Wow. It’s here. Another off-season and preseason have come and gone as we already find ourselves in the thick of the non-conference schedule. It is that time of year when the days can quickly run together, as you go from practice to practice, game to game and recruiting trip to recruiting trip. Before you know it, you look up and it’s March. If we’re not careful, it is so easy for us (both coaches and our players) to get wrapped up in the day-to-day of a win or loss, a workout or practice or a recruit or signee, that we forget to enjoy this unbelievable journey with the proper perspective.
I don’t know about you, but I admit it: I forget. But I thought today would be a good time to remember.
One of the first lessons I ever learned in coaching is that our players can teach us a lot. But only if we let them! With Thanksgiving here, I thought it would be nice to hear from a few Mason players to help remind us of the little things in college basketball that we should be thankful for. Everything is in their own words of course!
“I’m thankful basketball has given me a scholarship.”
“I’m thankful for where I am and for the people around me, specifically as an international student. Having support far away from home means a lot.”
“I am thankful for a new opportunity to play at this school. Thankful for being healthy enough to play the game I love. Thankful for having a skill that has allowed me to get a free education. Thankful for all the things this campus has to offer (food, dorms, etc.).”
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to develop and grow as a basketball player here at Mason. Also to obtain a degree in Sport Management. Being at George Mason has opened many doors for me. I’m thankful for being at such a great and diverse University.”
“I am thankful for the opportunity to travel to places I’ve never been.”
For me personally, I am thankful to have the opportunity to work with such a great group of players, coaches and support staff here at Mason. In basketball it takes a team on the court and in coaching it takes a team at home. I am grateful, and intentionally so during this holiday season, for the constant support of my wife Heather in this basketball journey of ours. Win or lose, having the opportunity to be able to do what it is you love to do is a blessing in and of itself.
College basketball is an unbelievable experience, but we can agree that there is more to life than this game of basketball that we all live and love. Hopefully this week, we can each take a TIME OUT to say thanks to those we need to say thanks to and be thankful for that which we need to be thankful!
Happy Thanksgiving!
GO MASON!
Chris Kreider
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