Austin Hatch Feature on Today Show
Interview and story re: Austin Hatch coming up on the Today Show for anyone who's interested in watching. Not sure of the exact time...just referenced that it'll be in "the next hour."
Looks like he was interviewed by Maria Shriver (or, "Skeletor," as my wife calls her).
Get out the tissues. Or start chopping onions or release some dust in the air.
August 22nd, 2014 at 8:09 AM ^
all of the above, mixed in with some allergy season.
August 22nd, 2014 at 8:12 AM ^
TV channel switched. Going for the tissue box.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:34 PM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 8:16 AM ^
now.
August 22nd, 2014 at 8:28 AM ^
allergy system.
Good story. Basically the same information. It was interesting watching the reaction to the Today hosts. Their jaws actually dropped at what he has been going through and the way he is handling it. They did go more into his drive to succeed which makes me think even more that he's going to be playing some basketball for the University of Michigan. He is an amazing kid. Don't rule him out.
One of the people on the show said all they could say was "Go Blue!".
August 22nd, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
I think it was Carson Daly who said Go Blue.
August 22nd, 2014 at 8:44 AM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 8:51 AM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
I was expecting him to be put on medical also. Looks like he has a chance to be an active member of the team. Go Austin. Go blue.
August 22nd, 2014 at 8:52 AM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 8:53 AM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 8:54 AM ^
...but still very moving. A credit to him that he still has any faith after everything that he's been through. I've seen too many people give up or adopt a "woe is me" attitude while facing much less adversity than he's faced.
August 22nd, 2014 at 8:58 AM ^
The Today Show did a great thing, highlighting this young man's character and outlook in overcoming tragedies in his young life.
I couldn't help but feel like - it's NBC for crying out loud. How about some game film from Italy. Don't they know football season hasn't started yet, so we need this shit.
Glad he's part of the Michigan Family. Go Blue.
August 22nd, 2014 at 9:03 AM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 9:27 AM ^
My wife calls Kyle Singler "skeletor"
August 22nd, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^
That's really unfair to Skeletor. They should both be ashamed of themselves.
August 22nd, 2014 at 9:10 AM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 9:17 AM ^
is your wife Butters?
August 22nd, 2014 at 9:29 AM ^
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
August 22nd, 2014 at 9:30 AM ^
hair too late.
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:57 AM ^
Wow... who cares about lack of video from Italy. That was amazing.
Also love how (I don't know who that was) the UM grad at the table (at least I assume he was) had to sneak in a "Go Blue" at the end -- although it was ignored by the others at the table.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
He attended Loyola Marymount University.
August 22nd, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^
Sure, but he probably wanted to go to Michigan.
August 22nd, 2014 at 9:47 AM ^
Dusty onions.
I cannot wait until this kid takes the floor at Crisler Center for the first time.
August 22nd, 2014 at 10:11 AM ^
There was a story about him on People Magazine as well.
LINKAugust 22nd, 2014 at 10:20 AM ^
He is truly a remarkable young man.
Go Blue!
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^
i told people before hes going to be the top storie in collage basketball this year. bigger than who wins it all at the final 4
August 22nd, 2014 at 11:44 AM ^
Wow. Very well done NBC. Go Austin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
I love stories like this. Cannot. get. enough. So happy for Austin, so glad he is on the team, don't believe his story is finished by a long shot.
Just two additional comments.
- Hatch's faith in God is very important to him. He could have said, "curse God and die" but he didn't. He could have been angry with God at the loss of his family, but he wasn't. Having said that, Hatch finds the perfect balance in expressing his faith. On the one hand, he doesn't hide his faith in God, but is open in acknowledging it when asked about it by Shriver. On the other hand, Hatch is not aggressive, obnoxious, or in your face with his faith (as some have accused Tebow of doing.)
- The second thing is that I wish the piece had been able to talk about the bond between Beilein and Hatch. The story of Beilein taking the time to be at Hatch's bedside after the accident is incredible. You can tell that he is partly a surrogate father. For Beilein to do this, it is obvious that he also is a man with faith in God. Beilein is not the only one: assistant coach Jeff Meyer is a strong Christian, as was former player Morgan, as was former MVP Trey Burke, as are some on the current team. Like Hatch, none of them, not Beilein, nor Meyer, nor Morgan, nor Burke, are aggressive and obnoxious about their faith in God. But neither do they deny that God is in their lives, and is a guiding principle. There are many athletes and coaches on Michigan's teams who come from this perspective. There is a somewhat hidden spiritual foundation that is significant in the kind of players being recruited, and the kind of atmosphere the coaches have developed. As is appropriate, their faith life is not typically a matter for public discussion, which I believe is wise. I would simply say that this dynamic is a bit out of step with the wider culture at U of M, and yet, it is a healthy dynamic that bodes well for the future.
August 22nd, 2014 at 12:16 PM ^
For those making fun of Maria Shriver. She is a Kennedy and knows her share of tragic losses.
She lost an Aunt and Uncle in separate plane crashes and two uncles to assasinations.
She has held her head up high in having to deal with Arnold's transgressions. I thought she did a great job in this piece.
Also it was not Carson Daly who said, 'Go Blue". It was Peter Alexander. He attended Northwestern.
August 22nd, 2014 at 4:30 PM ^
And she had to deal with the death of that woman her uncle Ted killed. That had to be tough.
August 22nd, 2014 at 5:11 PM ^
We've all probably had more than our fair share of tragedies. Like most of you, I could write a book. It's just that hers are more public...so we know about them.
And, yes, she's a pretty good TV news personality.
Doesn't change the fact that she is very thin and has very severe facial features.
August 22nd, 2014 at 5:37 PM ^
August 22nd, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
What an amazing story. I can't imagine how Austin feels, being the only survivor left in his family after TWO crashes. Wow. I wish him nothing but the best at Michigan.
August 23rd, 2014 at 12:11 AM ^
Wow. Just wow. He is so strong, and his parents obviously did a great job raising him and instilling their values in him. I had no idea his mom went to UM and that he grew up wanting to go here - that makes the fact that he's finally here that much sweeter. I can't wait to see him play at Crisler! I also wish they had touched on his bond with Coach B. I have enjoyed reading the articles describing their relationship. I am sure it has helped Austin to have Coach B and the rest of the staff believing in him and supporting him.