Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Raising the curtain (on another season)

 "Are you excited for preseason, Coach!" I've been getting some version of this question for the past several days. Because I'm a grumpy old coach, I usually grouse: "No. Not really." Another version of the question: "Are you ready for your team to return, Coach?" My grouse remains the same. "No. Not really." It's been this way for many years now. If "no, not really" is my growling answer in a month or two months from now, I know that'll not be a good sign. But usually, that dread of the summer's end fades within minutes or hours of yet another preseason and beginning of another (academic) year of cross country and track. That'll likely be the case again, at the start of year 34 of this journey.

We have a big roster, as usual, and a young roster, which is not always the case. We are very top-heavy with first-year and sophomore athletes, especially on the men's side but really on both teams. The construction of our new track facility during this academic year will only add to the excitement. For the majority of this year's team, they'll be on a home track for some or most of their collegiate careers.

And so, we begin again. As we do every year. At this stage, there are far fewer tomorrows than there were yesterdays, so we might as well cherish every moment of it. OK. 

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