FEATURE: One final poem

MITCHELL, S.D. – What began as a hobby of reading poetry in high school evolved into writing poems for the Dakota Wesleyan University basketball teams at the national tournaments. For Bob Sprang, he started writing poems to show support for the teams, but it quickly developed into an expectation prior to each national tournament game.

 Many might know Bob Sprang as 'Coach' after being an assistant coach for DWU football for several years. He is also the color commentator alongside Tim Smith during radio broadcasts for DWU football and basketball games. When Sprang is not on the radio, he enjoys spending his time writing poetry; specifically for DWU.

 When he was in high school, his mother got him interested in reading poetry. Sprang experimented with writing poems once in a while, but never truly got into it until he retired and him and his wife, Marlys, began traveling.

 When Sprang and his wife traveled on bus trips, he began writing poems as a journal of their trip in poetic form. He quickly became known as the man who wrote poems and was asked to read them aloud after the trip to the whole group.

 "Word spread about my poems," Sprang said. "Usually on the last day of the trip, I would have to read it in front of all our travelers and make sure they received a copy."

 Over time, he began writing poems for the DWU basketball teams that would be read at the pep rally prior to each game of the national tournaments. He began reading them at the first pep rally the year the women's basketball team won the national championship and he just continued from there. 

 "I honestly don't remember why I began writing them other than the fact I wanted to let them (the players) know, not only my support, but for ALL the fans, and it just grew from there," Sprang commented. "Game one, then for game two, and so on. It actually became an expectation I think and has continued for each tournament since."

 Sprang said he wrote poems for the men's basketball team but never had the chance to read the poems to the players. However, this year he wrote tributes to the seniors of both basketball teams. The poems were laminated and given to the parents and players to keep.

 When asked about if he had a favorite poem or a memory that sticks with him, Sprang mentioned his time writing his 'final' poem for the women's basketball team this year.

 "I think all of them have a special spot in my heart for the DWU teams," Sprang said. "But probably the one that will stick in my heart the most, will be the 'LAST' one dealing with the tournament we will remember as the most bizarre. That one, I could hardly finish because of the tears in my eyes knowing how I felt and could only imagine how our young ladies felt. What I wrote that night definitely came from the HEART."

 Although he did not have the chance to read the poem to the players, he said the players received a copy of it. With his permission, we were allowed to post Coach Sprang's final poem for all fans to read.

 Game one of the 2020 National Tournament is done,

Oh, those "Lady Tigers" ... once again, they have won.

Our seniors stepped up, and all with big games, came shining through,

As they performed marvelously for the White and the Blue.

 It was the taming of the Wildcats that needed to be done,

The Golden trophy awaits, but it will take contributions from everyone.

The game was played in the most unusual conditions, to say the least,

No fans in attendance, as the Coronavirus became the beast.

 Unusual as it was, the parents in attendance, made a heck of a noise,

An additional factor in helping our Ladies keep their poise.

It was a "back and forth" battle throughout the first half,

Before we took control, and wrote "RIP" on the Wildcats epitaph.

 We owned the second half with outstanding "D",

Adjustments made at halftime, executed by all, down to a "T".

The final score ... 78-67 a win, now on to "game two",

A first-round win — a stamp of approval for DWU.

 Oh, but wait ... there is a message of extremely sad news,

The NAIA - with the VIRUS spreading, they will need to defuse.

The news ... "We are CANCELLING all remaining tournament games",

Dashed all hopes, ... our dreams ... up in flames.

 In every National Tournament, there is always some tears,

But this ... who would have thought ... not I ... not in a million years.

It's understood it is for the health and safety for all,

To our seniors especially, the realization of "We are done" ... no more basketball.

 This hurt, will no doubt, never go away,

There will always be the "IF's" of future tournament games, and how we would play.

The decision had been made, and it's over and it's done,

Sad as it is, as bad as it hurts, to the loyal DWU fans Ladies, you are still second to none.

 It's hard to imagine - so close to this event,

That we will ever forget this tournament ... the tournament of discontent.

I know you are resilient, I know that you are,

But you will always remember this tournament, with its ending, so bizarre.

 This season is now over, it has come to a close,

Sad for you ... sad for me ... no more poems to compose

You offer so much, and oh, so much more than just your game,

Your inspiration, your character, your role modeling, to that, you can all acclaim.

 As fans, and loyal DWU supporters, we thank you so much,

For being "who you are" it just adds such a "special" touch.

There is no better feeling than to see you ... in the White and the Blue,

We know that you are the "BEST" when it comes to representing DWU.

EPILOGUE:

 To you Seniors - what words - and how can I say it,

You are "special", a blessing to all, friends of each other, and so tight knit.

Four short years, we have watched you play, and have watched you grow,

Through cloudy days, sunshine and rain, and the National Title, the ultimate rainbow.

 We love you, we will miss you, there is no doubt,

Your beauty, your talents, certainly hard to be without.

What you have contributed, and brought to DWU,

Your legacy will shine brightly, no question, this so true.