Zerrik Meets Erik . . .

It's not every day that you get to see generosity and humility in action, but our grandsons got a big dose on Saturday.  The young man pictured below is high jumper Erik Kynard, Kansas State University alumni, 8-time All American, 6-time Big XVII Champion, 2-time National Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist.  When Dave saw on Twitter that Erik would be competing at the USATF National Championship in Albuquerque on Saturday, he immediately called Amy and asked her to take the boys (Zerrik on the left, Treyvin on the right) to see Erik jump.  He also tweeted to Eric to be on the lookout for a couple handsome young fans wearing their K-State purple.  

The boys watched Erik clear 2.3 meters (7 ft. 6 in.) to win gold.  Afterward, Erik spotted them and stopped to place his newly-earned gold medal around Zerrik's neck, pose for a quick pic, and walked away...leaving behind a couple of surprised and thrilled young men.

What a generous gift and what a positive role model.  In a world of professional athletes who exhibit cocky, self-centered attitudes, Erik showed his young fans how to be gracious.

Athletes and Infantry

 Ft. Riley, home of the Army's First Infantry Division - also known as the Big Red One (check out the emblem at the entrance to the base and you'll see why) - is only eleven miles from Manhattan, home of Kansas State University.  The University has built a partnership with the Army in a number of areas, including designating one home football game each fall as Ft. Riley Day (because, seriously, what would be the point of designating an away game?  Sorry, didn't realize how stupid that sentence sounded till after I wrote it.)  This year, Ft. Riley Day fell last Saturday, Oct. 1, for the game against Baylor.  Active-duty soldiers and their families received lunch sponsored by a local car dealership, and game tickets donated by fans and the athletic department, as well as recognition during the game.  It's always a good day for a K-State game, but this one is special.

One of the traditions at K-State game is our mascot, Willie the Wildcat, doing push-ups following each score - the number of points on the board = the number of push-ups done. It has become a new tradition on Ft. Riley Day for soldiers to pour out of the stands following a touchdown to join Willie in his calisthenics.

Picture from Ft Riley Day 2010 courtesy of www.army.mil

Throughout the game, during times-out (time-outs?) or play reviews, the jumbotron screen showed Ft. Riley soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan saying hello to their families back home and cheering for the Cats.

Below is a YouTube video of the halftime show.  It's long, I know, but start the video then run get a snack, throw in a load of laundry, whatever you got that will take about six-and-a-half minutes, then come back.  At about the 3:20 point, the KSU marching band is joined by the First Infantry Division Band, and at the 6:30 mark they begin Stars and Stripes Forever.  This is the part I want you to see.  As the song ends, notice the group of soldiers carrying the large American flag as they exit to the left of the camera.



What you can't see is that these soldiers exited the stadium, carrying the flag on their shoulders, via one of the stairways through the stands - OUR section of the stands, just a few feet from where we were sitting.  Fans along both sides of the aisle, and perhaps through the stadium - I was too engrossed to notice - stood to applaud and cheer the flag and the soldiers.  I heard many shouts of "Thank you" and, I'll admit, I got a bit teary.  It was a moving, spontaneous moment.

Once the soldiers had passed, we returned to our seats until, a moment later, we heard stirrings behind us, saw parents grabbing kids by the hand (their own kids, I hope) and rushing them off to look at something.  We dashed to the top of our section to see what the hub-bub was.  The soldiers had stopped directly behind our seats to carry out a precision ceremony for folding the flag.  Forgive the grainy picture, but Dave snapped it with his dumb-phone (because - have we mentioned? - we are the last family on earth without smart-phones).  It was impressive to watch and, once again, brought a tear to my eye - for both the patriotism and respect of the routine, and the attention and awe of the crowd.

When the flag was folded to a triangle, the ends securely tucked inside, the soldiers marched out of the stadium to another round of applause - at attention the entire time, never a sideways look, never a nod or smile at the crowd.  Impressive!

Not much left to say except God Bless the U.S.A. and the soldiers who protect and defend her!

"EMAW Slogan Draws Controversy"

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Manhattan, KS - A 1950's era slogan meant to inspire Kansas State fans, is instead causing controvery.

University officals asked the school's band to remove a formation highlighting the slogan "Every Man A Wildcat" from it's pregame routine on Saturday.

Those who dislike the slogan say the word "man" is not inclusive.  They prefer "Every Person A Wildcat".  Proponents say the phrase is a long-time tradition and "man" refers to all of mankind.

(excerpt from a Kansas City Star article)

And with that one ill-advised move, unnamed "university officials" set off a firestorm that reached all the way to the O'Reilly Factor on Fox News.  Seems to me that the "officials" were a little too eager to dive for legal cover, as we are prone to do in this litigation-happy society, and caved to the demands of the few without considering the many.  In an attempt to pacify a small group who supposedly felt left-out of the club, KSU "officials" fell over themselves rushing to pull the EMAW formation from the band's half-time show, but did they pause for even a moment to ponder the heritage of that phrase or it's meaning to thousands of KSU students and alumni?

I guess I just don't understand the need to make all language gender-neutral in order to feel included.  When the Declaration of Independence states that "all men are created equal", I know I'm covered.  When Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me, though he shall die, he shall live", I am certain that He was speaking to me, also.  I don't feel any need to create strife to prove that I have a spot on the team.

This is not to say that it is never necessary to stand up for your rights.  I will stand up for equal pay for equal work.  I will stand up for protection from sexual harassment.  I will absolutely stand up for the rights of every women who is truly oppressed in Africa, the Middle East or right here at home.  And I will stand up for my daughter's right to wear an EMAW shirt expressing her pride in her university.  Last semester she was told - by a FEMALE professor - to leave class because the teacher was offended by her shirt.  In her passion to stand up for her OWN rights, she trampled on Amanda's.  

And these "university officials" who remain unnamed and unwilling to take a stand for their decision, trampled over KSU students and alumni, and they trampled a Kansas State University tradition.

AUTUMN ALERT!

Only 38 days to the Autumnal Equinox (September 23rd) and I'm already seeing signs of Fall:  leaves are beginning to change color,
 high temperatures have dropped below 90,
 school starts on Monday, and . . .

All my rowdy friends were over last night!

If you hadn't guessed, we like football.  Lazy Sunday afternoons, a pot of soup, 
friends over, beer and the Broncos on TV.  It doesn't get any better than that. 

 Except for a crisp Saturday afternoon in Kansas State University's Bill Snyder Family Stadium watching the Wildcats!!  The Cat's kick-off Labor Day weekend, September 3rd and we have tickets in hand for the whole family!

Are you ready for some football?

A Picture - And A Headline - is Worth a Thousand Words

Pullen, Kansas State shred No. 1 Jayhawks - Washington Post

 KSU’s Jacob Pullen torches Kansas - Lawrence Journal-World

 One and Done, KU Loses at K-State - isportsweb.com



Bill Self on Kansas' loss to K-State: 'That was a beatdown' - USA Today



Pullen’s 38 points power K-State past No. 1 Kansas - Kansas City Star

Kansas State stuns No. 1 Kansas 84-68 - Sports Illustrated (SI.com)


Kansas climbs to No. 1, then falls at Kansas State - San Jose Mercury



You only need to watch the first 45 seconds of this: