All of us in the business, or trying to learn the biz, know the importance of scores and stats.
In three-plus years I’ve seen a stat sheet or 2,000 and countless scores.
But honestly, I don’t remember too many scores except for 38-31 (the good), 9-7 (the bad) and 24-21 (the painfully close game of wouldas, shouldas and couldas).
As I walked on the turf of Scott Field after time ran out on my final home game as sports editor, I was filled with pride to be pacing the same turf the team had left its soul on moments before.
The heart displayed by the team lingered in the air just above the damp grass.
It hit me like a ton of bricks or a Jermaine O’Neal right hook.
These football seniors fought through injuries, insults, NCAA investigations and Saturday’s injustices and never gave up.
That’s inspirational.
Because it’s easy to keep going when you win and easier to give up when you don’t.
But if the Dawgs had given up there never would have been the jubilation of Florida.
While I won’t remember scores, I’ll never forget personas.
Take the work ethic and attitude of Ray Ray Bivines, who missed his final season on the field due to a nagging hamstring.
But Bivines never missed a practice this season. He was in the game in spirit Saturday when McKinley Scott donned his number. Scott caught seven for 111.
I don’t write for the numbers, I don’t write for the pay I write because of moments like that.
Gladly I have other memories tattooed in my brain.
I remember the nervousness of my first basketball press conference and meeting Coach Stansbury for the first time after a month on the job.
I recall driving solo to Dallas to cover my first NCAA hoops tourney and meeting Sports Illustrated’s Mike McKenzie, who showed excitement that a 21-year-old was covering one of the greatest events in sports.
But most importantly, I am thankful for and will remember my co-workers.
I’ve had two phenomenal bosses who trusted me to try new things while hoops teams kept winning bling, countless laughs with everyone in the newsroom, great impressions of Croom, an adviser who could not have been wiser and Tim, the 4 a.m. philosophizer, a bookkeeper who treated, Reveille gals and a Yankee neighbor who greeted.
I remember the all-nighters and then there’s the good job done by the writers.
Sincere thanks to you all for the unfading etchings in my[email protected].