just like that.

Published in Editorials on March 23, 2015 10:53 AM