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At about 7 p.m. Saturday, after the last reporters left the press box to file their stories, Tom Weber, media services director, walked down to turn out McAndrew Stadium's lights. He noticed something sitting in the very middle of the field, and walked out to investigate. It was a pair of cleats. One of the Salukis, having left his all on the field, decided to leave his shoes, too.
This must be what Head Coach Jerry Kill meant by "losing with class." The true mark of class is how well a team handles a loss, and the Salukis suffered this bitter defeat with admirable grace.
The Salukis, having grown accustomed to winning during the regular season, found some valuable lessons in defeat. Perhaps the rest of us can, too.
After the Salukis' heartbreaking loss Saturday to Eastern Washington, fans may be tempted to give in to their disappointment. After all, wasn't a national championship our due? Didn't our team dominate the Gateway Conference, all the while showing the spirit and work ethic of a winning team? Hadn't the Salukis spent the season running the table and making history?
Fans who braved Saturday's winds and cold drizzle only to see the Salukis go down to defeat may need some help seeing the bright side of the season. We should all remember the dismal state of Saluki football when Kill took over as head coach in 2001, and consider the pattern of steady improvement that has emerged under his leadership. Taking a team from a 1-10 season to a playoff berth is a worthy accomplishment, which is in no way diminished by Saturday's loss.
The future of Saluki football is bright. Kill is committed to recruiting new talent. Ground has been broken on the Troutt-Wittman Center, offering our athletes the prospect of better training facilities and academic support upon its completion, as well as providing a recruitment incentive that can be put to use immediately. There is every reason to think the team will get deeper into the playoffs next year.
Student attendance at home games wasn't our strong suit this year, but it has nevertheless improved since 2001. We hope to see this trend continue. The Salukis have worked hard to earn the support of students, and students who faithfully turned out for games this season earned the gratitude of everyone involved in the football program. Perhaps the Salukis' winning ways will build a football culture that rivals our already strong fan base at basketball games.
Building a championship team takes time. It isn't done in a single season. Maybe next season will be the one. But even without it, our football program has given us reason to be proud of our University.
Weber said he left the shoes on the field, out of respect.
