I felt like Saban this Saturday

To my blog readers: I apologize I have been away for so long. But I am back...and I am fired up.

It was finally Ole Miss week and my schedule finally allowed me to sit my butt down on the couch and be consumed in every down of the game. And let's just say...it was the most stressful few hours I've had in a long time. I loved it, don't get me wrong. But woah.

Courtesy of: AL.com

From the first kick off, I was uneasy. What Bama fan wouldn't be? There was so much hype coming into this game regarding Ole Miss and their past two years of success against us. "Can they go for 3?" "No team has ever beaten Saban 3 consecutive years in a row." If that doesn't get your heart racing, I don't know what will.

Stupid mistakes. It was an entire first half of stupid, frustrating, down-right mistakes. That is why I felt like Saban this Saturday. The post-game conference Saban that we saw last Saturday. You know, the one when he said, "I don't know if I have ever been this disappointed after winning a game, maybe ever."

Yes, of course I am happy we won. But I am NOT happy about how we got there.

So let's recap, shall we?

1st Half:

Hurts overthrew to a WIDE OPEN Hentges in the end zone. I get it, it happens. But he was wide open, no stress there. Set yourself up, make the throw. And Hentges, you can be ready for a little overthrow...come on.

Courtesy of: AL.com

There were three, yes 3 false starts in too short a period of time. TWO of them being from Cam Robinson (74). I know, I am excited too, but KEEP YOURSELF STILL, MAN.

Ha this is a good one...its 3rd & 21 and they decide to run a RUNNING PLAY. Kiffin, OPEN YOUR EYES. Have you not been watching this 1st half? How many of your running plays have been successful thus far in this game? Exactly. Throw the damn ball when it's 3rd & 21...you know better.

Courtesy of: AL.com

And speaking of plays not going the way they should...I swear I thought for a while there we were going to continue to run more NEGATIVE yard plays than positive ones. Talk about becoming frustrated. It seriously felt like one mistake after another. Painful.

Ah, Hurts...the freshman... with seven minutes to go in the half, no one around you, you're going to let the ball just slip RIGHT OUT OF YOUR HANDS. I was speechless...You drew your arm back to set up for a beautiful Alabama throw, I was ready, but then, the ball just comes tumbling down...And by this point, there were so many mistakes in the game I was starting to really question whether or not you are ready. But then I reminded myself, Nick Saban is your coach. And well, I trust that man more than anything. So fine. I'll let it go...this time.

Maybe it was the hurry-up offense that Ole Miss was running all day long. Did that make you boys shake in your boots? I mean I don't blame you...but why don't we start matching that. (This is the ONLY time I will give props to Ole Miss: That hurry-up offense was quite beautiful, I cannot tell a lie).

So now we have the largest deficient since the 2009 Sugar Bowl against Utah, clock reads 1:05 until the half and then finally, the Rebels' punt was returned 85 yards for an Alabama touchdown. Thank you, Eddie Jackson for giving some bit of hope before returning to the locker room.

14 points scored in 65 seconds...well, it sure did take them long enough.

24-17 Ole Miss up at the half, and Saban says what we are all thinking: we are not playing with poise and we need to execute better in the second half.

2nd Half

So now the second half comes around, and I will admit, I don't have all too much to say. The big story here was the 1st half. But, our boys returned from that locker room and I think they pulled on a new identity...the one that reminded them that they play for the Crimson Tide of Alabama and they better start acting like it. That is when the touchdowns, fumble recoveries, and interceptions started to show up. Did my blood pressure settle? Ha, you wish. But was I happier? Did I have more hope in us making up for the nasty 1st half mistakes? Yes. And at the end of the day, we were able to put Chad Kelly and the rest of the Rebels back where they belong: on the bottom of the scoreboard. 

Courtesy of: AL.com

Now let's have a week of good practices, reflections on those mistakes, and let's keep our attitudes in check when we take the field against Kent State next weekend. Got it? Good. 

Roll Tide.

Coming Out of Retirement Isn't Easy

Coming out of retirement isn't easy. Now, I am not talking about the kind Brett Favre or Michael Phelps pulled on us. I am talking about the kind where you come out of retirement to start the next chapter of your life...

I am coming out of retirement and I sometimes find that I look in the mirror and barely recognize myself anymore.

Let me explain.

I have been a student-athlete since elementary school. It has been my lifestyle since day one: sweat in the classroom and on the track. I put all my energy into being the best student I could possibly be, while giving my sport all the guts and glory I had to offer.

Well, as of May 2016, those days are behind me. I no longer have the title of student-athlete: the name tag I wore with the utmost pride. And now I am left looking around in confusion...

This is very difficult for me to admit, to write about, and share with all of you. But it's something I need to do. *Warning: this post is going to get personal.

Since as far as I can remember, I have always been the girl who had 5 million things on her plate and somehow accomplished them all. There was never a summer where I wasn't working (sometimes multiple jobs) and being OCD about getting my workouts in (and done to a T).

But that was just the girl I was. It was the lifestyle I best identified with. It was the lifestyle that I thrived in.

Fast forward to the present: Summer 2016.

My few months of relaxation, recovering from being a DI athlete, and finally giving myself a break, has come to an end. It is time to get my butt back into gear...and it hasn't been easy.

I am coming out of retirement and I sometimes find that I look in the mirror and barely recognize myself anymore...when coming out of retirement means finding your way back to yourself.

No, I haven't been working this summer. I was focused on spending time with my family: time that I have missed out on over the past 4 years. I was also focused on making connections in the field of broadcasting: shooting for the moon in the job search and seeing where I would land (but that's a whole other conversation we won't get into).

As far as running, it's almost as if I want nothing to do with the physical act. I don't know if it's because I put so much pressure on myself about times to hit and distances to achieve...but I find myself going out for a run and coming back disappointed in what I "accomplished."

But did I try? Did I lace up my sneakers and take those first steps to leave the house behind me? Yes, I did. And that right there should be enough. But it's not.

I am coming out of retirement and I sometimes find that I look in the mirror and barely recognize myself anymore.

Because, you see, once you are an athlete, it's something that doesn't leave your bloodstream. I will always be hard on myself...that is never going to change.

But what I need to do, what I need to start focusing on is running for myself. I am not reporting times back to my coach and I am not on anyone else's schedule. This is my time. My workouts. That is what I need to remind myself...but I am just not there yet.

So I guess what I am trying to say is Summer 2016 has been a challenge. And for anyone who has experienced the transition from being a collegiate athlete to entering the "real world," you know what I am talking about.

I am coming out of retirement and I sometimes find that I look in the mirror and barely recognize myself anymore.

If you are coming up on your year when you are about experience this transition, athlete or not, I want you to know what I didn't know: It's hard. I won't lie about that. This transition is something you've never experienced before in your life. It's a million new things, all taking place at once. And you may start to feel like you are losing your own identity.

But this is what I don't want you to do: I don't want you to get caught up in it like I did. Look in the mirror and see yourself for who you are.

Embrace this new chapter in your life. Embrace the time you get to become someone you've never been before. Just because you may not recognize yourself doesn't mean you are gone. Your old characteristics are still there, trust me.

But if you are like me and you're struggling to find yourself, don't give up. Don't be gloomy about the situation. Take a deep breath, look in the mirror, and accept the fact that this is what it means to come out of retirement.

It has taken me a while to get here (not that I am sure that I am here yet). But I am trying. With every "....but I'm fine" statement I make to people, I try my best to start believing it.

I am coming out of retirement and I am realizing this isn't the end...it's just the beginning and it's time to find myself again.

What it means to be a Role Model

What a week it has been with the Olympics. If you are anything like me, it has been extremely hard to keep your eyes off the screen. Between questioning whether or not Phelps is human, to being blown away by Simone Biles, the action has been non-stop and top-notch excitement.

There also have been many "aww"-evoking moments. And the one I would like to talk about is the relationship between Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky. Twelve years separate them in age, but the sport of swimming continues to bring them closer. Ledecky always looked up to Phelps during her early years and to think she would now see her last name on the same headline as his must feel so unreal. Phelps has even voiced in post-race interviews how stunned he is by Ledecky's performances.

Now, ten years after little Ledecky got Michael Phelps' autograph, it was his turn to get hers. So as we all smile, laugh, and "aww" over the recent "recreation photograph" that was taken, we have to look at the bigger message here: What it means to be a role model.

As an athlete, you are constantly setting goals for yourself. While your workouts, your coach's master plans, and your everyday hard work are all factors in helping you reach those goals, it's when you have an example that has already been set for you that keeps the fire alive. An example of how to succeed and be tough, the type of athlete who is going to inspire you on your worst days and your best days; those athletes then become one of the best factors that help you achieve greatness.

They are able to say: "Hey, look what I did." So then, in turn, you can say, "Hey look, I can do it too."

That is why it is so important for athletes to remember that they are constantly setting an example, good or bad. Athletes do so much more than make a lot of money (sometimes) and play a sport, all while putting on entertainment for America. And that can easily be forgotten. But as an athlete yourself, those are rarely ever the things you are thinking about when you look up to these individuals.

And now more than ever, it is easier to look up to certain athletes. For example, during my last season our coach wanted each event group to start following a professional runner (who runs our event) on any and all social media outlets. So we did. And I began following Brenda Martinez. Who knew that seeing a post here and there would be the perfect reminder to continue to push myself, to reach for that next step, and to achieve success...because it's out there (even if I didn't believe it).

And it's more than just a social media relationship, you become invested in these athletes. So when their Olympic dreams don't turn out as planned, you are right there in heartbreak with them...and that is what makes the world of sport so incredible.

So I just hope these athletes remember that they have a million little eyes gazing up at them saying, "One day I want to be just like _____." Because for me, the biggest reward as an athlete is to inspire the next generation to be the best they can be. I hope every day that I left my team knowing that it's an honor to be an athlete, and to never take that for granted.

One of my favorite questions as a little kid was, "Who is your favorite baseball player?" And I would answer without hesitation: Derek Jeter. Why? Sure he was young and cute and A YANKEE. But come on. He was the one athlete who showed me from the very beginning what it meant to work hard, stay humble, and be a team player. So throughout my 14 or so years of athletics, serious athletics, what do you think I did?

I worked hard. I stayed humble. And I was always a team player.

Time To Get Pumped Up

It's time to get excited, ladies & gentlemen. SEC Football. Is. Back.

No Argument for A-Rod

I just need to put this one to rest right now.

Courtesy of www.gannett-cdn.com

Alex Rodriguez should never be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Not now. Not ever. Why? You know it. I know it. The world of baseball knows it.

This will be one of my shortest blogs because there is no argument here.

How are you going to differentiate what he accomplished during his career while he was clean verses when he was drugged up?

You can't. 

The guy did drugs. That will never be Hall of Fame-worthy.

End of story.

Can't Tame the Tiger

Last night, Michael Phelps did something I think we've all been waiting for: he shut-up Chad Le Clos.

We all know the fury inside Phelps ignited back in London in 2012 when Le Clos snatched the gold from him in the race that should just be named after Phelps by now -- 200m Fly. But all hope was lost when Phelps announced his retirement. That was it. Over. No second chance...Until in April 2014 when Alexa Paige's 2012 plea-Tweet finally came true:

Yes. He came back for the biggest splash yet: Payback.

Through the years leading up to the Rio Olympics, there was a little bit of back and forth with who swam faster and when (not against each other, of course). Phelps made ton of mistakes, followed by doing a ton of growing up, while Le Clos, and his father simply grew cockier. 

.@MichaelPhelps is not impressed with Chad le Clos's antics.

For more swimming coverage: https://t.co/Bpy94WsMrM https://t.co/ylAYZgHm1h

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2016

Chad, haven't you learned to not fire-up Phelps? Well, you learned last night didn't you?

I was on the edge of my seat during the 200m Butterfly, right there with the rest of America. But was anyone else worried about Masato Sakai like I was? Just inches from the wall and I was having horrific flashbacks to 2012 and could barely watch as the men finally touched the wall: seconds feeling like hours. 

But when all was said and done, I could breathe and Phelps finally received the gold medal he deserved. Come on, you know I am right. And before I go, let's talk about that medal ceremony, shall we?

Michael took the podium, was given his medal, now cue the national anthem...

Courtesy of www.SI.com

You could see emotions completely taking over Phelps' facial expressions, even tears beginning to fill his eyes. But then, right towards the end of the anthem, he begins to laugh. At first, I was like, "Okay, he is just so overwhelmed, can't control his tears, and now he can't help but laugh about it." Then I started to realize this was not the case. He was down-right, full-on laughing. He even capped off the anthem by pointing to the stands.

So of course I was curious and had to investigate...

Turns out, Phelps had some buddies from Baltimore in the stands and they did exactly what they would do at an Orioles game...shout "O!" during that part of the anthem. Cute, right? And can you blame Phelps? The guy just won the race of his life (if you ask me), he's on the podium crying, then he sees some of his best buds from Baltimore and New York right there in the stands...in Rio. I am not making excuses. Don't get me wrong, I am not very happy about this...definitely not the most classiest thing you could've done, Michael.

But still, talk about a powerful night.

How much more heartbreak can a Yankees fan endure?

If you are a Yankees fan, it has been a pretty rough week if you ask me. First, we had all the commotion down to the final minutes of the trade deadline last Monday. Then to end the week, Mark Teixeira broke all our hearts by announcing his retirement from the game of baseball. And then, sitting at the Sunday morning breakfast table, Alex Rodriguez goes and announces his retirement. I am out of breath just typing all of that.

So where do I begin? Teixeria, you will be missed. There is no doubt about that. However, do I blame you? You've been having a subpar season, riddled many injuries (especially now, close to what we hope will be a post-season), and well, you are 36-years-old. Unfortunately, in baseball years, that is almost extinct, almost.

Courtesy of www.bronxbaseballdaily.com

Your poise, your adorable face, and of course that perfect final out in 2009, will be hard to say goodbye to. I'm just happy that we don't have to do that until the end of the Yankees 2016 season (whenever that may be). Unlike your other teammate...

Can we talk about this for a second?

As you all probably know by now, and you better unless you live under a rock, Alex Rodriguez will play his final game of his career this Friday. That's right, this Friday night in the Bronx, A-Rod will step up to bat one final time, will make an out one final time (hopefully), and will call himself a Yankee one final time.

And as for the rest of the games this week? Yeah, still to be determined how many times we will see A-Rod on the field...a little weird, right? I mean he even said it himself when asked about being benched: "painful and embarrassing." YA THINK?

After Friday, Alex Rodriguez will automatically take on a new role: Yankees Advisor. So he may not be taking the field for the rest of the season, but he will still be with the team...could this be because we agreed to pay him, oh I don't know, a couple million or twenty? *cue eye roll*

Enough about that, even though there is still so much to be said.

Courtesy of www.outsidepitchmlb.com

What I would like to wrap it up with today is not just the fact that I am going to be making name tags for the new team next year, because face it, we aren't going to know anyone. But I would like to end with the phone interview Mark Teixeria had with Mike & Mike this morning. After talking about his mark on baseball and the 2009 World Series final out, he, of course, was asked about his teammate's news bomb.

And what he said was something I will never forget:

"I told my boys [his sons] this morning: 'Listen, guys, just because your friends make mistakes doesn't mean you turn your backs from them...' You know when people talk about Alex Rodriguez and me, Alex has been my friend for a long time and he's made mistakes but I am not going to turn my back on him and I am going to continue to support him. Because he is a great teammate and he loves the game of baseball and deep down in there he cares about people, he really does. And I know this is a tough time for him so we are going to be there for him."

*wipes tears*