Copyright Kristine Paulsen 2007GameDay Kaimin
The City of Missoula got a lot of points in the paint from the Montana men’s basketball team on Tuesday.
In conjunction with the University of Montana’s Homecoming week, the 16-man roster teamed up with Facilities Services to add a fresh coat of white paint to the “M” on Mount Sentinel Tuesday afternoon.
“We are really thankful that the team did it,” said Hugh Jesse, director of Facility Services. “It allows us as a department to spread our funds to the fullest,” he added.
One of the University’s most prominent symbols, the “M,” has only been painted twice in the past 20 years, with the most recent polish coming in 2004. Coordinated by Facility Services, the team’s paint supply was provided through affiliated campus stores. Originally thought to take 100 gallons, the laborers from Facility Services replenished the team halfway through the 2.5-hour project with an additional 25 gallons.
Head coach Wayne Tinkle and assistant coach Andy Hill – who oversaw the project – spearheaded the team’s painting efforts in 2004 and with Tuesday’s new job, have begun a new Homecoming team tradition in their four-year tenure.
“To do this for the community, especially on Homecoming week, it’s a great feeling for our team,” said Hill, who added that the project allows his team to bond while giving back. “As a coach, you love seeing the camaraderie beyond the basketball floor. A project like this gets our team together in a positive way, and it really does bring them closer.”
Aside from community service, the effort also means an upgrade for the 39-year-old mammoth stone letter. According to Gene O’Neill, UM’s assistant director of maintenance, it needed it badly.
“It really needed to be painted,” O’Neill said, adding that while many Facility Service laborers were transporting supplies up Missoula’s busiest hiking trail for a good amount of the day, the team’s donation made all of the difference. “The team made a big contribution. It really means a lot. It not only gives them an opportunity to bond, but it also helps the school and our services tremendously.”
The team’s contribution on Tuesday was the latest installment in their community service so far this year. On Sept. 15, they also participated in the Missoula Heart Walk, an American Heart Association sponsored event that raised money through a three-mile walk around campus. Notably, Facilities Services has interacted with student athletes on many community service projects, including when the women’s soccer team recently painted the locker rooms at Dornblaser Field.
“We have a great relationship with the athletic department,” O’Neill said. “Their help means a lot to us, and we will continue to work together on future projects.”
And that’s perfectly fine for Hill and the team.
“We love doing this,” Hill said. “We have such great fans who give so much to us all year long, so this is a great opportunity for our guys to give back.”
No comments:
Post a Comment