University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: John Kelley
Ron Courson - Respected By All
October 18, 2018 | Football
By Loran Smith
When the good things in life are prevalent, as they are for so many of us, it is easy to take circumstances and people for granted. We take breakfast for granted, for example, until it isn't there for whatever reason.
The traffic light is always operating. The air conditioning works when we enter our building. The sun comes up. Staff workers are smiling and the hum of business-as-usual makes us lapse into a comfortable routine, assuming there were be no faux pas or interruptions.
In every community, we seldom know about the several individuals who dedicatedly give of themselves, going beyond the call of duty, to assist others. We don't think about needing a doctor until we need one. For years, I have noticed the extraordinary function of Ron Courson, the Director of Sports Medicine for the University of Georgia. He starts early, he goes deep into the evening, often turning in so late he hardly has time to say "Goodnight" to his pretty wife, Eileen.
By 5:30 a.m. his Chevy pickup is parked in its familiar spot at the entrance to the Indoor Practice facility, named for Billy Payne and his late father, Porter. Courson's first commitment every day is for a workout with David Sailors, vascular surgeon who maintains a close relationship with Courson and Georgia athletics.
By 6:30 a.m., Courson's day begins. His primary job is helping players maneuver through physical therapy routines so they can successfully rehab for a return to competition as soon as possible. But he has a mother hen environment. A secretary in the building turns an ankle and hobbles down for inspection. Ron works her in for advice and treatment. A college friend has an issue with a child that brings on a lot of worried concern. Ron has long distance advice for him and will likely know a doctor who will know a nearby physician who can provide assistance.
A man in Ron's position has to deal with today's medical bureaucracy which has become overwhelming for the medical community. Ron is efficient with such requirement. He always has a stack of forms to fill and reports to generate. If the book on a certain injury says a player has to sit for three weeks, no exceptions are allowed. Health takes precedence over game winning expediency.
His peers favor him with the highest of tribute. National Football League Trainers sing his praises. A player takes off his Georgia jersey in his last game as a Bulldog, gets drafted and subsequently is injured, his pro trainer is easily compatible with the player rehabbing back home with his college athletic trainer --if it is Ron Courson.
Respect is the ultimate tribute a person can incur in any profession. When that comes about, it usually goes beyond professional competency. It is more than professional training, academic study and due diligence.
For years, I have observed Ron Courson's body of work and don't see how anyone could be a greater over achiever or more professionally caring. I know the excessive hours he puts in. I know the personal and family sacrifices he has made. He makes hospital visits to see athletes, most of all those who have parents who can't get to Athens; especially those who can't get off work. He becomes a surrogate parent on an ongoing basis.
He became the personal advisor and care-giver for Devon Gales, the Southern University player who was injured in a game in Sanford Stadium. Southern's insurance did not take care Devon's needs. Ron tried to fill the void with advice and concern, connecting the family to advisors ad agencies who have gone all out to help Devon live as normal of a life as possible.
It took, however, a broken hip, personally, to graphically confirm he is a man with a missionary outreach, a shepherd's-like attention to everyone who needs anything from a Band-Aid to major surgery. He called to check on me daily. Sometimes at 9:00 p.m. I became his last appointment. He took me through a rehab routine, cracking jokes and leaving me with the confidence that happy days are ahead.
There is an adage which has been bandied about in athletic training circles for years which Ron, himself, could have been the author.
Athletes want to know how much you care, before they care how much you know.
Athletes at Georgia care deeply about Ron Courson because they know he cares about them.
When the good things in life are prevalent, as they are for so many of us, it is easy to take circumstances and people for granted. We take breakfast for granted, for example, until it isn't there for whatever reason.
The traffic light is always operating. The air conditioning works when we enter our building. The sun comes up. Staff workers are smiling and the hum of business-as-usual makes us lapse into a comfortable routine, assuming there were be no faux pas or interruptions.
In every community, we seldom know about the several individuals who dedicatedly give of themselves, going beyond the call of duty, to assist others. We don't think about needing a doctor until we need one. For years, I have noticed the extraordinary function of Ron Courson, the Director of Sports Medicine for the University of Georgia. He starts early, he goes deep into the evening, often turning in so late he hardly has time to say "Goodnight" to his pretty wife, Eileen.
By 5:30 a.m. his Chevy pickup is parked in its familiar spot at the entrance to the Indoor Practice facility, named for Billy Payne and his late father, Porter. Courson's first commitment every day is for a workout with David Sailors, vascular surgeon who maintains a close relationship with Courson and Georgia athletics.
By 6:30 a.m., Courson's day begins. His primary job is helping players maneuver through physical therapy routines so they can successfully rehab for a return to competition as soon as possible. But he has a mother hen environment. A secretary in the building turns an ankle and hobbles down for inspection. Ron works her in for advice and treatment. A college friend has an issue with a child that brings on a lot of worried concern. Ron has long distance advice for him and will likely know a doctor who will know a nearby physician who can provide assistance.
A man in Ron's position has to deal with today's medical bureaucracy which has become overwhelming for the medical community. Ron is efficient with such requirement. He always has a stack of forms to fill and reports to generate. If the book on a certain injury says a player has to sit for three weeks, no exceptions are allowed. Health takes precedence over game winning expediency.
His peers favor him with the highest of tribute. National Football League Trainers sing his praises. A player takes off his Georgia jersey in his last game as a Bulldog, gets drafted and subsequently is injured, his pro trainer is easily compatible with the player rehabbing back home with his college athletic trainer --if it is Ron Courson.
Respect is the ultimate tribute a person can incur in any profession. When that comes about, it usually goes beyond professional competency. It is more than professional training, academic study and due diligence.
For years, I have observed Ron Courson's body of work and don't see how anyone could be a greater over achiever or more professionally caring. I know the excessive hours he puts in. I know the personal and family sacrifices he has made. He makes hospital visits to see athletes, most of all those who have parents who can't get to Athens; especially those who can't get off work. He becomes a surrogate parent on an ongoing basis.
He became the personal advisor and care-giver for Devon Gales, the Southern University player who was injured in a game in Sanford Stadium. Southern's insurance did not take care Devon's needs. Ron tried to fill the void with advice and concern, connecting the family to advisors ad agencies who have gone all out to help Devon live as normal of a life as possible.
It took, however, a broken hip, personally, to graphically confirm he is a man with a missionary outreach, a shepherd's-like attention to everyone who needs anything from a Band-Aid to major surgery. He called to check on me daily. Sometimes at 9:00 p.m. I became his last appointment. He took me through a rehab routine, cracking jokes and leaving me with the confidence that happy days are ahead.
There is an adage which has been bandied about in athletic training circles for years which Ron, himself, could have been the author.
Athletes want to know how much you care, before they care how much you know.
Athletes at Georgia care deeply about Ron Courson because they know he cares about them.
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