This is me with Steve Warren (a KU basketball fan)
minutes before the DEC Conference Opening Ceremonies
After an inspired game by my favorite team tonight, I just had to find a way to bring my passion for basketball once again to the DEC world via this blog.
Our school team played the Tar Heels of North Carolina for the 11th annual Big 10-ACC match up. It was a fun game to watch especially with Illinois coming out on top. The rivalry between these two schools has intensified over the years and thus every time they meet, it's almost always an emotional game.
Illinois and North Carolina on the court
during the pre-game warm up
During the pre and post game interviews, both Coaches Bruce Weber and Roy Williams talked about their admiration and respect for each other as a competitor and as a human being. Don't be fooled however by the niceties between the two because both teams battled long and hard on the court. But once the game was over, the hand shaking and verbal exchanges between the two teams remind us that there is more to the game than what is played in those 40 minutes.
Behind the North Carolina bench at the start of the 2nd half.
That's Roy Williams getting ready to sit down (or maybe stand up)!
That's Roy Williams getting ready to sit down (or maybe stand up)!
For those of us in the university world, we really are not much different from these basketball teams. We do compete with each other -- in terms of federal grants, US News and World Report rankings, faculty, students, etc. Yet, my experience has been that while we are competitors, more often than not most of us folks tend to hold a deep respect for each others work, accomplishments, and humanity.
I have found this to be true among colleagues I have met through DEC. We eagerly learn more about each others work. We celebrate those who receive awards, grants, etc. After all, what we all do should always be about the young children with special needs and their families.
In my own experience, one of the the biggest benefits of committing my time to DEC (whether it be as a board member, an editor, a reviewer, a presenter, a work group member, etc.) has been the opportunities I have had to work with colleagues from all over the country.
The chance to network with colleagues from other universities (and from all across the field) has opened many doors for me as a professional.Over the years, I've been fortunate to work with colleagues from Washington to Florida, from Texas to Minnesota, including colleagues from "basketball rivals" schools in Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky! Many of these collaborations were formed and continue to form through DEC.
The University of Illinois Drum Corp perform at half-time.
Yes, we will continue to compete with each other but once those grants are submitted, we go back to friendly ribbing when our favorite basketball teams meet each other again in the basketball court.
