Picture Of Texas H.S. Football Player Helping Ref Goes Viral
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
EULESS (CBS 11 NEWS) - A viral picture showing a true act of sportsmanship between a North Texas high school football player and an umpire has captured the hearts of many.
Last Friday night Euless Trinity Defensive Tackle Markoni Pole accidentally ran right into an official knocking him to the ground. Moments after a picture was taken as he picked him up off the ground and helped dust him off.
Pole said, "I thought about it when I was running, and I turned back around and picked him up."
The gesture is a stark contrast to the incident a few weeks ago involving two San Antonio area high school students who intentionally speared an umpire during a game. It has been reported that their coach admitted to giving the order for that hit.
Pole's action wasn't planned or intended to create buzz on social media, but many have used it as an example to prove that Texas high school football is full of camaraderie and respect.
When asked about what prompted him to intuitively help the officials Pole said, "I just felt like I needed to help the guy because I hit him pretty hard."
The official, Jack Henrietta a 19-year officiating veteran, was not seriously hurt.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)