Coach wins the game and the respect of his rival

Saturday, Feb. 26 marked this season's final home game for Truman State University (Kirksville, Mo.) women's basketball.  The matchup against rival Central Missouri (Warrensburg, Mo.) did not turn out the way Truman would have wanted.  Central Missouri enjoyed a comfortable double-digit lead with less than a minute to go and its coach seemed to be rubbing it in.  Coach Dave Slifer gave referees an earful all night; prompting taunts and other choice language from the Truman faithful.  Then something strange happened.  It was almost like a scene from the show Touched by an Angel.  Slifer had a change of heart and his display of sportsmanship turned the Truman jeers into cheers.

Truman coach Michael Smith put senior Cassie Hunt into the game with about six seconds left.  Hunt tore her ACL earlier in the season and was unable to play.  Smith wanted her to get one more round of applause before her college career ended.  Hunt was not listed on Truman's original roster and would have been assessed a technical foul.  That's when Slifer lobbied referees to waive the penalty and allow Hunt into the game.  He went a step further and instructed his Central Missouri players to allow Hunt to score.  Watch the moment in the video below (Email subscribers click here).



Slifer later admitted that he didn't plan to do this.  He knew Hunt from high school games where she competed against his daughter.  Slifer said in an interview, "She's a good kid.  She deserves it.  I was glad to be able to do something to support her."  Well done, Coach.  Well done.  Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol