12th MAN 

Sports as a unifier

 

The world is a fractured place. There’s conflict between countries all over the globe, and also conflict within countries as we become siloed with others who share our values and beliefs. Yet throughout history, people who otherwise have little in common have come together on neighborhood pitches and in packed stadiums, as fans and as players, and put those differences aside for the sake of their teams.

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Sports as justice

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Mandela said in 2000: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where there was only despair.”

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By now, you know the story of the 12th man. On June 13th, 2020, Aggie athletes coordinated the Unity Walk, where 350 showed up in support of Blacks in Aggieland. Let’s take 8 min and 46 seconds in silence to reflect and write information about three Indians on the A&M football team: Sig Flinchum, Victor Kelley, and Jim Ross.

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College yells – including:

Comanche, Ranche,

Ree! Rah! Rah!

Apache, Rache,

Big Choctaw.

Big Chief, Papoose,

Indian Squaw.

Texas A. & M.

Rah! Rah! Rah!

 

1908 Long Horn, page 191

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Memorials honoring student athletes who died while attending Texas A&M; located at the main entrance to the Bright Football Complex just west of the John David Crow Circle – persons honored include:

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Brandon Fails – an African American football player

Joey Villavisencio – a Hispanic football player

Polo Manukainiu – a Tongan-American football player

And other athletes

 

Questions

1. What does unity mean to you?  How do you display unity across differences, particularly racial, gender, sexual orientation and religion? Where do you need to grow?

 

Interesting Facts

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