I’ve had one thought that has just disheartened the hell out of me since I woke up Monday morning.

Bowling Green should be in the national news right now, in every paper across the country. I thought the nation would finally recognize Bowling Green as a town not only in Kentucky, but also in the good old Buckeye state. And the reason they would recognize Bowling Green, Ohio, was because of 14 gentleman who represented the University in basketball at the NCAA tournament.

In the cruelest case of irony, Bowling Green is getting some national attention, not from something that would make us all proud though. We had to lose six precious souls. Six girls whom I never knew, but I’m certain also represented us as a student body fittingly. And like I said before, it’s disheartening to even think about.

I traveled the same route from Panama City to Ohio that Saturday night and had two lovely ladies along for the ride. Somewhere between Alabama and Kentucky, when the hum of a Honda engine puts your passengers asleep and endless road lies ahead, there is plenty to ponder and philosophize.

I was bitter that Bowling Green didn’t make the NCAA tournament after such a great year, especially after hearing some of the other teams that got in. Maybe it was because I know some of the players and have so much respect for them. I conditioned with them for a week and discovered that all those gasps for air after endless sprints, all those gallons of sweat that ran down their face, were partly for that tournament to represent the University. Soon, I realized that I was looking at this whole tale of the BG basketball team with the wrong perception, and it has indirectly helped had a positive light about this day.

I know 50 years from now, if I’m still kicking, I’ll still be talking about this Falcon squad. I’ll be at some college basketball game watching LeBron James III, comparing his dribble to Brandon Pardon. And after he misses the game-winning shot, I’ll say, “Well he’s no Keith McLeod.” And when he blows off his coach at the end of the game, I’m sure I’ll be thinking that it’s time for Dan Dakich to come out of his retirement home and get this program going in the right direction. And after I interview this new Phenom and realize that he has no personality, I’ll think to myself, “This kid should start hanging around Brent Klassen and Len Matela,”two of the funniest oversized guys with hot girlfriends that I’ve ever met. They also have a pretty good shot as well.

After four years of covering these guys, I have realized what a great joy it has been for me to witness their accomplishments. I can honestly say through all the stories I have and have shared, they have touched my life. Whether they would have gotten an NCAA Tournament bid, or even won an NCAA Championship for that matter, doesn’t really matter. The true substance is that I can think about these stories for the rest of my life and they will never fail to put a smile on my face.

And I know these six girls have done exactly the same for some of you. And truly, if you died tomorrow, could there be a more rewarding feeling in the world knowing you touched someone’s life. I know that’s all I would want.