At the end of he Duke-WVU game for the chance to compete for the National Championship in basketball, Da'Sean Butler injured his knee driving to the basket. Athletic Trainer, Randy Meador was quickly out on the floor to evaluate the injury. Butler was in a lot of pain making it difficult to do a quick assessment. Those are the situations you run into during a game where you do not have the luxury to take your time and give the athlete time to collect themselves. Seeing both the emotional and physical pain on Butler's face, Coach Bob Huggins came on to the floor to comfort Da'Sean.
I truly feel that Coach Huggins was sincere in his concern for his player. It was also a special moment for the viewers. While Coach Huggins is noted for being gruff and bombastic it showed a different side of him to the public. Certainly, an indication of the love on the team that helped them come together and make it to the Final Four.
Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I predict we will see an increase in the number of coaches on the ground talking with their injured athletes. Coaches who never even came by the athletic training room after the game to have a heart to heart with their injured athletes will now be all over them during the contest. This I will dub the "Bob Huggins moment". Athletic Trainers trying to do their jobs will have to contend with coaches interrupting their evaluations so they can have a special moment with their athlete for all the fans to see.
While you may call me cold hearted I just feel that sports many times is about imitation. Athletes wanting to wear certain uniforms, (baggy shorts down to their knees) certain tapings, (football players getting their shoes taped), basketball players with elbow sleeves. (will someone do a study on the increase in elbow injuries in college basketball requiring a sleeve)
So be ready for those "Bob Huggins moments" next year. On second thought, nip them in the bud and have your own "Athletic Trainer moment" before any coach shows up.
