MGoBlogs: Men's Cross Country, Vol 1 No. 1
10/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
"Very nice." Ron Warhurst's catch phrase dates back to the '70s, when he began coaching at Michigan. He yells it to his runners during meets to let them know how they are doing. In 1988 the team had shirts made with Warhurst's face on the front and "very nice" on the back. Today the Wolverines have "very nice" on the back of all their shirts and hats, including a fresh shipment of headwear that arrived last week before the trip to NCAA Pre-Nationals.
The day before Pre-Nationals, Warhurst encountered a family of Oklahoma Sooners fans at the team's hotel. Sheree Morehead, her husband and their nine-year-old son, Ryan, were in Indianapolis for the wedding of Sheree's nephew. Warhurst, whose son Luke is six years old, was drawn to Ryan the moment he saw him.
"It was around nine o'clock Friday morning and he was sitting with his mother for breakfast." said Warhurst. "She was holding him while he was looking around, and I thought about my son. I went up to the parents and asked if they thought he would wear a hat, and Sheree said, 'I think so.'"
Sheree then explained that Ryan had been diagnosed with multiple disabilities and how he was fine cognitively but was non-ambulatory and non-verbal. Warhurst proceeded upstairs to his room for a "very nice" hat. "I brought it down, she put it on him and he was just so excited, it was heartwarming."
Though he doesn't wear a lot of hats, Ryan has proudly sported the block "M" since receiving the hat, even wearing it to school the following Monday to show it off, accompanied by a note from his mother to Ryan's teacher explaining the story behind the new gear and a "very nice" coach from Michigan.
Sheree also followed up with an e-mail to Warhurst and his team:
Thank you so much. We will still be a fan of Oklahoma teams, but you now have a new family of Michigan fans. You had a great group representing your school this weekend, you should be proud. Best of luck to all the young men and their coaches. -- Sheree Morehead and family
