By Don Dreger
R-C assistant sports editor
Sometimes, the focus as to what sports are all about can be forgotten.
With sports, there is sportsmanship. It goes hand-in-hand with friendly competition in high school and college. It is paramount that extraordinary sportsmanship be acclaimed.
Recently, Hiram College President Tom Chema sent out an e-mail to the entire Hiram community about the letter that he and football coach Bob Wolfe received from Gallaudet University, a school the Terriers played in football on Sept. 6.
The following is an excerpt from the e-mail:
"This was the first time Hiram had played Gallaudet, the world leader in liberal education and career development for deaf and hard-of-hearing undergraduate students. Here is what Gallaudet's coach wrote, "For the last four seasons I have been the head coach at Gallaudet, we have played some 40+ games, and Hiram College was the first school that has made any effort to communicate with our players following the game. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with your program when all of the players were signing in American Sign Language "nice game" and "good job" during the post-game handshake.'
"Coach Wolfe and his staff are to be applauded for taking time out of the precious few hours we have to coach the game and teaching these young men some true life skills. With great appreciation and respect, I want to thank you, Coach Wolfe, the football staff and players, as well as the entire Hiram College community for this gesture and willingness to learn just a small part of our culture and language. For me personally, it was wonderful to see and an experience our entire community appreciates.'
"In these cynical times, when it seems poor sportsmanship is the rule, rather than the exception, this is a great example of what college sports should be all about. I am so proud of all our athletes. Go Terriers!"
A lesson for all of us.