Moving On

After the seventh punt of the first half we knew that we were going to be in a slow game. I must say that seeing a Lake Forest football game two years after my career was over was much different than last year. I knew fewer players and coaches. The players wore ties to the game. They also had practice on Sunday... a three hour practice. The team was struggling and the culture seemed completely different. And then people ask me if being at the field and not playing felt strange or got me down. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time playing college football, but it seems so hard for people to understand that I moved on with my life and the team has moved on without me. I don't sit and dwell on the glory days. Sure I think about how great they were from time to time (and perhaps do a little boasting) but that's where I draw the line. I had a great ride (being part of 3 of the 5 best teams in school history) and made the most of my time (see awards and records) and I am content to leave it at that. Football made me a different person mostly for the better. If I went back then I would not be that better person. This thought seemed to coincide with my reading Tuesdays with Morrie. Morrie talks about aging and moving on with your life. He said, "If you've found meaning in your life, you don't want to go back. You want to go forward. You want to see more and do more." And I am not sure exactly what my meaning in life is right now, but I know that it is not football and I look forward to finding it.