Standing Tall

Work hard and dont look for excuses C. Vivian Stringers parents told her and you can achieve anything. But her faith and perseverance would be tested many times. A gifted athlete she had to fight for a place on an all-White cheerleading squad in the 60s. In 1981 just as her coaching career was taking off her 14-month-old daughter Nina was stricken with spinal meningitis. Nina would never walk or talk again. Still grieving Stringer brought a small poor historically Black college to the national championships - a triumph hailed as Hoosiers with an all-female cast. In 1991 her husband Bill fell dead of a sudden heart attack but that same year she led yet another young team to the Final Four. Through these dark times and others Stringer has carried her burdens with grace. Given her history it was no surprise that she led her team to respond to Don Imuss slurs with dignity and courage.Standing Tall is a story of quiet strength in the face of punishing odds. Above all it is an extraordinary love story - love for the game for the players she has coached for her close-knit family and for the husband she lost far too soon. It will resonate long after the last word.