June 12, 2004
After successfully parachuting from 12,000 feet on Saturday, first-year Texas A&M men's basketball coach Billy Gillispie has a simple message for his team going into the 2004-05 season: "Don't be afraid to jump."
Gillispie and seven other novice jumpers served as a warm-up act on Saturday for former President George H.W. Bush, who will make celebrate his 80th birthday on Sunday with a parachute jump at the Bush Presidential Library on the A&M campus.
Gillispie was accompanied by members of the Golden Knights, the U.S. Army Parachute Team, on the jump at Coulter Field in Bryan.
"Talk about a rush," Gillispie said. "What a thrill and an honor to jump with these guys. It's one of the greatest experiences I've had in my life. I appreciate what these guys do for our country and I appreciate the chance they gave me to do this.
"I took a leap of faith when I accepted the A&M job and I want my team to not be afraid of anything," Gillispie added. "I want them to have that attitude about basketball and about life. You only go around once and you should make the best of every moment."
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