About Kevin Saunders and his Rugby Experiences
Kevin Saunders played for the KSUFR team at Kansas State University 1976 - 1978 and Corpus Christi Rugby club 1978 - 1981.
RUGBY A GENTLEMAN'S GAME
My Rugby coach and Rugby friends from the Corpus Christi team I played for helped me come back from the tragic grain elevator explosion when I was depressed and had no reason to live and was ready to give up on life!
Mike Patten, Kevin Saunders and son Steven
I might never have recovered if it hadn’t been for the help of my Rugby coach and Rugby friends, Robert Hays and Bruce Acuna. We’d played together on the Corpus Christi rugby club before my accident, and they’d continued visiting me in the following days. Sensing that I needed a way to channel my hurt and frustrations in attempting to overcome adversity, they did the only thing they knew how to do – they took me to the gym. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to work out, but they wouldn't take no for an answer. They drug me into the weight room and told me to start lifting and to Never Give Up! because “There’s Always a Way”. When I couldn’t do any more reps, they threw a medicine ball at me as hard as they could, taunting and daring me to return it with the same force. I started to remember what a big stress reliever exercise can be, and looked forward to longer, more vigorous workouts.
From those long afternoons in the gym, I learned two things. The first was that, over time, exercise and friendship would heal my body and soul in a way that money could not. The second was how critical it is in life that you surround yourself with people who build you up and with God all things are possible and without the jumpstart that my friends gave me, I don’t know what would have happened to me. When it comes to overcoming adversity, good friends on your side, no adversity too great for you to overcome! Just remember pray and listen for the word of God and Never loose faith and Never Give Up! because, There’s Always A Way!
Inspirational Email From Former Rugby Teammate
