Tweet
Shocker Players Make Me Proud
For the 3rd year in a row Tekele Cotton had Easter dinner with our family. Three years ago I told Tekele about my mother and father (deceased 15 years ago) starting out as season ticket holders in 1965. He and Carl Hall were excited to take a picture with her (you could only imagine how excited my mom was).
Last year Tekele came with a basketball manager and we had another great time.
This year Tekele came with the same manager as last year, along with girlfriend Gaby (another case of a classy, quality Shocker student-athlete). He always seeks out my mom as a proud long-time fan. My mom had a stroke about 5 months ago and Tekele wanted to take more pictures with her. Here is where I well up. I don't know how long I have with my mom. Tekele has always been her favorite player, as is mine. For him to be so kind and engaging (anyone who knows Tekele understands he is very shy) brings unbelievable joy to my heart.
My point isn't to name drop about hanging out with Tekele. My point, in coordination with the timing of the Andrew Harrison embarrassment, is to reaffirm my glowing pride of the quality of people Gregg recruits into this program. Tekele could very easily checked the box and engaged in the most basic PR with our family over the past three years. Instead, he remembers my mom and how much of a fan she has been for Shocker athletics for 50 years. I love all the great Shocker student-athletes, especially Tekele for being classy and gracious. As I put my mom to bed at her Assisted Living facility tonight all she wanted to talk about was her perceived relationship with Tekele. That's how special he made her feel. Now I'm really welling up.
I will take the athletic and personal quality of Gregg's recruits any day over the entitled burger boys. I am so proud to be a Shocker fan with all the rest of you (even the ones I get into spirited conversations with). I can't wait to continue the journey as we look forward to next season. I hope all of my SNrs had a great Easter as I did. God Bless.
Last year Tekele came with a basketball manager and we had another great time.
This year Tekele came with the same manager as last year, along with girlfriend Gaby (another case of a classy, quality Shocker student-athlete). He always seeks out my mom as a proud long-time fan. My mom had a stroke about 5 months ago and Tekele wanted to take more pictures with her. Here is where I well up. I don't know how long I have with my mom. Tekele has always been her favorite player, as is mine. For him to be so kind and engaging (anyone who knows Tekele understands he is very shy) brings unbelievable joy to my heart.
My point isn't to name drop about hanging out with Tekele. My point, in coordination with the timing of the Andrew Harrison embarrassment, is to reaffirm my glowing pride of the quality of people Gregg recruits into this program. Tekele could very easily checked the box and engaged in the most basic PR with our family over the past three years. Instead, he remembers my mom and how much of a fan she has been for Shocker athletics for 50 years. I love all the great Shocker student-athletes, especially Tekele for being classy and gracious. As I put my mom to bed at her Assisted Living facility tonight all she wanted to talk about was her perceived relationship with Tekele. That's how special he made her feel. Now I'm really welling up.
I will take the athletic and personal quality of Gregg's recruits any day over the entitled burger boys. I am so proud to be a Shocker fan with all the rest of you (even the ones I get into spirited conversations with). I can't wait to continue the journey as we look forward to next season. I hope all of my SNrs had a great Easter as I did. God Bless.
Comment