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Tallahassee gave me a fresh start and it’ll always have a special place in my heart | Williams

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8 months ago

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Tallahassee gave me a fresh start and it’ll always have a special place in my heart | Williams

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Almost three years ago I came to Tallahassee looking for a fresh start. 

I graduated from college in 2020 and all my plans for how I wanted to start my career had been derailed.

Instead of going to Tokyo to cover the Olympics, I was starting a job in rural North Dakota. 

Those nine months in North Dakota, including two by myself as the only editorial member of the paper, nearly burnt me out and left me desperate to leave. 

In April 2021, after coming back from a friend’s wedding in Indianapolis I missed my connecting flight from Denver to Fargo.

Stuck in Denver’s airport, waiting at Frontier Airlines’ customer service desk, I took out my laptop and continued applying for jobs, one of which was with the Democrat.

Not long after, I got an email from “Jim Henry down in Tally”. 

Big heart for the Big Bend 

I came to Tallahassee looking for opportunity and gained so much more than I’d ever expected.

Lifelong relationships, stories that’ll stay with me forever and the chance to be a part of an amazing community in Tallahassee and the Big Bend. 

The year and a half I spent covering Big Bend Preps was so special. I understand why Brian Miller spent so long on that beat. 

There’s nothing like a Friday night under the lights at Gene Cox, a cold November playoff game in Madison or even being eaten alive by mosquitos in Crawfordville.

Some of the biggest rivalries in sports don’t compare to a Godby/Rickards football game, Munroe/Crossroad Academy basketball game, or a Chiles/Leon volleyball game. That passion, intensity and competition are unmatched. 

And then hearing what this means to the players and coaches made it even more special. 

Seeing the kids you’ve covered all season win a state championship and play in college is an indescribable feeling. 

I’ll be out to dinner or at a bar, and if an Auburn game was on I’ll always point out to whomever I’m with “See No. 3 for Auburn. I covered him while he was in high school.”

Looking forward to seeing where Tre Donaldson will land out of the portal and continuing watching Big Bend legends like Anthony Robinson II, Tonie Morgan, Raylen Wilson, Traylon Ray, Micahi Danzy and of course the GOAT Patrick Koon.

High school sports not just in Florida, but in the Big Bend mean so much more.

I ask the schools in the area to support each other. The goal is always to win, but in the end, this is about the kids’ experience and giving them opportunities to compete at the next level. 

Also, understand that we are not the villain. We are here to support every athlete in this community but we can’t make everyone happy. 

So please think about that the next time you send that email or hit reply. I loved covering this area, but I don’t miss my inbox after All-Big Bend was published.

A year to remember 

Saturday nights in Doak Campbell are incomparable. 

It’s one of the best environments in college football and I’m so happy I was able to experience Florida State football, in its entirety, this season. 

All of it was so intoxicating. Covering the Clemson game, in Death Valley, is an experience I’ll never forget. One of the best college football games I’ve ever watched in my life. 

Yes, this season was absolute chaos, but it was so much fun. Every Saturday was like a movie. The adrenaline rush of covering that team was incomparable. 

I was never a huge fan of getting to practice an hour early or sitting outside the doors of the Moore Center waiting for recruits, but the people I got to know and work with made it worth it. 

While football is fun, the relationships I got to establish covering sports like soccer, women’s basketball and softball were so special. 

Being on the field the moment FSU soccer won a national championship was hard to put into words. It was a moment where I stood back and said “I can’t believe that this is my job.”

The same can be said about those wild three nights at JoAnne Graf Stadium during NCAA Super Regionals. FSU fans are spilling out of the stadium, onto the sidewalk and into the parking garage to watch the softball team punch its ticket to the Women’s College World Series. Wow is the only way to describe it.

Success was a big part of what made each game fun, but really getting to know the coaches and players as people made every trip to Seminole Sports Complex and The Tuck enjoyable. 

Much love for Tallahassee

It’s so hard to believe that my time in Tallahassee is coming to an end. This place has been a home away from home. 

Thank you to all the Big Bend Preps coaches, players and parents who have invited me into your communities and made me one of your own. I cherish so many relationships I made covering high school sports in this area.

Keep bringing the hardware back to Tallahassee! 

My transition onto the FSU beat wasn’t amazingly smooth, but Ehsan Kassim was always there to guide me. There may have been times when we wanted to strangle each other, but we made an unbelievable team. It’ll feel weird not having a press box seat next to you this fall. 

Alicia Devine was my first friend here and my partner in crime when it came to preps. It’s been crazy to see you build a whole family during my time here while being an absolute badass behind the camera. 

Liam Rooney has done such a fantastic job carrying on the legacy of this beat from Brian Miller to me and now to him. I’m so proud of the work he’s done and excited for the work he’s going to do over his career. He’s a great reporter and an even better friend. 

Lastly, Jim, I’m endlessly grateful that you took a chance on me. I was in a low place when you reached out and you gave me hope. Thank you for constantly believing in me, pushing me and seeing the potential in me I may have not seen at times. 

I know this was just three years of my career, but they were so important to me, as a journalist and as a person. Thank you for giving me the chance to experience this amazing place. 

My next chapter 

So what’s next? I’m moving out west for a job I’ve dreamed about since I was 12 years old. 

I’m joining the staff at the Las Vegas Sun to cover the Vegas Golden Knights. 

My friends and family know I’ve loved hockey for such a long time, and it’s been a huge part of my life. 

Getting this opportunity felt almost impossible at times, but getting the chance to cover an NHL team full-time is something I’ve dreamt of for years. 

Guess it’s time to hit I-10 West. See you all in the headlines! 

-30- 

Jack Williams covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on X @jackgwilliams. 

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