Keep Hope Alive

You may recognize this photo if you follow college football. The ESPN College Gameday Show had come to the University of Washington Huskies’ campus in Seattle, on November 18, 2016, for the second time in three years. Fans hold up funny signs and wave school flags behind the on-air personalities while they talk about the games of the week. My alma mater, Washington State University, has been waving the WSU flag for 192 consecutive game days, ever since October 18, 2003. 

The WSU flag originally was raised in hopes of getting ESPN to bring their show to Pullman, Washington, since Washington State was having a great season. As of this writing, that still hasn’t happened. However, what started as a display of hope, pride, and school spirit has grown and attracted national fame, created a sort of collective legacy and unity of spirit, and vaulted WSU’s flag and logo to iconic status.

Every time ESPN announces the upcoming location for the College Gameday Show, WSU’s flag and manual detailing the plan and responsibilities for flying the flag is shipped to a WSU alumni at that location. The alum dutifully waves the Washington State flag throughout the show, and then wraps up the flag and waits for the process to begin again with the announcement of ESPN’s next location.

This poignant example of setting goals and making plans in the sports realm is similar to what plays out in schools each day. We set forth academic goals for students, and then we plan, strategize, show up, do the work, and unite for children.

Some goals are easily reached, but other goals require us to continue to strive, stretch, and work together. Hope fuels our spirits and hearts, giving us the resolve to wave the flag for the future success of each of our students. 

I believe that someday ESPN’s College Gameday Show will be held at Washington State University in Pullman. Until then, I know I can count on the WSU flag flying proudly at each and every Gameday, keeping all of our hopes alive.

 

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