Riding Down the Highway

This has been one of the craziest weeks for me, personally, that I can ever remember.

I knew making the transition from being a Trojan to becoming a Hatter would be difficult. Everything involved with making a move like this is a challenge. Trying to be in two places at one time, without the use of a "multiplicity" machine, is impossible.

My week started last Sunday when my wife Joan (@guardianwriter) and I made the seven-plus hour drive from Troy to DeLand. We spent some time after we arrived in Volusia County driving around in search of a place to rent for me to live in.

(Note: If anyone in DeLand wants to take mercy on a new resident, I am looking for something simple to rent for the next few weeks/months until the house in Troy sells and Joan can join me in DeLand. I won't be much trouble for anyone because I will spend most of my time at work or on the road.)

On Monday I got to the Edmunds Center in time to see some of the men's basketball team practice. I can tell already that I am going to like working with coach Casey Alexander and his staff. They know where they want to take the program and they know how they are going to get there. It will be fun watching them build the program back to prominence.

It was interesting to see Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy on hand to watch practice. That should be an interesting story to tell as the season gets closer if the NBA lockout continues.

Following practice, I spent some time with Stetson Director of Athletics Jeff Altier. One of the things he showed me was the drawings for the new football facility, practice fields as well as what will happen with the soccer and lacrosse practice and game areas. It will be exciting to see all of that come together over the coming months.

As any new employee does, I spent some time in the Human Resources office filling out paper work and I got a chance to meet some of the folks in the University Relations/Marketing office.

Monday also included a meeting with Steven Harrison and Rachel Fisk, who are interested in working with the athletics department to bring some exciting new video content to GoHatters.com. I'll be meeting with their entire student group next week to get the ball rolling.

After lunch and some more time in the office, Joan and I hit the road late in the afternoon with Debbie Dunn to look at some houses. House hunting is never easy because it takes a lot of time and effort. I will be doing a lot of it on my own over the coming weeks as Joan stays behind in Troy to get us ready to move.

On Tuesday I got to spend some time in the office, searching through computer files and just generally getting a feel for the whats and wheres of my new place. The folks in the Stetson IT office came and got me set up with a brand new Stetson e-mail address (jhazel@stetson.edu), got the desktop computer operating system upgraded and helped me figure out the phone system.

There is so much that you take for granted when you have been at the same place for a while. At Troy, I know exactly who to call without even thinking for any problem. At Stetson, I am having to learn all of that same information over again. It is like starting over in grade school.

After getting to spend a little time in the office to get my bearings, I went out to Melching Field to meet with baseball coach Pete Dunn. Obviously he is a veteran coach who is very well respected across the nation, and we covered a lot of territory. People who know me know that I am a baseball guy. This spring should be very exciting for Hatters baseball fans with the returning talent from a team that pushed the eventual national champion in regional play last spring.

After the meeting, I made a quick trip to the hotel for a wardrobe change and then took off for Miami where the Troy football team squared off against FIU on ESPN2.

It has become a tough season for the Trojans. After winning five consecutive Sun Belt Conference titles, Troy has struggled this year with injuries and inexperience. After starting off with solid performances against Clemson and Arkansas, although both were losses, the team won a pair of close home games.

Since that two-game win streak they have suffered tough losses on the road at UL Lafayette and at home to ULM. The ULM loss was the worst at home for Troy coach Larry Blakeney in his 21 years on the job. He's only lost 13 games at home during that time, but this one stung for me, because I knew it was my last one.

The Trojans went to Miami in hopes of getting back on track and avenging another bad home loss from last year. Despite some struggles in the game, Troy had a 20-17 lead late, but FIU kicked a field goal in the final seconds to send the game into overtime.

For whatever reason, overtime is not a place the Trojans ever want to find themselves. Only three previous times had Troy ventured into overtime, and all three ended in losses, all three with missed or blocked field goals.

Tuesday night was no different. After most ESPN2 viewers had gone to bed, Troy got the ball first in the extra period and did nothing. After losing a yard, the Trojans tried a long field goal, but missed.

FIU got its chance and took advantage, driving down inside the Troy 10 before booting the game-winner.

It was tough to see those Troy players who I have watched enjoy so much success so down-trodden after a tough loss, especially knowing it would be the last time for me to see them play in person.

Joan and I left FIU fairly quickly after the game, getting on the road about 12:30 a.m. We got to the hotel in DeLand about 4:45 a.m. and jumped in the sack for a couple of hours sleep.

On Wednesday I made it up and out in time to get in to see the tail-end of basketball practice again. Following practice, I sat down with Casey Alexander to talk about the coming season, his players, his staff, his philosophies, and just about anything else that relates to his program.

I'll have more to tell you about Hatters hoops in the coming days but I know I like their mantra for the 2011-12 season because it works for any enterprise. The slogan is "Together is Better" and that is the way they want their players and their program to think and act. Everything is about being together.

I had another meeting with our AD Jeff Altier before lunch in order to introduce him to Joan. They hit it off right away because they have a common interest in science fiction.

After a quick trip to see a possible place to rent (please, someone take mercy on me!) we had some Puerto Rican food for lunch. After spending a couple of hours in the office, we left about 4 p.m. for the seven hour ride back to Troy.

Now, it is almost 4 p.m. (central) and it is time for me to go to say my final goodbyes to the folks here at Troy. They have been my friends and my family for almost eight years, and I am going to miss them dearly.

But I am also looking forward to meeting many more members of the Hatter family in the coming days and weeks. I just hope that it doesn't take long for me to feel about the Stetson family the way I feel about the Troy family.

If what I have seen and experienced so far is any indication, I am sure it will not take long at all.

Tomorrow, I'll be back in my truck for the ride to DeLand.

If you are into Facebook or Twitter, make sure to look me up to say hello and follow me @RHazel_SID.