Eighteen Seasons in the Booth. One Truth.
The Old Oaken Bucket, Indiana’s undefeated run, and what broadcasting has taught me about the soul of football.
It’s early Saturday morning on the final weekend of the regular season, and I’m wide awake.
Just a few hours ago I walked out of the booth in West Lafayette after calling Indiana vs Purdue, aka The Old Oaken Bucket game. It was the 100th anniversary of the trophy and the 127th meeting overall. And now here I am, sitting in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to shake one simple truth:
The regular season is over.
When I coached at USC back in the day, I used to force myself to stay awake after the final game until the sun came up. It was usually New Years Day and for four straight years our season ended at the Rose Bowl. There was something symbolic about watching the date–the literal day–change. It was a way of acknowledging that the season behind us had officially ended, and the next one had already begun.
As a broadcaster, it isn’t as dramatic. But the weight, the emotion, the investment? That part hasn’t changed.
And with the regular season coming to a close for me in the booth I am feeling a bit nostalgic. While it’s been 18 years calling games, the connection, growth, humor and intensity remains of the best parts of the “job.”
It’s humbling to watch our production crews pour themselves into the summer months preparing, the weeks devouring storylines and game day’s waking up early and staying late. It inspires me every single time.
I smile to myself thinking about non football conversations, deep dive football conversations, birthdays, families growing, real life navigation mid week, car rides at 5am, film sessions at 5am, early mornings with my two sons on my lap talking quarterback play and coaching decisions, production meetings with coaches and players and so much more.
I’ll miss seeking out new coffee ships, yoga studios and conversations with fans on the road.
And above all else–I’ll miss the games and being given the opportunity to be one of three voices over the airwaves.
Tonight, I also found myself smiling at a simple, stunning fact: Indiana is 12-0 for the first time in its history and on its way to its first-ever Big Ten Championship appearance. Rare air–for any program, let alone the Hoosiers. It’s been a joy learning about this program over the past two seasons. I grew up admiring the Cignetti name, got to know Frank Jr when he was at Pitt and once Curt took over at IU it was a blast learning the purpose behind his path.