Written by Michael Claxton
I have written about football exactly three times in this newspaper. Once was in 2012, when I paid tribute to John Prock, who passed away that summer and who had shaped Harding’s football program as its head coach from 1964 to 1987. Ten years later, I shared some thoughts about the death of Jim Citty, who served as our team doctor for 45 years. You are now reading my third gridiron piece.
No one turns to me for informed commentary on the subject. As the least athletic member of my family — I once struck out at kickball as a child — I have a checkered history with sports. My efforts at wrestling in middle school PE reduced the coach to laughter, and he asked me when I came off the mat if I had ever considered a career in comedy. My efforts at Lipscomb’s basketball camp in Nashville reduced legendary coach Don Meyer to tears. I cannot swing a bat, throw a football, swim a yard or make a layup.
Sometimes the story is told that when I came to Harding fresh out of grad school at UNC Chapel Hill, coach Jeff Morgan was anxious to meet me so we could talk Tarheel basketball. When I sheepishly admitted that I had never once attended a game in the Dean Dome, he must have wondered if it was too late to cancel my contract. I have since tried to redeem myself by attending Bison and Lady Bison basketball games religiously. Even occasionally out of town.
But I must confess that watching hoops is my only sport. It’s not because I don’t love student athletes. Over the years, I have had exceptional men and women in class from every single program on campus. I had Matt Hall in World Literature — his jersey is hanging in the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. I had Marco Ruiz in Composition One; he later became one of Harding’s tennis coaches. I’ve gotten to know golf stars, volleyball players, guys and girls from the soccer teams, track athletes and so many more. These are just brushes with fame, you understand. I can take zero credit for their achievements. Though I will point out that it was an English major who made the first touchdown in last month’s Division II championship game.
So, after 18 years, it’s about time I wrote something in praise of Harding’s football team. While it’s easy to jump on the bandwagon during the greatest year in program history, I have long admired the culture of our team. Yes, they exhibit a level of unselfishness and teamwork that wins championships, but those virtues continue long after the season is over. Under the leadership of Paul Simmons and his staff — plus Ronnie Huckeba before him and others before that — our men make the phrase “Honor God” more than just a motto; it’s a calling.
After graduation in December, Harding hosted a watch party for those who could not make the trip to Dallas to see the big game. I guess there were a few hundred people there. Nothing compared to the thousands of Harding fans who packed the McKinney ISD Stadium to cheer as Harding overwhelmed the Colorado School of Mines, whose Orediggers were expected to win. But they were no match for the Bisons.
Many called it the greatest Harding reunion ever, and it’s true that fans drove from all over the country to support the team. Those watching from campus roared with laughter when a student at the game held up a sign that read, “Passing is a Sin!” While I can’t vouch for the theology, the athletic principle certainly held true, especially when the Bisons intercepted a Colorado pass late in the game. No doubt most older Harding folks were thinking the same thing that I was: We wish Dr. Ganus and Doc Citty could have been there.
The celebration held in January at the Huckeba Field House was the social event of the year. I’ll bet well over a thousand people came from campus and the Searcy community. The signs all over town congratulating the Bisons showed not only how proud our town is of the win, but also how well the team represents Searcy and the Harding family. I had been struck while listening to the championship game at how complimentary the announcers were about the team they initially expected to lose. As they showered praise on our school and the players, I thought that we could not have written a better script if we tried. You cannot buy that kind of publicity.
Harding has every reason to be proud of its football team, and even a bumbling non-athlete like me can appreciate the heart, courage, faith and determination of our guys. And especially the humility of their leaders. Bravo, Bisons.
