University of North Carolina Athletics
From Fetzer To Finley
January 24, 2004 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 24, 2004
By Dave Lohse
Associate Sports Information Director
It wasn't long ago that my friend Michael Williams of Atlanta, Ga., introduced to me to an acquaintance of his by saying, "This is Dave Lohse of Chapel Hill, N.C., and his job allows him to live a Peter Pan sort of existence." We all had a good laugh about it. After all, I am 48 years old now, and I hardly consider myself to be Peter Pan. I am growing older by the minute and I have the wrinkles and flab to prove that point.
ut I understood what Michael was trying to say. Those of us who work in college sports information offices often do get the luxury of living somewhat different kinds of lives. Despite working a lot of hours on weekends and often on weeknights as well, we are, after all, earning our livings by watching young people ages 18-22 play games for a living and then chronicling their feats for all of the fans out there to read about. And so if there is a job that can potentially keep you young, this would certainly be it. Even as the years pass and I get older the young people in the Carolina athletic department I have the opportunity to publicize always seem to remain the same age -- different faces and different names -- but always full of vitality and youth.
I was reminded of this recently when I was choosing pictures to go on the cover of the 2004 UNC men's tennis media guide. In the fall we had taken a lot of different photos but when I came across a photo of the three Tar Heel seniors we had taken last October the point was reinforced. The smiles on the faces of 2004 Tar Heel seniors Nick Monroe, Andy Metzler and Ben Aiken are just infectious. You can't look at that picture and not get a good feeling -- not just about Carolina tennis, not just about these three great student-athletes, but just about life in general.
And that's what college athletics should be about. We often are so concerned with the wins and losses -- and that is certainly human nature -- that we often forget that the people who don the uniforms for Carolina teams --whether they be tennis players or basketball players -- are kids. They are young and they make mistakes. But they are also the reason I have a job. No athletes and no teams -- no need for an associate sports information director.
Of course working with winning teams make the whole process all the more pleasant. When you're in the job of publicizing the feats of student-athletes the job is all the more fulfilling when you get to see those student-athletes succeed. When the Tar Heel men's tennis team clinched the 2002 Atlantic Coast Conference championship on a clutch victory by Trystan Meniane that was one of those amazing highs. It was Carolina's first ACC title in 10 years. When the UNC men's lacrosse team lost in overtime last year to Johns Hopkins, it was one of those crushing moments. UNC was seeking its first win over the Blue Jays in nine years and a victory would almost assuredly have propelled the Tar Heels into the NCAA Tournament. As the SID I can't understand what those emotions really mean to those kids but I can at least approximate them.
Last fall of course was a pure joy ride with the Tar Heel women's soccer team. Not only was this a collection of some of the greatest players to ever wear Carolina Blue uniforms at UNC but they were also a group of remarkably nice people -- and a joy to work with. They never once complained about doing interviews -- even when the questions were inane. So when the Tar Heels topped off their remarkable season with a great performance in the Final Four in Cary, I was understandably proud.
And when the team made a gift to me of a signed copy of their recent Sports Illustrated on Campus cover just minutes after winning the national championship I couldn't help but feel more than a bit touched. That framed cover hangs in a prominent place in my new house and every time I look at it I remind myself of why I do what I do. It's really all about the student-athletes. It's about the kids. And they keep me feeling and acting and -- knock on wood -- even looking young. Sort of like Peter Pan.
Players Mentioned
