May 11, 2008

Senior Jeff Thomas will be blogging throughout the season about his experiences as a member of the Huskie baseball team. The outfielder from Loves Park, Ill., currently leads the team in hitting and is in his third season as the starting leftfielder. Thomas' latest posting talks about balancing the roles of the student-athlete with finals and the stretch drive of the baseball season.

Okay, I know it's been a while since my last blog, but it is towards the end of the year and I have to fulfill the student part of being a student athlete. What I mean by that is finals are coming up and I've had to get focused in these classes so I can get the grades I want to get. During the baseball season my teammates and I have to execute time management to a "T" to get stuff done, especially towards the end of the year. Getting projects, assignments, and speeches done, often times having to make them up or turn them in early, is tough when you have this many games in the year. Luckily, I have teachers that understand the ways of a college baseball player and are working with me and not against me. I really do appreciate that from them.

Nothing really has really changed in my attitude about anything; I'm still having too much fun on the field and enjoying my last year as a college player. We are currently on our last road trip in the MAC at Ball State, which is located in Muncie, Ind. So it is not too far away from home. It really has not hit me yet that the season is actually winding down, I guess I'm living in the moment. I can see all the younger guys grow and learn the college game and the older guys step up when we need it. That is truly an amazing thing to see, it wasn't too long ago when I was in the younger guys position watching the older guys out there on the field waiting for my chance.

And since I write this on Mother's Day, I want to wish a happy Mother's Day to my MOM and to all the mothers out there!!!

Until next time ...

JT