North Carolina State University Athletics
Jeff Gravley: It's Good to be Back
1/13/2020 11:36:00 AM | Pack Athletics
Editor's Note: Jeff Gravley recently joined his alma mater as the Wolfpack's Director of Content Strategy.
The first week on any new job is a whirlwind and mine was no exception. My new adventure at NC State has led me back to a very familiar place, my alma mater. A lot has changed since I graduated in 1985 but much is the same.
Knowing I was coming back to the Pack, I spent several days going through boxes in the attic. I'll admit, I'm somewhat of a hoarder who has a hard time throwing things away. "I might need that one day!" Is the go to explanation to my wife. I'm glad we moved last January, which helped eliminate quite a bit of clutter.
But I knew there were a few clear containers with things that I wanted to have in my new office at NC State. One was a letter that former Wolfpack football coach Bo Rein wrote me in the late 70's. I went to his football camp and made a point to introduce myself. I followed that with a letter to Coach Rein, never expecting a reply. He sent me a hand written note in part saying, "I hope to see you at some of our games this season." I did get to a few games, paying around $7.00 to sit on the grassy hill.
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There was one Saturday I was supposed to go watch the Wolfpack but that morning I got sick while priming tobacco and couldn't go. One of my close friends did go and happened to get a game worn, ripped jersey from running back Ted Brown. He gave me the sleeve, which I found the other day to add to my office collection.
One letter took me a bit longer to find. It was from Wolfpack Hall of Fame baseball coach Sam Esposito. He gave me an opportunity as a walk-on pitcher in 1982 but my skills limited me to pretty much a glorified batting practice pitcher. It didn't matter because I was so happy and proud to be a part of the team. But the following fall, the dreaded note was in the locker room. "Coach wants to see you."
I was cut.
I wrote a letter to Coach Esposito thanking him for the opportunity to be in his program. Not knowing what my career would be, I included in the letter that maybe one day I could come back and work in the NC State athletic department.
Last week I found the letter that he wrote back and the final paragraph gave me chills. "I wish you the very best of luck and I too hope that someday you have the opportunity to be a part of our athletic program."
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Thirty-seven years later it has happened.
You never know where life will take you but it's comforting to be back working in a place that taught me so much. It's time to create more memories to savor.
In my new role, I look forward to working with all the great coaches and student-athletes, both past and present, at NC State to tell their stories.
The first week on any new job is a whirlwind and mine was no exception. My new adventure at NC State has led me back to a very familiar place, my alma mater. A lot has changed since I graduated in 1985 but much is the same.
Knowing I was coming back to the Pack, I spent several days going through boxes in the attic. I'll admit, I'm somewhat of a hoarder who has a hard time throwing things away. "I might need that one day!" Is the go to explanation to my wife. I'm glad we moved last January, which helped eliminate quite a bit of clutter.
But I knew there were a few clear containers with things that I wanted to have in my new office at NC State. One was a letter that former Wolfpack football coach Bo Rein wrote me in the late 70's. I went to his football camp and made a point to introduce myself. I followed that with a letter to Coach Rein, never expecting a reply. He sent me a hand written note in part saying, "I hope to see you at some of our games this season." I did get to a few games, paying around $7.00 to sit on the grassy hill.
Â
There was one Saturday I was supposed to go watch the Wolfpack but that morning I got sick while priming tobacco and couldn't go. One of my close friends did go and happened to get a game worn, ripped jersey from running back Ted Brown. He gave me the sleeve, which I found the other day to add to my office collection.
One letter took me a bit longer to find. It was from Wolfpack Hall of Fame baseball coach Sam Esposito. He gave me an opportunity as a walk-on pitcher in 1982 but my skills limited me to pretty much a glorified batting practice pitcher. It didn't matter because I was so happy and proud to be a part of the team. But the following fall, the dreaded note was in the locker room. "Coach wants to see you."
I was cut.
I wrote a letter to Coach Esposito thanking him for the opportunity to be in his program. Not knowing what my career would be, I included in the letter that maybe one day I could come back and work in the NC State athletic department.
Last week I found the letter that he wrote back and the final paragraph gave me chills. "I wish you the very best of luck and I too hope that someday you have the opportunity to be a part of our athletic program."
Â
Thirty-seven years later it has happened.
You never know where life will take you but it's comforting to be back working in a place that taught me so much. It's time to create more memories to savor.
In my new role, I look forward to working with all the great coaches and student-athletes, both past and present, at NC State to tell their stories.
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