After a little over eight months in Connecticut, it’s time for me to go home.
Last August, I left USA Today, where I had been for more than a dozen years, and embarked on a new adventure. I was offered and accepted a job as copy desk chief at NBCSports.com, in Stamford, Conn. The plan was to sell the house and move the family from Virginia.
Ehh, but we never got around to the selling of the house. And then NBC laid off nine of my co-workers. And I got to thinking perhaps this wasn’t the most secure place I could work.
This is the way journalism is these days, and when I left a job of 12 years behind, that was a risk I was running, no doubt. But if I’m going to be in an insecure situation, I might as well be with my family. So I began to pursue other employment, and will start as sports editor for Verizon’s news portal on May 1, back in Northern Virginia.
But it was a risk I had to take, and I think it’s been a success. But it was a good season in New England. I got to see Springfield play, which wouldn’t have happened otherwise. I saw the Trinity (Conn.) winning streak end. Got a chance to see Albright’s new stadium, as well as the picturesque view on the water at Coast Guard and a great smack-in-the-middle-of-campus setup at RPI. I saw Cortland State’s season end — even though there was a month of the season left.
A couple of years ago, when Keith McMillan and I were still at USA Today, we ticked off which conferences we had seen and which we hadn’t. I got the NEFC and NESCAC off my list this season, while Keith got the IIAC. I also saw Wilkes play for the first time. At any rate, Keith and I started keeping a running tally of teams, and I got up to 83 of the 234 Division III teams. Thank you, New England. 🙂
It was certainly fun, don’t get me wrong. I had a lot of time to work on the sites this season, and I think it showed.
Still, it’s hard to think of my time away as anything but a term of nine months in exile. You should see me in the Mid-Atlantic area again this season. And my wife and kids thank Division III for keeping me sane while we were apart and returning me to them safely.
Sorry to hear it didn’t work out but getting home to your family will ease the sting for a while. In the mean time, a journalist with your talent and connections will continue to find better employment, just give it time. And as always, thanks for all the D3Sports.
Great news Pat! Now if BC can return to hosting playoff games this year all will be back to normal in the world of D3Football. As a Verizon subscriber here in VA, it will be nice to actually know the guy the sports news is coming from.
Good luck Pat. Hopefully the d3sports.com brand will continue grow as you continue your career back in Virginia.
Welcome back to the area and good luck with the new job. Something tells me your kids are probably very happy to have you back as well. When we first moved to MD we found my then-5-year-old out on the front lawn trying to hail a cab back to Seattle.
Congratulations on the new job and getting back to VA. Just stand there and click your heals together three times saying “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home, There’s no place like home.” and you’ll be there.
But whatever you do don’t look behind the curtain!
Seriously great news! and continuing great job on D3.
Is is “The Preview” done yet?
The Preview. Mention no such thing until July please, thanks.
It was always the family first.
I really wish people at USAT would stop asking me if you’re coming back though. Just because your position (or Eric’s) is still open … 🙂
I just assumed they were doing the Gannett thing and not filling it intentionally.
I doubt USAT would want to pay me a competitive salary. Hope they’re not keeping a seat warm for me.
D3Keith,
My comment was meant to be TIC. Is it July yet?
Pat, That was supposed to be “heels”. I hope you didn’t end up in Kansas.
For me at least Pat, there is no comparison career paths if the one I choose makes me happier outside of the office, as well as in. I was hoping to run into you on the NJAC trail again in 2007, but maybe you can make it up to Glassboro for Rowan-Cortland 2008.
Congratulations on ending up where you wanted to be. And by the way, this D3sports thing you’ve got going is a pretty good gig too.
RG,
Taken as tongue-in-cheek.
Probably should have added some kind of transition there … “It was always the family first” and on down was in regards to Pat. Which, updating a previous, I saw the other day, and also learned his replacement has finally been hired.
Although we steadfastly maintain (at least if we like having a paid column here) that Pat could never be replaced, even if a new guy sits at his old desk.