2008 Woodie Awards
Jeremy Rice, Sports Editor: Football, Hockey, Softball
Jeremy Rice, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 5/13/08 Section: Sports
So I guess this is it for me. Three years of my life come and gone, and as trying as they were at times, they were also some of the best of my life. I discovered what I wanted to do with my life and I have the Massachusetts Daily Collegian and everyone who worked there alongside me to thank for it.
I've been thinking about this column for more than a year, and I honestly still don't know what I want to say. Simply, I will miss this place. I will miss the people who worked here and the moments of stress and happiness and utter hilarity that all happened somewhere between 5 p.m. and who the hell knows when, every night, Sunday-Thursday in the Campus Center basement.
My career began in Hamlin dorm in Northeast my freshman year. My original goal was to run right down to the Collegian and sign up as soon as I moved my stuff into my room. The following May, I met Eric Athas, who got me started at the paper. I ended up getting to cover field hockey right away, and I knew I was lucky to get a beat right off the bat (sports cliché No. 1).
From there, I moved on to skiing, where I got my first and only solo beat, and I really got my first big break. The coach got fired for some illegal stuff, and I got wind of it, and got a story in the paper before the University even announced - my first moment of feeling cool as a journalist (I later learned those come few and far between).
After skiing ended, I found myself covering arguably the most successful athletics program at UMass - softball. I liked it so much I've covered it every year I've been here. Coach Elaine Sortino taught me more about how to interview a coach that anyone ever has, just by her no-nonsense attitude and the way she can rip apart a B.S. question. Nobody does that better than Elaine.
The following year, I moved up a notch and covered men's soccer with Danny Picard, the same kid from Southie I covered field hockey with. One of the most interesting people I've ever met. Refuses to take crap from anyone, and God help you if you do cross him, he'll light you up in print better than anyone I know.
I've been thinking about this column for more than a year, and I honestly still don't know what I want to say. Simply, I will miss this place. I will miss the people who worked here and the moments of stress and happiness and utter hilarity that all happened somewhere between 5 p.m. and who the hell knows when, every night, Sunday-Thursday in the Campus Center basement.
My career began in Hamlin dorm in Northeast my freshman year. My original goal was to run right down to the Collegian and sign up as soon as I moved my stuff into my room. The following May, I met Eric Athas, who got me started at the paper. I ended up getting to cover field hockey right away, and I knew I was lucky to get a beat right off the bat (sports cliché No. 1).
From there, I moved on to skiing, where I got my first and only solo beat, and I really got my first big break. The coach got fired for some illegal stuff, and I got wind of it, and got a story in the paper before the University even announced - my first moment of feeling cool as a journalist (I later learned those come few and far between).
After skiing ended, I found myself covering arguably the most successful athletics program at UMass - softball. I liked it so much I've covered it every year I've been here. Coach Elaine Sortino taught me more about how to interview a coach that anyone ever has, just by her no-nonsense attitude and the way she can rip apart a B.S. question. Nobody does that better than Elaine.
The following year, I moved up a notch and covered men's soccer with Danny Picard, the same kid from Southie I covered field hockey with. One of the most interesting people I've ever met. Refuses to take crap from anyone, and God help you if you do cross him, he'll light you up in print better than anyone I know.
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