The NPSL season for the men ended earlier than anyone involved with this club had hoped, and in an absolutely ludicrous game spanning three days (which in itself is a story waiting to be told), but the end does not take away from the ride leading up to it. Let's talk about the year, my experience, and what's next with me and in life. I'll try and keep this brief.
The Season:
It was a bit of a wild ride for The Mighty Oak. I think a lot of people might have looked at Grand Rapids and Detroit City and seen their rosters and written off AFC as third in the conference, but between plenty of returning pieces from last year and 2017, plus new additions in important positions (I'm primarily thinking Ian McGrane in net, but there's multiple others too), this was a really fun team to watch as they hit their stride and would secure themselves a playoff berth. I was really happy to get to twelve of the fourteen men's league matches, both Milk Cup matches, and at least the first seventy minutes of the playoff match. Additionally, I was beyond excited to be able to really start making more women's matches once the schedule evened out and the men and women stopped playing on the same day.
Road trips were absolutely a high point, and they started early. I don't think I will ever forget the Wixom Trips for preseason. The first preseason match is a fantastic story that I think very few people actually know about. I'm not sure what part about it is my favorite, but discovering the horrifying underground tunnel connecting buildings at Total Sports Wixom is up there. From there, I also learned a bit about this region of the Midwest. For example, there are long stretches of nothing between Ann Arbor and Lansing. And Ann Arbor and Columbus, for that matter.
I'm not sure I have a favorite match of the season. The men's 2-0 victory over Grand Rapids to really lock up a playoff bid would have to be it, though. I had not celebrated like a fan in a while for a match like that, and to be in the stands for the full ninety minutes on an incredibly sunny day was a nice treat towards the end of the season. Lower league soccer really is a treat to watch, and there were things about every match, home or away, that made it special. The absolute thrill of that 2-0. The intensity of the 0-0 at Keyworth Stadium. The entire logistics of the day of the Open Cup against Lansing Ignite. There is a certain charm to it, no matter how many headaches it may cause.
My Experience:
If you would have told me on May 9th of last year, the day before my first AFC Ann Arbor match, that I would be here, fourteen months later, having lived out a season in an official capacity, I don't think I'd believe you. Twelve-year-old Ryan went to broadcasting camp in Chicago eight years ago and the fact that I got to call a real, actual, (semi) professional sporting event is something that is not lost on the now-twenty-year-old me. Not only that, but between doing color commentary, leading a two-man booth as play-by-play, and being a one-man-show in the box, I have gotten the best of all worlds. Between commentary and the podcast, I never expected to be able to represent the club in the manner I did and I sincerely hope that I did the club worthy. Speaking of the podcast, I owe a massive thank you to everyone who has been on the podcast (if anyone happens to be reading this) because there were some fantastic interviews on that podcast. I mentioned to Bilal pretty early on that the club should have a podcast, and I thank him for letting me go through with it because it was an absolute blast to record.
I met some really, really, great people this season, whether it was players, staff, or fans, this is truly a special community. Two things I tell Bilal with moderate frequency is, one, AFC somehow attracts some of the best people I've ever met to it. That's a massive credit to the club for finding good players who are all somehow also good people. The second thing is that we have something really special with AFC. We traveled with a full staff to Grand Rapids. As in, just about everyone who worked as staff at a home game came to the Grand Rapids doubleheader. For the game in Columbus, we had more or as many people in Columbus's press box than FC Columbus did during the match AND still had a full staff for the women's match that was happening at Concordia at the same time. The way this club is run astounds me and as I have seen on several away matches is not the norm at the level, which is not a knock at all to other teams, but a testament to this one. It is full of people who care about what they are doing and enjoy what they do.
I have a million people to thank, but I'll avoid names because I don't want anyone to be left out. So I'll give a very broad thank you and say this -- if you have been in any way, shape, or form associated with this club this season, thank you so much. Whether that was as fan support, if you're a player that's reading this, someone that listened to a podcast or watched a broadcast or read a preview or recap, or someone that I personally know, thank you for being a part of this season. That said, I really do want to thank Bruno by name though since he's leaving the club. I worked with him with MichiganSoccerNow and he became a 'work friend' which felt very grown-up for me, a 19-year-old who was getting kicked out of Michigan soccer press boxes every now and then to make space. He really is the wizard. Thanks, lastly, to the friends within the club I have made over the year, you all very much added to the experience of this season.
What's Next:
So now what? With the season over, I am already looking forward to next year and the preparations for it. There is still so much time in between though that I don't really want to think about that gap.
I will definitely be busy. I'll be taking seventeen credits of class, I have been fortunate enough to get an internship with the UofM athletic communications department, and that is on top of any other work I may do in the school year. I really want to write still here, but even during the season with work and summer classes, I have been writing plenty, just not here. Liverpool's preseason is in full swing and I really would like to continue writing about the Premier League on this blog, but the extent of which I can will depend how busy I am in real life. The same goes for my preview/recaps/news on Michigan basketball -- because my opponent previews for Michigan basketball are quite possibly my favorite thing to write for this blog. I also have an idea for a massive project on the blog that would probably take over my blog that I don't want to announce yet because of feasibility, time, and actual coverage limitations of my fall/winter schedule. I do want to be more active, or rather as active as I was last school year, but at this stage I do not know how feasible that will be. That is the same for this summer. Between class and coming down from this season, I think a bit of a break from sports may be in order.
This did not exactly answer the question I meant it to, which is 'how active will I be', but that really is up in the air.
However, this post is meant for a celebration of a year gone by. If you're also a fan/staff/player/whatever with AFC, I hope your summer in Ann Arbor was as good as mine. I also will hope to see you in the not-so-distant future. Thanks are in order again to everyone involved. Until next time.
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan where I am more active. I tweet a lot about NPSL Great Lakes stuff when in season as well as soccer in general. Of course, I also tweet about Michigan/college basketball.
The Season:
It was a bit of a wild ride for The Mighty Oak. I think a lot of people might have looked at Grand Rapids and Detroit City and seen their rosters and written off AFC as third in the conference, but between plenty of returning pieces from last year and 2017, plus new additions in important positions (I'm primarily thinking Ian McGrane in net, but there's multiple others too), this was a really fun team to watch as they hit their stride and would secure themselves a playoff berth. I was really happy to get to twelve of the fourteen men's league matches, both Milk Cup matches, and at least the first seventy minutes of the playoff match. Additionally, I was beyond excited to be able to really start making more women's matches once the schedule evened out and the men and women stopped playing on the same day.
Road trips were absolutely a high point, and they started early. I don't think I will ever forget the Wixom Trips for preseason. The first preseason match is a fantastic story that I think very few people actually know about. I'm not sure what part about it is my favorite, but discovering the horrifying underground tunnel connecting buildings at Total Sports Wixom is up there. From there, I also learned a bit about this region of the Midwest. For example, there are long stretches of nothing between Ann Arbor and Lansing. And Ann Arbor and Columbus, for that matter.
I'm not sure I have a favorite match of the season. The men's 2-0 victory over Grand Rapids to really lock up a playoff bid would have to be it, though. I had not celebrated like a fan in a while for a match like that, and to be in the stands for the full ninety minutes on an incredibly sunny day was a nice treat towards the end of the season. Lower league soccer really is a treat to watch, and there were things about every match, home or away, that made it special. The absolute thrill of that 2-0. The intensity of the 0-0 at Keyworth Stadium. The entire logistics of the day of the Open Cup against Lansing Ignite. There is a certain charm to it, no matter how many headaches it may cause.
My Experience:
If you would have told me on May 9th of last year, the day before my first AFC Ann Arbor match, that I would be here, fourteen months later, having lived out a season in an official capacity, I don't think I'd believe you. Twelve-year-old Ryan went to broadcasting camp in Chicago eight years ago and the fact that I got to call a real, actual, (semi) professional sporting event is something that is not lost on the now-twenty-year-old me. Not only that, but between doing color commentary, leading a two-man booth as play-by-play, and being a one-man-show in the box, I have gotten the best of all worlds. Between commentary and the podcast, I never expected to be able to represent the club in the manner I did and I sincerely hope that I did the club worthy. Speaking of the podcast, I owe a massive thank you to everyone who has been on the podcast (if anyone happens to be reading this) because there were some fantastic interviews on that podcast. I mentioned to Bilal pretty early on that the club should have a podcast, and I thank him for letting me go through with it because it was an absolute blast to record.
I met some really, really, great people this season, whether it was players, staff, or fans, this is truly a special community. Two things I tell Bilal with moderate frequency is, one, AFC somehow attracts some of the best people I've ever met to it. That's a massive credit to the club for finding good players who are all somehow also good people. The second thing is that we have something really special with AFC. We traveled with a full staff to Grand Rapids. As in, just about everyone who worked as staff at a home game came to the Grand Rapids doubleheader. For the game in Columbus, we had more or as many people in Columbus's press box than FC Columbus did during the match AND still had a full staff for the women's match that was happening at Concordia at the same time. The way this club is run astounds me and as I have seen on several away matches is not the norm at the level, which is not a knock at all to other teams, but a testament to this one. It is full of people who care about what they are doing and enjoy what they do.
I have a million people to thank, but I'll avoid names because I don't want anyone to be left out. So I'll give a very broad thank you and say this -- if you have been in any way, shape, or form associated with this club this season, thank you so much. Whether that was as fan support, if you're a player that's reading this, someone that listened to a podcast or watched a broadcast or read a preview or recap, or someone that I personally know, thank you for being a part of this season. That said, I really do want to thank Bruno by name though since he's leaving the club. I worked with him with MichiganSoccerNow and he became a 'work friend' which felt very grown-up for me, a 19-year-old who was getting kicked out of Michigan soccer press boxes every now and then to make space. He really is the wizard. Thanks, lastly, to the friends within the club I have made over the year, you all very much added to the experience of this season.
What's Next:
So now what? With the season over, I am already looking forward to next year and the preparations for it. There is still so much time in between though that I don't really want to think about that gap.
I will definitely be busy. I'll be taking seventeen credits of class, I have been fortunate enough to get an internship with the UofM athletic communications department, and that is on top of any other work I may do in the school year. I really want to write still here, but even during the season with work and summer classes, I have been writing plenty, just not here. Liverpool's preseason is in full swing and I really would like to continue writing about the Premier League on this blog, but the extent of which I can will depend how busy I am in real life. The same goes for my preview/recaps/news on Michigan basketball -- because my opponent previews for Michigan basketball are quite possibly my favorite thing to write for this blog. I also have an idea for a massive project on the blog that would probably take over my blog that I don't want to announce yet because of feasibility, time, and actual coverage limitations of my fall/winter schedule. I do want to be more active, or rather as active as I was last school year, but at this stage I do not know how feasible that will be. That is the same for this summer. Between class and coming down from this season, I think a bit of a break from sports may be in order.
This did not exactly answer the question I meant it to, which is 'how active will I be', but that really is up in the air.
However, this post is meant for a celebration of a year gone by. If you're also a fan/staff/player/whatever with AFC, I hope your summer in Ann Arbor was as good as mine. I also will hope to see you in the not-so-distant future. Thanks are in order again to everyone involved. Until next time.
Follow me on Twitter @RMAB_Ryan where I am more active. I tweet a lot about NPSL Great Lakes stuff when in season as well as soccer in general. Of course, I also tweet about Michigan/college basketball.
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