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| Thursday, November 16 So long, farewell By John D. Hunter ESPN.com | |||||||||
This weekend is Rivalry Weekend in college football and that means the football season is winding down to its conclusion. As players prepare for the final game of the season, for many it is the final game of their careers.
"It's tough to tell how I feel as I get ready for my last game. There's a little bit of nervousness and some emotional feelings but yet a lot of astonishment that the time has passed so quickly. This is supposed to be the time of our lives, the time we will spend hours talking to our grandkids about and it's almost over for me. Looking back, I think I had an exceptional career. Most people don't get a chance to play in one of the best conferences in the country, and get to go to three bowl games. I've really been blessed." Chris Palic, punter Arizona "I am well aware that the NFL is a long shot, especially for a punter. I have always told myself that if the opportunity arose, I would take my chances, but I never try to get bent out of shape about it."
"It is pretty crazy how fast it has come. This is your last game, so you want to go out and have the best time of your life and you do that by winning. I am just getting prepared for that and going out and enjoying my last college game. I have had a great time over my career here at Washington. It has been awesome. I have met a lot of new guys, I have experienced a lot of good memories and pulled through some tough ones. It has been a great learning experience and a lot of fun." Travis Dorsch, kicker Purdue "Tomorrow isn't promised. But many of us, as college athletes, believe it's our destiny and our right to play until we don't want to anymore. The truth is that there will be a point in time for all of us when someone will tell us -- right or wrong -- that we are not good enough to keep playing. I think too many athletes these days take for granted the fact that professional sports will be there after college just as college sports were after high school. I hear so many guys talk about playing in The League, yet not many understand that only four or five out of a senior class of 20 might even get a shot to turn someone's head. "Personally, I would love the opportunity to compete at the next level. However, if that chance doesn't come my way, I feel like I have many other options to pursue. As nice as life would be if that opportunity were to present itself, it is not a monumental thing for me. I feel like I would be just as happy, or more so, doing something else with my life that would benefit individuals beyond myself. Graduation is also a very important thing to me, and I will most likely be 12-15 hours short after my football eligibility is done." Dylen Smith, quarterback Kansas "My feelings knowing that I'm playing the last game of my career are very sad. It's tough playing knowing that you only have one or two games left. You play a lot harder when you know you have one game left and your emotions are running so high it just makes you play better. "My college career has been fun. I came from Santa Monica Junior College and we didn't travel as much because everywhere we went, we traveled in the state of California, but coming to Kansas I got to experience the traveling and seeing different cities and states, and playing in monumental stadiums around the country." | ALSO SEE
Week 1: The first gameWeek 2: The stunning upset Week 3: Effective coaching Week 4: Road trip!! Week 5: Ouch! Week 6: Media frenzy Week 7: Women in sports Week 8: College football polls The Players: My motivation | ||||||||
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