GREEN PRIDE HOME
Here are our 'Best Ever' contest winners -
Best Story
Joe Lewis
Senior, Applied Arts and Sciences
There are people in this world that you get to know from time to time that have a rare impact on your life. I met one of those people recently and it just so happened to be on the campus of the University of North Texas. I can't say that I have ever met any one person that has effected my outlook on life as much as this person.
This story takes us back to the Fall of 2006 where I found myself needing an advanced elective. Being an elective I called myself being smart and shuffling through the kinesiology classes searching for a class. There it was, KINE 3200 Coaching Basketball, held on Tuesday and Thursday at eight o'clock am. It sounded perfect, besides the eight in the morning part, after all I play basketball and am a professional fan of the sport. I figured it would be taught by some old coach that could care less about attendance and wouldn't expect too much out of me at eight am. I was looking for a blow off class and I had found it.
On the first day of class I stroll into the classroom fifteen minutes late.....here's where it gets good, standing before the class is a tall slender gentleman, dressed very sleek, I guessed in his mid sixties. I will never forget his first words to me, "You have a watch?" I replied, "No," because I didn't and I was a little taken off guard. He then said, "Well get one and set it fifteen minutes fast." I realized at that time that I had made a mistake, this was no blow off class and this definitely was no old coach that cared less about attendance and participation. His name is Coach Baker and as the semester moved along he shared unparalleled insight into the world of coaching and teaching.
He invited incredible speakers to come share there experiences and life lessons with us. After one specific speaker, I found myself so inspired and motivated, I said to my wife, "I could build a house or a plane or something, hell, anything after that speech." He showed us films that inspired us to try harder and love more. Films that had most of us fighting back tears, and while we were holding ours back Coach Baker would boldly stand before us with a tear soaked tissue demanding us to think hard about why he had us watch this film.
A few times we met in the gym to workout and I sweated like I had never sweat before. I distinctly remember thinking, "I'm too old for this s***." Then I realized that my mere twenty-seven years didn't hold a candle to his sixty something years, yet there he was running around the gym and beating most of us.
I will never forget the moments he shared with us, all the laughs, the sweat, the inspiration, the life lessons and the tears. So there it was, my blow off class turned out to be my most demanding class of the semester. However, it also turned out to be the most informative, fun, and hands down greatest class I've ever taken, taught by one of the greatest people I've ever known. Thank you Coach Baker for your dedication to UNT, your students and the world.
Also, congratulations to our random drawing winner
Addie Barron
Junior - Fashion Merchandising
Green Pride discounts
Stop by the UNT Bookstore wearing green and pick up your Friday Pride Day card for 10% off all clothing items - up to $100 discount. Get your green on!
Support UNT and help keep Texas beautiful!
The fee is only $30 in addition to your normal registration fee. When you purchase the UNT license plate, $22 goes to fund scholarships at UNT and is tax deductible.
Show your pride and support the green! Click here for more information!