HAILSTATEBEAT: Memories Made On Road Dawgs Tour 2018
May 14, 2018 | HailStateBEAT
HailStateBEAT
A Memphis native and a 2014 Mississippi State graduate now in her fourth year of veterinary school, Ashley Reeves, pictured above with head football coach Joe Moorhead and athletic director John Cohen, was scheduled for open heart surgery this afternoon, the third such procedure she's had to undergo in her life. With her alma mater's annual Road Dawgs tour in town the day of her operation, her friends had planned to get a football signed by Moorhead after he spoke so that they could take it to her and surprise her with it as soon she came out of surgery.Â
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But at the last minute, Ashley got a call. A newborn at the hospital was in immediate need of surgery, and her time slot was the one they needed. The delay to her own surgery was unexpected, but she quickly and happily agreed to postpone her procedure until Wednesday in favor of the newborn baby.Â
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Later, an hour before the Road Dawgs event was scheduled to begin, Moorhead was sitting on MSU's tour bus outside the Memphis botanic gardens when his communication director got a text message from someone in the alumni association asking if he could bring a few people onto the bus to meet Moorhead.Â
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Five minutes later, the head coach held out his hand to introduce himself to the second of three people to step on the bus.Â
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Instead of a signed football, she got to meet the real person behind it and take a picture with the new man leading her Bulldogs. Ashley is still in good health as she pursues her career, and no complications are expected with her procedure, making the timing of the delayed surgery all the more serendipitous.
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Moorhead had no idea what was happening in Ashley's life until after he met her, and she had no idea she was going to meet Moorhead before she was unexpectedly taken to the bus. Now that they've met, each of them has a new fan. She'll be cheering for him this fall, and he'll be cheering for her this Wednesday.Â
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But at the last minute, Ashley got a call. A newborn at the hospital was in immediate need of surgery, and her time slot was the one they needed. The delay to her own surgery was unexpected, but she quickly and happily agreed to postpone her procedure until Wednesday in favor of the newborn baby.Â
Â
Later, an hour before the Road Dawgs event was scheduled to begin, Moorhead was sitting on MSU's tour bus outside the Memphis botanic gardens when his communication director got a text message from someone in the alumni association asking if he could bring a few people onto the bus to meet Moorhead.Â
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Â"Sure," Moorhead responded. "Bring 'em on."
Five minutes later, the head coach held out his hand to introduce himself to the second of three people to step on the bus.Â
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Â"Hi," he said. "Joe Moorhead."Â
ÂTaking his hand, she looked up at MSU's new coach and replied, "Ashley. Great to meet you."
Instead of a signed football, she got to meet the real person behind it and take a picture with the new man leading her Bulldogs. Ashley is still in good health as she pursues her career, and no complications are expected with her procedure, making the timing of the delayed surgery all the more serendipitous.
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Â"It was so cool," she said later while waiting to hear him speak at the event. "He's really tall! And he's so nice. Just so nice and sweet."
Moorhead had no idea what was happening in Ashley's life until after he met her, and she had no idea she was going to meet Moorhead before she was unexpectedly taken to the bus. Now that they've met, each of them has a new fan. She'll be cheering for him this fall, and he'll be cheering for her this Wednesday.Â
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