Posting this for @alec.busse as he begins a crazy time. Very thankful for the work he did for us and what he was able to do during the NCAA Tournament was the perfect way to cap his time at EMAW Online. He busted his tail and cranked out a ton of great stories like the ones on Nowell and Massoud, as well as game coverage.
It’s Sept., 24, 2022 and Mason Voth and I are making our first road trip together, heading to the K-State at Oklahoma game in Norman since starting a new venture at EMAW Online. On the way South, is when Mason and I began to form a great friendship, and much less importantly a working relationship.
That is why leaving EMAW Online after about eight months covering K-State is a challenge. The relationships that I formed with Mason and Gabe Swartz are rooted in great laughter, some awesome inside jokes and subtle jabs at each other.
Coming to live in Manhattan was scary for a 23-year-old who had never lived outside of Illinois. But it was an incredibly scary – and exciting -- opportunity to start my professional career as a college sports reporter about four months after graduating from college. Working on this team, though, made this job the opposite of scary.
Mason answered millions of stupid questions I asked him throughout of my one season covering K-State. He enlightened me about the history of K-State football and basketball. He helped me understand the value K-State fans have for the Wildcats and why they are so passionate.
Gabe made me a much smarter college basketball fan. His knowledge of college basketball and why players, teams and programs are successful was valuable for me to lean. I observed him closely throughout our one year working together.
Covering K-State provided me with a ton of great memories. I came to K-State thinking Chris Klieman’s team was a potential darkhorse to win the Big 12 and by the midway point of the season, K-State was no longer a Big 12 contender, but one of the favorites. Covering the final home game at Bill Snyder Family Stadium and seeing the players celebrate as Willie Wildcat stood on the rooftop of the press box leading the K-S-U chant is stuck with me forever.
The goal line stand against TCU is overtime shortly before a game-winning kick went through the uprights to clinch a Big 12 title for the first time in a decade is a play I had a front row view to.
If you remember correctly, when our staff ranked Big 12 basketball teams before the season started, I put K-State 10th in the Big 12. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Doom returned to Bramlage Coliseum and covering Jerome Tang was a joy. Speaking with Tang made my day better every time we spoke and his roster was filled with inspirational stories, which every story teller, like myself, appreciates.
When I started as a journalist, I knew a lot about the teams I was covering. I didn’t know a ton about K-State when I started – and I still don’t think I’m an expert – but reporting on K-State was a challenge that I heeded and it made me better. I learned more about effective research, relationship building. Covering K-State turned me into a professional and the memories made along the way inspired me to keep pushing my career forward.
Road trips to the Sugar Bowl, Greensboro and Madison Square Garden are things I’ll never forget – I hope to turn some of those photos into wall art in the future. Attending Allen Fieldhouse was a bucket list item for college basketball fan, and I’m grateful that I was there with two good friends to enjoy it with them.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the last eight months covering K-State. It was a special time and place to start my professional career and I’m always going to be grateful to have covered K-State with some of my best friends.
Thanks for reading and engaging on the message boards in the last eight months – words can’t describe the appreciation I have for everyone I encountered in my time covering K-State. Thank you.
-Alec
kansasstate.rivals.com
