While the Billikens were piling on each other and Travis Ford entrenched himself in the pile-on Sunday celebrating their birth in the NCAA tournament while clinching the A-10 tournament championship, I found a new respect for him as a person the following day.
As a head coach, I expected Ford to be out celebrating, basking in the spotlight/limelight of things and beginning preparation on Monday for their task of facing Virginia Tech.
I stand corrected.
A friend of mine has stage 3 cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for the past 3.5 weeks now. Her family is season ticket holders for the Billikens and attend enough games that Ford, Ford's wife and the family have become friends.
That Monday, my friend went into the hospital to begin her second-last week of radiation and chemotherapy. When she finished her round for the day, Ford was present at the hospital to greet her as she exited the room.
He didn't have to be there and truthfully, should have been out celebrating, meeting with the media, beginning game prep, etc. Lots of stuff was on his docket, but instead, he and his wife took the time to be at the hospital with my friend as she finished another round of chemotherapy/radiation.
I told my friend later that Monday evening that the reason why he came was because of the portion of Mizzou Tiger that was still in him, which gained quite a rise!
I have since gained a new respect for Ford, his wife and his family. What a class act to be selfless in a moment that most would be selfish!
As a head coach, I expected Ford to be out celebrating, basking in the spotlight/limelight of things and beginning preparation on Monday for their task of facing Virginia Tech.
I stand corrected.
A friend of mine has stage 3 cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for the past 3.5 weeks now. Her family is season ticket holders for the Billikens and attend enough games that Ford, Ford's wife and the family have become friends.
That Monday, my friend went into the hospital to begin her second-last week of radiation and chemotherapy. When she finished her round for the day, Ford was present at the hospital to greet her as she exited the room.
He didn't have to be there and truthfully, should have been out celebrating, meeting with the media, beginning game prep, etc. Lots of stuff was on his docket, but instead, he and his wife took the time to be at the hospital with my friend as she finished another round of chemotherapy/radiation.
I told my friend later that Monday evening that the reason why he came was because of the portion of Mizzou Tiger that was still in him, which gained quite a rise!
I have since gained a new respect for Ford, his wife and his family. What a class act to be selfless in a moment that most would be selfish!
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