Southern thanks Georgia for showing 'true nature of sportsmanship'
Last week, we witnessed another example of the worst kind of injuries that are sadly inevitable in football when Southern receiver Devon Gales suffered a broken neck against Georgia.
The redshirt sophomore had multiple fractures in his neck that required surgery to repair, and thankfully the school announced after the operation that he had movement in his upper body.
The lone good thing to come from all of this was how Georgia coach Mark Richt and many other UGA supporters responded. Richt and other Georgia staffers set aside Alabama prep on Sunday to visit Gales in the hospital. UGA wives and kids spent "family night" on Sunday preparing cards and posters to lift Devon's spirits. Both of Georgia's team chaplains spent time visiting with the Gales family at the hospital and offering support.
"We're trying to cover him up with as much love as we can and let him know that we care and let him know that we're here to help," Richt said Sunday. He also called on Georgia's community to offer financial support for the Gales family.
Here's the website. http://t.co/4I97y4jErl
— Mark Richt (@MarkRicht) September 29, 2015
Richt probably doesn't want any pats on the back for any of this, as he'd readily admit these are all gestures that any thoughtful and caring program would do as well. Still, that didn't stop Southern University system president and chancellor Ray Belton from writing a letter to Richt and the Georgia community expressing extreme gratitude for exemplifying the "true nature of sportsmanship, caring and generosity."
Here is Belton's letter in full.
(h/t Saturday Down South)
Teddy Mitrosilis works in social content development at FOX Sports Digital. Follow him on Twitter @TMitrosilis and email him at tmitrosilis@gmail.com.
