Coach Dawn Staley practiced a rare form of turning the other cheek on Thursday. (Matthew 5:39) Her University of South Carolina (USC) women’s basketball team handed an opponent an upsetting loss. But people seem to be talking more about Staley’s positive attitude than the game itself.
Staley’s Gamecocks defeated defending national champion Louisiana State University (LSU) 76-70 on Tiger turf. The home court fans hissed and jeered the visiting Gamecocks throughout the game. They booed the players and Staley.
After the game, a reporter commented that the LSU fans weren’t “very friendly to you.” Staley quickly interrupted and turned the negative into a positive.
“Actually, they were,” Staley responded, chuckling. “They were calling me ‘boo’”—a slang term of endearment.
It’s no wonder the coach was in a good mood. Her Gamecocks’ record remains perfect over 19 games this season. The team is currently ranked number one in the country.
Heading into Saturday’s game with Vanderbilt University, Staley added a new sweatshirt to her lineup.
She saw a graphic mockup of the shirt after returning to the USC campus. The black hoodie said “BOO” across the front. Staley thought, “I have to have it.” She wore it to the game in Columbia, South Carolina.
Following Staley’s lead, Gamecock fans embraced the insult-turned-nickname: For example, a sign in the stands at the sold-out arena said, “Hey Boo.”
For reporters, fans, teammates, and critics, Staley’s cheerful approach to negativity seems to have been just the right treatment.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. — Proverbs 17:22
