Wow, it has been too long since my last blog post. I admit that the month of November was really dark for me, and then I found out that I'm moving to Arkansas so I've been focused on that. Through it all my time in the Scriptures and with church friends has suffered, and I don't like it. Since the Spirit led me to write this blog, and I haven't been focusing on spiritual things, this blog has suffered. This blog is ancillary though, and I can definitely feel the lack of Spirit in my life. God has shown me that He isn't done with me yet, however, so the fire's coming back. "Satan wants me to fear that God is done with me. God wants me to fear that He isn't." - me.
That being said, wow, it's my last day with UGA Athletics. After 7.5 years, it's all come down to this. I could write a book on my years at UGA, but I'll just hit the highlights of my time in Athletics:
I started as an equipment manager for the Football team in June 2004. I was just a volunteer. I did not get paid a salary. I did not get complementary tickets to the games. I did not get to stand on the sidelines for home games, or travel with the team to away games. There were about 9 paid managers and 3 of us volunteers. As with the natural order of things, we volunteers did most of the grunt work. It was to be expected, and I understood the system. I'd like to say I came in humble, but I kind of threw it in the face of 2 older managers. Needless to say, I suffered their ire. I called them out on a few things, but not with humility, so I blame myself for their responses. I feel that I damaged my relationship with the only other visibly Christian manager, and his ire led to my resentment. We were supposedly on the same team, but I chose pride over advancing the Kingdom with him. Another manager just jacked me up against the wall and almost punched me. I honestly would have deserved it. Aside from the equipment room, in other facets of my job as a manager I was a servant through and through. I volunteered to help the manager that had the most equipment to set up before practice, and take down after practice. Through a misunderstanding with my coach I ended up having to run the steps at Sanford Stadium at 5:45am the Monday after we lost to Auburn in 2004. It was the coldest I'd ever been in my life. I ran 4 stadiums, and was about to begin my 5th, when the trainer told me to go home. If I had gotten hurt, my family could have apparently sued. Managers aren't required to undergo the same punishments that the players are. Still, I went, I ran, and I was cool with the coach immediately after. It kind of cemented my relationship with the players too. What didn't kill me made me stronger. On home game days I would sit up in Section 315 and cheer on the team that I worked for Mondays-Thursdays. It was fun to be a manager and a fan, but I obviously wanted to be a full manager. I wasn't paid, but I was allowed to have clothes for practices, and I did get an Outback Bowl ring for all of my hard work. After football season, I was able to be a regular student fan at other sporting events. I went to Men's and Women's Basketball games as much as I could. I went to Gymnastics and Women's Tennis as well. When Baseball season rolled around, I was at Foley Field. It was great to just be a fan and cheer. I remember MBB only won 2 Basketball games. UGA MBB had undergone some scandals, firings, etc. and we were starting walk-ons in 2004. UGA WBB was good as usual, and we had some quality wins. There were some games where I was the only visible student fan though. The informal atmosphere allowed me to meet different people in athletics, cheerleaders, Dance Dawgs, support staff, et al. I like meeting people. There was one Women's Tennis match against South Carolina where I heckled the USC player so much that she stopped the match to get the umpire to tell me to shut up. Then I proceeded to get cussed out by the girl's mother. The USC girl ended up losing spectacularly, so it was a great day.
In 2005 I began as a full manager. I assumed my role as timekeeper for each practice. I basically used my watch's stopwatch and timed out 5-min periods. I co-ordinated with the head coach as well. Because of my position as timekeeper I was at every practice for 4 seasons. I won't go into detail about practices for compliance reasons. Life as timekeeper was simple. The established routine allowed me to flow subconsciously through it. The thing I enjoyed most was the time it allowed me to spend with coaches' families and guests at practices. I met a lot of famous people. The thing I miss most about my time with UGA Football is not the games, or road trips (though the road trips were awesome) but rather the interactions I had with people. I was pretty much an ambassador. The other managers thought they were giving me the short end of the stick by making me timekeeper, but I loved it thoroughly. They drew their status from the coach they worked with, and the players they served. As timekeeper, I worked with every coach and served every player. In addition to time, I also had the "crash cart" with spare equipment parts, so I handled equipment emergencies. Off the field, I had equal equipment room responsibilities with the other managers. For games, I was in charge of #61-70 (#62 is retired). I was responsible for making sure the players who dressed out of that section had all of the gear they needed. I polished helmets and shined shoes. I put the bones on the back of the helmets as well. Those bones were a pain because they were small and thin, and almost impossible to keep in a straight line. I did the best I could, but I definitely was the worst manager at putting the bones on. My relationships with the other managers improved. I learned my place, and gained more humility. I did my job to the best of my ability, and I like to think I did it well. Those other 11 managers knew me better than anyone else. They saw me at my best and at my worst. They were there in the elation of the 2005 SEC Championship win, and they were there in my agony during the 2009 Capital One Bowl. Managers graduated, managers came in, and altogether I worked with maybe 26 different guys over 5 years, including 3 bosses. Standing here on the last day and looking back, despite my faults I consider all of them friends. I am my own worst critic. I'd have liked for this to have been a detailed memory compilation, but I'll save that for my book. Ultimately, you remember the people more so than the wins and losses. I'm so thankful for every coach I was able to serve. Altogether, I served about 17 coaches in my 5 seasons. Chaplains, trainers, strength assistants, video crew, every one of us worked together for the good of UGA Football. I won't name them, but I remember. My strongest friendships with trainers were in the 2005 and 2007 seasons. I had friends in the video crew that I would hang out with on road trips. The managers tended to keep to themselves on the road, but I branched out as much as possible. With me it's all about the relationships, and I treasure the relationships I built through UGA Football. The managers are my brothers, and we'll always share that bond. If any of them are reading this, and they can't see past that one instance where I was a jerk to them, I truly apologize for it and I wish you well. My term as timekeeper ended with me receiving a standing ovation from the coaches and players. It was the most humbling experience of my life, especially since it came in one of my darkest hours personally. Through it all, it ended well. There were many instances where I didn't honor God as I should have, but He still blessed me, and all glory goes to Him.
After Football ended, I started in the UGA Ticket Office. What can I say that I haven't already said? I love these guys. I will miss them terribly. Wherever I end up, I hope and pray that my co-workers, supervisors, and bosses are as amazing as this team here. They put up with me on my good days and my bad days, and I hope that the good outweighed the bad. I hope that I can make them proud, and use the experience I've gained to help more people. This ticket job has allowed me to gain intimate knowledge of how things operate behind the scenes in an athletics association. It also allowed me to stay involved with athletics for 2 more years. Thankfully my final home football game in Sanford Stadium was not the loss to Georgia Tech in 2008, but rather the win against Kentucky in 2011 to clinch the title of SEC East Champion. Through this ticket job I have built lasting relationships with people in all different departments. I have gained exposure to the operations of different departments as well. I have seen how a Division 1 SEC athletics program is operated, and as I move on to Division 2 I look forward to learning even more. I'm not afraid to work for free, I did it in Football and Tickets both. I'm not afraid to get dirty or sweaty. I shed blood, sweat and tears with Football, and I've gotten sweaty in nicer work clothes through Tickets. I've had experience dealing with all types of people from administrators, to coaches, to players and colleagues to custodial staff, et al. All work together for the same goal, and that is the advancement of UGA Athletics. We are all on the same team. I am the least of these, my brethren. Words cannot express my thanks, my gratitude, and my love for all things Red and Black.
Through it all, my allegiance is cemented in Christ. He sought me when I ran from Him in 2006, and He set my feet back on His foundation. He destroyed me in 2008, and built me back stronger than I was. He has humbled me, and will continue to humble me (but not humiliate me) for His Kingdom and His ultimate glory. If He leads me back to the University of Georgia Athletics Association in the future, I will hit the ground running, and hopefully be welcomed back with open arms. If this is my last day with UGA Athletics for the rest of my life, then all glory to God. I know He is here. I know He is working. I am so thankful He allowed me to be a part of it for 7.5 years. This chapter of my life is closing, and it is sad. Satan wants me to fear that God is done with me. God wants me to fear that He isn't ;)
For the Kingdom,
Stuart Lloyd Kingsley
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