[NU Sports] most appropriate...

[WildElk2 at aol.com]

As I sadly read through the posts and news articles, the one  statement that 
gets to me the most is him saying that he needed to change his  diet and work 
habits so, as he put it, "...I can see my grandchildren."
  One poster (Jonathon Hodges I believe) commented that RW was  courteous and 
made time for everyone he met.  On a special occasion in  2003,  my son and I 
were two of those people.  After beating Penn St.  in Happy Valley, we waited 
for the team to arrive outside the locker room.   After exchanging 
pleasantries with Pat Fitzgerald, Luis Castillo and others, we  waited patiently as RW 
shook hands and talked to what were obviously parents of  players and/or close 
friends.  I was surprised when, standing 5-6 feet  away, he turned to me with 
an outstretched hand and a big smile!  I  commented of my happiness of finally 
seeing NU beat State Penn in State College,  and he laughed and said that I 
have suffered much more misery in Beaver Stadium  than he has, and he was glad 
"...the team put on a good show today."  He  than thanked my son for wearing 
his Brett Basenez jersey before saying hello to  someone else.
   Looking back on that moment, he was a proud, yet polite and  very much at 
home with what was going on, as if, this is the way it should be. 
   I felt like I lost a friend today. I will always remember his  
contribution to the program, as well as his respectful way of how he carried  himself, 
and how he treated others.
 
   Eric Kunkel
   proud Wildcat supporter since 1978