Travis Steele didn’t have to get on the mic Friday night. But he did.
He didn’t have to address the 7,893 who were in attendance to watch the Miami University men’s basketball team beat Ball State in a regular-season finale. But he did.
The third-year RedHawks coach didn’t have to reassure the Miami faithful that basketball inside Millett Hall is back. But he did.
“We’ve won 15 games in a row, which is a Miami record at home,” Steele said to a cheering crowd. “You guys were a big part of that.”
It wasn’t because he was forced to tell them that. Steele wanted to do it. You could tell.
Steele also didn’t have to take time out of celebrating with his team following Friday night’s press conference to personally acknowledge Gavin — my 9-year-old son who has turned into a bigger Miami RedHawks fan than this 2005 graduate.
But, again, he did.
“Who’s this little man?” Steele asked a shy Gavin, who reached out to shake the coach’s hand.
Steele guessed what grade Gavin is in. He nailed it — third grade.
I’m not sure just how much Gavin will come to understand how neat — and humbling — that exchange was. And that’s OK.
But this dad did.
I will firmly go on record and say Gavin never would have had this kind of reception from any other university. Period.
From Miami athletic director David Sayler to Miami assistant athletic communications director Dave Meyer — they’ve provided something for Gavin that I never really thought would be possible.
Quite frankly, bringing Gavin along with me to Miami games was to get him away from the iPad, the TV and the house.
Miami University has given Gavin an experience — from a viewpoint — that not many kids his age get to encounter.
Miami doesn’t have to do any of this. But they have.
And for that, I’m extremely grateful.
