The end of classes on Friday began fall break at Erskine. As I walked home Friday evening I thought how quickly the first half of the semester had gone. It seems like we just started the fall semester yesterday. I got a bigger taste of the pace of time later that night when my brother sent me a text with the news that I was missing my high school reunion, my 30th. Could that be possible? It struck me how quickly 30 years had passed as I stayed awake in bed much of the night. Time is strange for me. For the past twenty years I have worked in collegiate athletics. The student-athletes stay the same age, I don’t, but somehow I missed that part. I am no longer young and time passes so quickly now. I was reminded of time as well this past Thursday night as my wife, a national certified personal trainer (translation, she is in better shape than me) held a “Fitness Fight against Cancer.” Our men’s basketball team and women’s lacrosse team took part in an event that attracted more than 100 people into Phillips Gym. Cancer has affected many if not most families. My wife lost her mom to cancer two years ago and 14 years ago to the day on Friday one of my best friends lost his battle to the disease. Time stood still for a moment when both of those special people passed away, but the reality is that the memories with them don’t ever fade. A semester, two years, fourteen years, or thirty years, time goes fast but memories don’t. I still remember playing basketball and baseball in the state tournament 30 years ago, still remember my mother-in-law’s face at my wedding reception and playing golf late into the Louisville, Kentucky night with my friend. Time can go as fast as it wants; I will keep clinging to those memories.
So Friday morning new memories began. The men’s basketball team began the official season at a 5:30 a.m. practice. Fifteen freshmen and a transfer joined 9 returning players at the first practice. We have conditioned for the past month but it’s not quite the same until every player is on the floor at the same time with a basketball. It wasn’t much different than 12 years ago when we started practice on October 15th at 6:00 a.m. with my first team at Erskine. Most of those players were freshmen just like they were 12 years later. We are quite a bit more talented than we were 12 years ago but much hasn’t changed. They are still 18-year-olds chasing dreams. A former player of mine, Jeff Wiersma, chased his dream 12 years ago. He became one of Erskine’s all-time leading scorers and rebounders. I know Jeff is proud of his accomplishments at Erskine. Jeff is today a husband and dad of two young boys and a professional with the Milliken Corporation. I don’t remember much about Jeff’s heroic performance against #2 nationally ranked Queens College his senior year, but I do remember a young man who faced adversity and fought through it as a player and now uses those same lessons on a daily basis as a great father and husband. We will see those young men emerge this year as well. I don’t know how many games we will win this year, but I do know those games, win or lose, will have a large part in creating successful men and lasting memories.
So Friday morning new memories began. The men’s basketball team began the official season at a 5:30 a.m. practice. Fifteen freshmen and a transfer joined 9 returning players at the first practice. We have conditioned for the past month but it’s not quite the same until every player is on the floor at the same time with a basketball. It wasn’t much different than 12 years ago when we started practice on October 15th at 6:00 a.m. with my first team at Erskine. Most of those players were freshmen just like they were 12 years later. We are quite a bit more talented than we were 12 years ago but much hasn’t changed. They are still 18-year-olds chasing dreams. A former player of mine, Jeff Wiersma, chased his dream 12 years ago. He became one of Erskine’s all-time leading scorers and rebounders. I know Jeff is proud of his accomplishments at Erskine. Jeff is today a husband and dad of two young boys and a professional with the Milliken Corporation. I don’t remember much about Jeff’s heroic performance against #2 nationally ranked Queens College his senior year, but I do remember a young man who faced adversity and fought through it as a player and now uses those same lessons on a daily basis as a great father and husband. We will see those young men emerge this year as well. I don’t know how many games we will win this year, but I do know those games, win or lose, will have a large part in creating successful men and lasting memories.
Unfortunately, this season is going to go by way too fast for all of our teams. I hope our athletes will relish their opportunity. It is hard when you are 18 years old to realize how fast 30 years will go. My prayer is they embrace every second, every practice, every opportunity. But most of all, I hope they build memories that last forever so that when 30 years do go by for them, they will lie in their bed at night and re-live how wonderful those times were. Time doesn’t stop so we better make the best of the time we have.
