No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
On October 15 of this year Zack Hougland of Columbus Junction, Iowa dashed across the finish line to become Davis Country High School’s first ever District Cross Country Champion in the Class 2-A division. While basking in the glory of his victory, Zack noticed that Mediapolis runner Garrett Hinson was about 15 meters from finishing, but had fallen over and was in need of assistance. Hougland ran over to Hinson, got him back up, helped steady him and supported him for about 7 meters then gave him a “you can do it” and a light push. Hinson crossed the finish line unaided. Before he was to receive his laurels, however, Zack Hougland was informed by officials that both he and Hinson were disqualified because of Hougland giving aid to Hinson which was in violation of the National High School Athletic Association’s rules for Cross Country Running events. Hougland was aware that a runner couldn’t be helped across the finish line but didn’t think that aiding a runner in distress would cause him to be disqualified. The rule exists to keep runners from cheating, but this wasn’t the case with Hougland and Hinson.
Zack Hougland had worked all summer in training so that he could qualify for the Iowa State Cross Country Championships. Hougland’s Coach Josh Husted said that Zack was in the best shape of his life and as to the situation, Zack saw a competitor that seemed to be in dire straits so he helped him. Bud Legg of the Iowa State High School Athletic Association said, “A runner who receives or gives assistance to another runner is disqualified by rule. While it was certainly a sportsmanlike act on the part of Zachary Hougland it remains a violation and the official had no choice but to enforce the rule.”
When asked by the media if he would change his actions if he had it to do over again, Zack Hougland had this to say: “If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing because I did what I thought was right. If you show good sportsmanship, if you participate because you love what you are doing and are having fun, then I think that is what it’s all about.”
The rest of the Davis High Cross Country Team scored well enough for the Mustangs to qualify for the State Championships as a team, so Zack did get to compete in the 2-A Championships on October 25th, but there is a petition circulating nationally calling for the Iowa State High School Athlete Association to restore Zachary Hougland’s victory because, as the petition states, “No athlete should be penalized for showing good sportsmanship.” The Association remains firm in its stance that the rules should be enforced equally to maintain the integrity of the sport.
NCAAF Bowl Games
Both of the national polls have the 13-0 Clemson Tigers of the Atlantic Coast Conference as the number 1 ranked college football team and that is no surprise. Alabama, Michigan State, and Oklahoma are 2 through 4 in both polls. You most likely saw Iowa beat Michigan State for the Big Ten Title at Lucas Oil Stadium last Saturday night to win the Big 10 Football Conference Championship. Iowa was ranked 5 in the CFB Selection Committee Poll with Stanford at 6. The AP had Stanford at 5 and Iowa at 6. Iowa will go to the Rose Bowl as the Big Ten Champs and meet Stanford, the Pac 12 Champs, on New Year’s Day. Michigan State will play Alabama in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl and Clemson will play Oklahoma in the Capital One Orange Bowl also on New Year’s Eve. Notre Dame will meet Ohio State in the Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl. That could wind up being the most exciting game of the Bowl season. There are actually 40 Bowl games that will be played in post-season during the holiday which will involve 80 teams. The Auto Nation Cure Bowl will be played December 19 and will feature Georgia State with a 6-6 record playing San Jose State at 5-7. But for my money, the New Era Pinstripe Bowl in the Bronx, New York is the game with the most local interest. The 6-6 Fighting Hoosiers of Indiana University will take on the 7-5 Duke University Blue Devils in Yankee Stadium — the House that Ruth Built! W-O-W! You can be sure I will be watching that game!
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