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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 6, 1993                   TAG: 9302060025
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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COACH SET GOOD EXAMPLE

I was very disappointed in the VHSL ruling concerning the Salem/Richlands football controversy. What kind of message is the VHSL sending out? In my opinion, they are saying to our kids that you can do things that are illegal and still be a winner.

Putting all of this aside, after protesting the use of illegal cleats by the Richlands team, I feel that Salem came up a big winner. A winner because we have a coach, Willis White, who believes that winning is important but much more important than winning is how we play the game. At the VHSL meeting in Charlottesville, White spoke his piece, as he should have, and stood up for the excellent team that he had coached. In a few years, all of this will be forgotten, but the example of honesty and integrity that coach White has given the kids at Salem High School will remain with them for the rest of their lives. If we have taught our kids the importance of this, it is much more valuable and a far greater treasure than any tarnished trophy that sits in a showcase.

So, to White, the assistant coaches and to the team at Salem High School, I would like to say:

You may not have a trophy setting in your showcase to say that you are the state football champions, but in the hearts of all the Salem football fans, you are all winners. You played the game fairly and that's what really counts.

DON MABES\ SALEM

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