Hilltop hero makes impression on, off court
The Mustangs have finished their last game at Moody Coliseum. It was the final time I would hear Varsity as an undergraduate and the last time I would be deemed a Mustang Maniac. In my four years, I have played with and witnessed NBA and NFL players grow as men and mature into role models.
I have been blessed to be on the same team as people that excelled on the field and in life such as Johnny Freeman, Kevin Garrett, Thornton Chandler, Steve Reindl, Chris Cunningham and Brian Bischoff. I have been fortunate to develop friendships with athletes that are sincere people that continually strive for greatness such as James Orr, CB Williams, Jonas Rutledge, John Hampton and Vic Viloria.
However, as the lights dim for the final time in Moody, so does the career of one Mustang that has contributed four years of service to give his heart and body to the SMU basketball program.
He has been in the spotlight for four years, but has always diverted attention to another teammate. He works hard in the classroom and will graduate on time with a degree in Economics. His character is unblemished and is a true testament to quality parents that turned him into a man before an athlete.
SMU has known Quinton Ross for four years, and every day he earns more respect and admiration. There are three aspects of Quinton that the SMU community has been fortunate to see. There is Quinton as a person, Quinton as an athlete and Quinton as a friend.
He is the poster child of any kid growing up in tough neighborhoods and an example of what can be achieved if you focus on education and work hard in the gym.
Quinton as an athlete has been the bedrock for the basketball program for the last four years. His solid play and his fluid moves to the basket have made him a legend to the university. On his march to WAC Player of the Year, he led the WAC in scoring and had solid games against top non-conference talent including Wake Forest and Tennessee.
Quinton has demoralized entire teams and made top contender Carl English bellow in the pains of failure. He has only faced real defeat once, in a game of PIG against 2000 Intramural Basketball Champion Carl Pankratz.
Quinton as a friend is a lifetime relationship. The best story occurred last April. I was a member of the national champion SMU Ad Team, and couldn’t go home for Easter. Going to church on Easter is an integral function of my life and I was unfamiliar with churches in Dallas. In passing, I casually relayed my predicament to Quinton as we proceeded to our next class.
In typical Quinton fashion, he invited me to go to church with his family and wrote down the name of the chapel. I did not go with Quinton that morning, but his eagerness to help me showcases his compassion. He has also been a pleasure to have in class. In study sessions, he comes ready to work and doesn’t leave until everyone understands the class material.
Quinton Ross has been an active contributor to SMU. He is the kind of person you pray your son becomes and will become a wonderful asset to the NBA or any corporation. As graduation nears, never forget the contributions of the seniors. Many leaders are leaving SMU, nervously awaiting life’s next step.
People like myself are awaiting news from law schools while others are harassing companies for a chance to shine. As the future is always the focus of our campus, we must not neglect the past. Quinton Ross is a shining example of a rich athletic past and should always be remembered as one of the greatest. His contributions in academia and athletics are immeasurable, and will be seen in record books for years to come. If you see Quinton in class or on campus tell him thank you. He has bolstered your school and its reputation.
From the entire university: Thank you, Q.
Hilltop hero makes impression on, off court
