Texas Tech University Athletics
Big 12 Coaches Reflect On 9/11
September 11, 2004 | Football
Sept. 11, 2004
By Jeff Walker
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Three years ago, the nation received a wake-up call. And then the nation went silent.
Four days later, football stadiums were empty, marching bands didn't play, cheerleaders didn't cheer and the sounds of Saturday afternoons were silent.
After the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, sporting events were postponed. It marked the first time all Saturday college football games were canceled since the day after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
In the immediate aftermath of 9-11, some college football coaches -- along with the rest of the world -- took stock of what is important in their lives.
Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney was getting his team prepared to play state rival Iowa, a team the Cyclones face today on the three-year anniversary of the attacks. He recalled on Monday his thoughts during that week.
"I remember very vividly just the shock, the sadness, the disbelief, all those things," McCarney said. "We didn't find out until Thursday that our game wasn't going to be played until after Thanksgiving, but (Iowa coach) Kirk Ferentz and I were already on the phone on Tuesday (Sept. 11) talking about how we were going to honor the people that were killed in the disaster.
"Those tragedies and unbelievable world experiences just put things into perspective. We know how competitive it is (in sports) and how we all want to win and impact a young man's life, but there's things more important that a football game out there."
At several stadiums across the country, the victims of Sept. 11 will be honored. At Oklahoma, which hosts Houston in a nationally-televised game, some 80,000 American flags will be handed out to fans.
New Mexico, which hosts Texas Tech today, will give fans on the West side of the stadium placards. When turned over, the placards will form the American flag. That display of support is expected to take place before the game during the playing of the National Anthem.
And while Sept. 11 will no longer be just another day, it is not the only world event that seems to make coaches reflect.
After enduring a pair of hurricanes, Floridians are bracing for a third hurricane that is expected to touch land some time early next week.
On a national level, the United States is in the midst of a presidential election. On a global level, bombings in Russia and Indoensia have brought back images of what happened in New York, Washington D.C. and Western Pennsylvania.
Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder said that he thinks it's important that not only he remains informed, but that he keeps his players updated on current events.
"I think it's important for our youngsters. They're young adults and world events are significant and improtant in their lives," Snyder said. "There is a lot going on. With some of the things taking place in Russia, remnants of 9-11, that was devastating a time for everybody."
Once the season starts coaches can become a different breed. Call it passion, obsession or whatever, many coaches spend at least three-fourths of their day focused on football.
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said he keeps in touch with current events by reading headlines or checking out a cable news station. Texas coach Mack Brown said he does the same thing, while also relying on his wife to keep him informed.
Sometimes the goal of winning makes coaches, players and fans lose focus on what's important. Then, something like Sept. 11 happens and everyone is dealt a dose of reality.
"With all the hurricanes and the election, I have to remind myself to not become so engrossed with what I'm doing and pay attention with what's going on in the world," Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops said. "It's a conscience effort to read the headlines and make sure I know what's happening."
