Colonels To The Big Dance

I was court side at Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY in 1992 when my Eastern Kentucky University Colonels were last in the championship game of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

We lost that day to Murray State. The final score was 81 to 60. I remember saying, if to no one other than myself that "we'd be back." That was thirteen years ago and the thing is we never were back.

Fast forward to the 2005 edition of the OVC Tourney at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, TN. The Colonels are back in the championship game.

A lot has changed since the men in Maroon made it to the conference final. My wife and I have had four children. Our oldest son, Griffin died suddenly five years ago. At the very least that loss put tough times in perspective for me.

I've changed jobs. We've moved to a new city. The terroist attacks of 9-11 business took a down turn. Oh, there have been great times as well. Among them the birth of my second daughter Malone and my second son Garrett.

I've been able to coach my oldest daughter Hannah in basketball and help coach softball. We've had a lot of good times to mix in with the tough.

The one constant for me has been my job as public address announcer for EKU men's football and basketball.

I've been court side at McBrayer Arena for the past thirteen seasons watching, wishing and hoping for a trip to the big dance.

It finally came as I was watching the championship game in Myrtle Beach, SC with my Father. I didn't know how I'd react if the Colonels won, if what I almost dared not utter aloud really did happen. The last time we won a conference championship was in 1979,twenty six years ago.

Well, it did happen. You can read all about it at ekusports.com if you are so inclined.

The Colonels are getting a lot of ink in state papers and our coach, Travis Ford, has been interviewed on ESPN's Cold Pizza and on several national radio shows.

In short, it is a good time to be a Colonel.

My Dad was excited for Eastern and even more excited for me. He said, "you've been with them through thick and thin." I told Dad for a long time it felt like it was just through thin, but the trip to the dance cures a lot of ills.

Here's hoping this is the beginning of a great future and not just a once every twenty five year high water mark.

Either way, I'm an Eastern man and a Colonel fan.

GO BIG E!