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NOT CRYING — It’s been an emotional week in this country. Take time to grieve.
But as they often are, sports can be a great healer at a time of tragedy.
One example of that came this week in Las Vegas, site of the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history and a game between hometown UNLV and San Diego State.
Another example came in Gainesville, Florida, the home of rock-and-roll legend Tom Petty and the University of Florida.
Here are some of our favorite tributes and moments from the weekend. As always, click the video above for the full allotment of Great Clips of the Week.
Football helping to heal Vegas
We won’t dwell on the tragedy that took 58 lives at a local country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip too much.
But before San Diego State’s 41-10 win over UNLV at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, both teams paid tributes to the victims with special patches, helmets and a moment of silence prior to kickoff. The Rebel athletic department honored first responders to the shooting, too.
Then, they released 58 balloons into the air — in honor of those who lost their lives.
58 balloons released in honor of those who lost their lives in the #LasVegasShooting. #VegasStrongpic.twitter.com/WRHQR1MjyG
— Zac Pacleb (@ZacPacleb) October 8, 2017
In the grand scheme of life, sports are meaningless. Winners, losers and points on a field mean little when compared to the loss of life and tragedy of the world around us.
But for a moment, they can help. They can heal. And hopefully, there was a little bit of that Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Tom Petty remembered in Gainesville
Petty was a rock-and-roll legend, both with the Heartbreakers and through a magnificent solo career.
Ask any music fan; whether they were a fan of Petty or not, everyone had a favorite song.
One popular favorite, no doubt, is “I Won’t Back Down," Petty’s 1989 classic that has become an anthem for anyone who has “[stood] up at the gates of Hell.”
The University of Florida used the song to remember Petty, a longtime Gainesville resident, during its 17-16 loss to Louisiana State last Saturday.
This one’s for you, @TomPetty. pic.twitter.com/OMUwJOnAgS
— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) October 7, 2017
The university athletic department also hinted that the celebration of Petty’s life and career could become a regular tradition. Would anyone oppose the move?
We won’t.
Cosmo’s got moves
We won’t end this weekly series on a somber note.
A few weeks ago, the BYU football team paid tribute to the jersey retirement of Marc Wilson, Robbie Bosco and Luke Staley by scoring their jersey number in a 40-6 loss to Wisconsin.
The losing continued in Provo, with a 24-7 loss to Boise State.
And the biggest winner of BYU’s 2017 football season thus far? Cosmo.
Watch him join the Cougarettes for a sick routine during one of the timeout breaks in Provo last Friday night.
The greatest non-scoring high school football play of all time
Lima High School just had one final kickoff to finish off Toledo’s Saint Francis de Sales 25-24 in a prep football game in Ohio last Friday.
What could go wrong?
Nothing — thanks to one play by the kicker. But it isn’t the one you are thinking.
CRAZIEST PLAY OF THE NIGHT! Kicker saves the day for @LimaSeniorHS after numerous laterals. pic.twitter.com/YZON2wQmux
— The Cube (@TheCubeDotCom) October 7, 2017
Cole Mericle pulled out a Cole miracle in Ohio.