UH's Jamal Shead Praised For Picking Up Trash After Loss

HOUSTON, TX — Crushing losses sometimes can bring out poor displays of sportsmanship, but Houston guard Jamal Shead's small act of kindness helped turn an ugly situation into a heartfelt one.

The 14th-ranked Cougars suffered a controversial 83-82 loss to then-No. 9 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Saturday when a tip-in at the buzzer was knocked away by Crimson Tide player JD Davison. Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson and several players argued in vain that the block should have been called goaltending, which would have awarded a basket and the victory to Houston.

After assistant coach Kellen Sampson, Kelvin's son, and a player knocked over chairs and a trash can while heading into the tunnel in frustration following the loss, Shead stopped on his way by to put it right. In a video shot by Twitter user and Alabama fan Austin Rader, Shead can be seen stopping, putting the trash can upright and scooping trash back into the receptacle.

The video prompted an outpour of praise for Shead, a sophomore guard and Austin-area native who graduated from Manor High School.

"What a great example this young man is," Elgin head football coach and athletic director Heath Clawson tweeted. "It took zero talent to do this. No one had to tell him to do it. He wasn't looking for praise or a reward. He didn't hesitate thinking it was someone else's job. Simply doing the right thing. Celebrate the greatness of his attitude!!"

Another Twitter user pointed out Shead's actions as "what leadership looks like."

"I don’t even know Jamal Shead, but I can tell you I would want him in my locker room for any sport," the person tweeted.

Kelvin Sampson reached out Sunday to both Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne and head coach Nate Oats to apologize for his team's actions after the game.

The Southeastern Conference told Alabama head coach Nate Oats that the correct call was made at the end of the game, according to AL.com.