This morning, for some unknown reason, I was thinking back to my college days (no, not the fun stuff. Actually going to class... ugh). I was reflecting on how in the world I became interested in the profession I've chosen.
Like a lot of people, I entered college with absolutely zero idea of what I wanted to do for a living. I started out as a fashion merchandising major (insert deep belly laugh here) in the college of business. After I realized math wasn't my thing (nor fashion, for that matter!), I changed my major to landscape architecture. Well, I figured out pretty quickly that I couldn't draw. So, I switched again - this time to physical education. I was going to be a coach.
Heck, why not? I liked football, basketball, golf, etc. And, other than playing, I thought coaching was the only way to work in sports.
However, one day a casual conversation took place that would change my life. A buddy of mine, John Rafferty, and I were talking. He told me about a speaker at one of his classes who was the Texas Tech sports information director. He described what the guy did for a living and, I thought it sounded pretty cool.
Come to find out, my journalism TA was working as a grad assistant in that very same office. So, he suggested I contact the SID and volunteer my time. To make a long story short, I volunteered, got hired as a student assistant, was selected for an internship at Houston and away we go... ending up loving it and have been working in the industry for the last 23 or so years.
There were so many people who had a big influence on my early decision to get (and stay) in athletic communications as a student. A few who come to mind are: The Johns (Rafferty & Walls - mentioned earlier), co-student assistant Russell Warren (who is now a big-wig in marketing with the San Antonio Spurs/Silver Stars), Joe Hornaday (the aforementioned SID, who I eventually replaced at Texas Tech and I should have maintained a better relationship with). There are clearly many, many more...
But, for some reason, I frequently think back to the toughest, meanest, most demanding teacher I ever had.
Long-time Texas Tech professor of journalism Harmon Morgan, who died in 2003 at age 79, was a huge influence. With Dr. Morgan, it was darn near impossible to ever be right. It didn't matter how perfect you thought you could write, he'd find errors.
But, he was consistent, fair and, above all, logical. I hated him then. But, I appreciated him afterward.
When I was surfing the Internet for information on Dr. Morgan, I came across a letter he wrote to the editor of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. I thought I'd share a really interesting part of his letter here:
"What we have today is millions of words, spoken and written, which are not clear and are not understood by readers and viewers. What is needed is not more academic superstructure, more deans, more vice presidents, etc. What is needed on the part of all teachers is a drive to improve the correct use of words, to improve the clarity of writing and speaking, to improve the ability of students to read and understand what has been read, and the application of logic to the task of understanding the world in which we live."
No comments:
Post a Comment