Editor’s note: A 30 column is a chance for departing permanent staff to say farewell and reflect on their time spent in The Daily Texan basement office. The term comes from the typesetting mark (—30—) to denote the end of a line. 

As a born-and-bred New Yorker, many back home were perplexed when I chose to head to the 40 Acres. I was asked, “Why would you go so far away?” and a litany of other
irritating questions.

But at least there was some consensus: “You’ll see some great football, right?” 

Wrong.

Ever since I stepped on campus in 2013, chaos has defined the Texas athletic world. I’ve seen three different athletic directors, three different football coaches, two different basketball coaches, two different baseball coaches and a whole lot of losses to BYU. I’ve witnessed unthinkable upsets to Iowa State and Kansas on the gridiron and a half-court buzzer beater to eliminate Texas from March Madness.

In my three years at The Daily Texan alone, the Longhorns failed to finish above .500 on the football field. Is it a coincidence? Maybe. But the only other time Texas finished as a losing team in three straight years came in the 1920s.

So this is my apology to Longhorn fans everywhere. I promise it wasn’t on purpose. I won’t be offended if you ask me to leave.

Still, I can’t say I had a bad time along the way.

It was a blast to cover two seasons of 5–7 Texas football alongside great friends. I couldn’t have asked for better guidance from Jori and a better partner on the beat in Nick. And Akshay was a champion for taking me under his wing as I prepared for a sports-department takeover this fall. 

Shoutouts go to Shap and Ty for all the laughs — and excellent coverage — they gave me this season. I also can’t thank the rest of my senior staff enough — Shane, Claire and Sydney — for their help this semester. 

And as I ride off into the sunset, I can’t help but think there are better days ahead for Longhorn sports. It sure as heck couldn’t get any worse, right?

—30—