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As the 2020 CFB season — for me anyway — comes to an end, just a quick thread of gratitude.
I’m genuinely grateful to the Big 12, OU, @soonerad, @LincolnRiley, all the players, et al., for finding a way to play this season.
Like everyone, the pandemic and all the shutdowns hit me hard. I haven’t lost anyone close to me and I got to keep my job, so I don’t want to pretend like I had it especially bad or anything.
But all that was happening, then The Athletic’s layoffs — that included several friends and my editor — and *then* the idea of CFB not being played had me in the worst place mentally I’ve ever been.
I was depressed and genuinely scared. Twitter and message board assholes affected me in ways they never had before. I went to some dark places mentally. My wife would probably tell you that sometimes I was miserable to be around.
But after tonight, I will have covered 11 college football games this year. Those were 11 opportunities to do what I love, be around people that I love and, of course, continue to have my job.
Simply being around and talking to @ryaber, @berrytramel, @ericbaileytw, @byjoebuettner, @guerinemig, @CareyAMurdock, @BPrzybylo, @Eddie_Rado and everyone else in those press boxes made me feel better.
Interacting with you guys on Twitter (for the most part!) and via mailbags, talking football, etc., made things better. Recording a weekly Big 12 pod with my buddy @max_olson did, too.
Yes, it wasn't always easy. Yes, I still spiraled at times over things that are pretty meaningless. But I think all of this has made me reexamine and work on some of my own personal quirks, too.
Anyway, this is my long cheesy way of saying thanks to everyone who made this season happen, to @TheAthletic subscribers, to my Twitter followers and to my friends. I'll never, ever take this job or any of you for granted again.
