As I sit here in my lifeguard bathing suit, finishing the final shift of the summer job, I can’t help but get a little giddy when I think about packing up my car, hugging the parents goodbye and speeding up I-24 back to “America’s Friendliest Small Town.”

As much as I’ve enjoyed scolding teenage boys for pushing each other off the diving board or throwing sand in their sisters’ eyes, I’m over it. I’m ready to get back to college.

I’m ready to wake up 10 minutes before class, grab lunch with buddies in the T-Room, lose my mind over Racer touchdowns and alley-oops and continue living this life with which I’ve been so richly blessed.

So before I start using this space each week to give my opinion on the Racers’ new quarterback, I wanted to take this week to give you a little insight into my life as a sports writer so you can know the guy behind all the words.

During my first few years here, I’ve fallen in love with Racer athletics.

My job as a sports writer has allowed me to engage with the athletes and coaches and hear their stories of hardship, dedication, sacrifice and most of all, perseverance.

It’s fun watching games from press row and eating free media food during half time. But none of it compares to sitting down with athletes and hearing their stories.

It’s the moments when Coach Steve Prohm gets teary-eyed explaining how much his seniors have meant to this community or when Patrick Newcomb describes his dreams of becoming a PGA Tour golfer that really make this job so fantastic.

The way I see it, you can log on to the Internet to find out stats. My mission is to bring you the raw, unedited stories of our Murray State athletes, teams and coaches. That’s what makes sports compelling.

Whether you’re a fan of sports or not, I’d like to encourage you to stay engaged and interested in these athletes because there are stories on this campus which need to be heard.

Sports is about more than box scores and stat lines. It’s about the faces behind the helmets and the hearts underneath the jerseys. Their stories have inspired, encouraged and brought tears to my eyes over the last two years. I guarantee they will do the same for you. You just have to look a little deeper.

Story by Jonathan Ferris, Staff Writer