SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15

9:31 a.m.

The bus rolls out of the parking lot headed towards the final walk-through practice of the regional. It's hard to believe that last week at this time every person on this bus was just hoping for a chance to play again and now they are on the brink of the biggest match in program history.

The mood on the bus is a little heavier. It could be from the early hour or the fact that this team might finally realize the situation they are in and it is starting to get to them. The bus ride to St. Thomas rolls by without much talk or happenings. Tim and Bob talk about schemes and what they will have to do to stop tonight's opponent St. Ben's. They know this team well and haven't had to spend a lot of time breaking down tape or going over other coach's scouting reports. The knowledge on this opponent is first hand and will hopefully help tonight.

9:58 a.m.

Unlike the two previous days when the team would warm up in the fieldhouse and then walk to the gym when their appointed practice time came, the team waits in the hallway after getting ready and will warm up in the gym as part of their walk-through routine. The early-morning practice was mandated by the use of the gym from the basketball teams and other events taking place on a hectic Saturday in the fall/winter season.

The freshmen on the team pass the time by chatting with the male athletes at St. Thomas. Greta King tries to guess what sport each athlete plays as they walk by. The rest of the first-year crew also laughs and tries to talk with each athlete. The seniors say their sorry for not telling the freshmen that they should have worn make up and got all ready for the practice as they would be meeting some of the male athletes from St. Thomas.

After the flirting and the return to lightheartedness, the team gets the nod to go to the gym and start practice. The fun-loving team is back and it looks like it will be just another day for the Cobber volleyball team - hopefully it will be the same team once 9 p.m. rolls around.

10:07 a.m.

Less than 10 minutes into practice and Tim has to stop the session to bring everyone together and get them more focused. The team takes the message to heart and the rest of the practice has a good tempo and they are able to concentrate on the task at hand.

11:27 p.m.

The bus heads into a Cub supermarket to stock up on supplies for the team. The sun is out for one of the first time all weekend and it feels good to be able to walk outside and feel the warmth of the sun rather than having to hunch up and walk briskly to the bus in order to beat the chill in the air.

The three seniors are the ones that get the job of going into the store and picking out water, Gatorade, snacks, granola bars, etc. for the team to keep them fed until they will have their pre-match meal at 3 p.m.

After getting the goods, we head out the door and have to walk across the parking lot to get to the bus. Along the way Anna Tinkham, who is carrying a case of water on her head, fakes like she accidentally bumps into a parking sign and hits her head. This is a little joke that the players will use all the time to try and get people to do a double take. This time none of the other seniors or Tim or Bob take the bait but a pair of older ladies are walking towards Anna and they are completely shocked. The one's mouth drops completely open and her eyes get as big as saucers while her friend yells out, "did you see that? She ran right into the post!" I have to walk away at almost spring speed to avoid from falling down on the ground in laughter. The one lady then comes over to Tim and asks if his daughter is going to be ok. Meanwhile Anna can barely contain herself and Tim lets the ladies know that everything will be alright. After the two ladies go into the store and we are almost at the bus, the patented Anna Tinkham gut laugh comes out and everyone breaks down. Just another funny story on the way to the region championship.

2:59 p.m.

There is one minute to go before the bus leaves and I am stuck in my room watching the live stats from the Cobber football game and listening to the St. John's/Carleton championship football game on the computer. Both games are going down to the wire with both about to be decided in the final minute of play. Unfortunately I have to leave to head off to the pre-match meal. The Cobbers are trailing 21-19 but are driving for the go-ahead score and Carleton has just scored to take a 10-7 lead in the final minute of play.

I spend the drive to Perkins trying to track down stats, scores anything to find out what happened in both games.

The pre-match meal will once again be eaten at Perkins - not that the team is superstitious! Once again most of the team orders pumpkin muffins. The conversation highlight comes from Abby Scheel - go figure. Throughout the trip Abby has talked about the fact that she feels she is immortal. After several brushes with death and several bad accidents she has a feeling that she won't be hurt. The team randomly starts a conversation about the end of the world and Abby chimes that it would be fine with her since she would survive since she is immortal. She then goes on to say that it would be bad because she would have no one to talk with but that it might be ok because she could go to Target and get something to spend the time. The team breaks down and lets Abby know that since it would be the end of the world there wouldn't be too many Targets still in existence. Much laughter and the old team is back.

It is shaping up to be a good day. I find out that the Cobbers came all the way back and beat Gustavus 27-21. The Johnnies also pulled off another late-game miracle and beat Carleton to win the MIAC title and earn a spot in the national playoffs. Tim and Bob shake their heads in amazement but I let them know that SJU head coach John Gagliardi is actually Moses and can part any team's defense whenever he wants to. They laugh at the analogy and I can tell they are ready to go as well.

After finishing up the meal we head back to the hotel so I can get my broadcast equipment. The drive to St. Thomas is a little more serious as we are less than two hours until first serve.

6:09 p.m.

The Cobbers come out for their final warm-up of the regional. They look intense and full of energy. For the first time in the regional, their opponent also looks intense and ready to go. Not the nervousness of Loras or the malaise of UW-La Crosse but a team that is ready to match CC point for point.

7:29 p.m.

After the teams have traded and runs and points in the first set, St. Ben's has pulled away and taken a four-point lead at 24-20. It doesn't look good for CC but they reach down and come up with four straight points. Another testament to the heart and soul of this team and it looks as if this might be their night. Concordia wins the next point and has set point in the opener. One of the two pivotal points in the match occurs in the next two minutes. The Blazers come up with the next three points and win the first set 27-25. Perched at the brink of a crucial first-set win (they had never lost in the season when they won the first set) they had the rug pulled out from underneath them.

The second set follows the same pattern as the first and the teams are tied at 23-23.  Whoever can win the next two points will take the set. If CSB pulls it off, Concordia will be behind 2-0 and face a huge uphill task. If the Cobbers win then the match will be tied and they will have the momentum. Unfortunately it is not to be Concordia's night and CSB wins the final two points to grab the all-important second set.

Concordia wins the third set but St. Ben's pulls away in the fourth and wins the match 3-1. The Blazers had a pair of players step up and play huge matches.  They were also able tot rack down several balls that on most nights would have fallen for CC points. But they hustled and scrapped and are celebrating on the court. Concordia will have to be content with the fact that they have come farther than they ever had in program history.

The team goes through a team huddle and then each member walks over to their family and friends and will try to talk but deep down they all want to just head out the door and try and put the result behind them as soon as possible.

The original plan was to stay overnight and then head back in the morning. They have decided to change the plans and head back right away. The bus will go back to the hotel and then the team will gather their stuff and get back on the road with a stop to eat along the way.

The mood on the bus is very somber. It is the toughest thing to handle - the moments right after a season-ending loss. You know it will eventually come but it can never be handled when it does come. No one talks as the bus rolls out of UST for the final time. Anna Tinkham and Jill Hance have chosen to go back with family and friends. Everyone else is on the bus and in silence.

Tim and Bob start to talk about what they could have done better.

I know that they will eventually realize that they played well but had two critical moments go against them, and at this level and in this type of match, that is usually the difference between winning and losing. It comes down to a single point or a couple of points. It is a harsh reality but any sport played at the top level is determined by those moments.

1:56 a.m.

The bus is rolling into the Concordia parking lot. After getting the rest of their stuff at the hotel, the team then ate at Wendy's at around 9:57 p.m. It was the first time the team started to get out of their funk and back into their routine of teasing, talking and having fun. Most of the time coaches like a team that doesn't let the feeling of losing out of their system so quickly. But in this case it is understandable. This team has broken new ground for Cobber volleyball and should feel proud of what they have accomplished. It will take days to fully get over the loss but in time they will be able to look back and realize how special this weekend was.

I spent the bus ride home watching the movie "American Gangster" with Denzel Washington on my laptop. I can honestly say that this is the first bus trip I have ever taken that not one single movie was played in the bus.  The team spent the ride home talking and enjoying each other's company for one last time. It is one of the special characteristics of playing for Concordia that most athletes miss the most. Not the wins or losses, but the time spent with teammates on the road and all the memories they make.

As we are pulling into town I think about the similarities between the movie and what has just happened. In a different, just-on-the-surface-appearance way college athletics and top gang bosses are the same. Both work hard to get to where they are. In the case of the volleyball team they worked hard all year to get to the national tournament for the sixth straight year and a chance at the Elite 8. For Denzel Washington's character he worked hard to become self sufficient and become the leader of his own "company" and earn everything he had always wanted. Both the team and the gangster enjoy the happy times but eventually both will have their runs ended. For people who get to the top by using crime, they will almost always get caught and spend the rest of their life in jail. For athletic teams they will almost always end their season with a loss and have to go through their own prison of dealing with the end of the season.

There is only one team that will finish the year with a win. For all 380-some other teams they will finish with a loss. It doesn't matter if it is in the region championship like Concordia or a week later like St. Ben's. Every team will have to watch their season come to a disappointing end. The real winners are the ones that understand that the real measure of success is the fun you had along the journey and the friends you made throughout the years. In the end that is what you will be left with. Not with the trophies that gather dust or the statistics that are forgotten but the friends you have for the rest of your life. In 20 years when these players gather together they will laugh about all the great times they had together. They will also look around the room and see that the trophy they wanted the most has been replaced by the trophies that are the most important - their friends.

2:12 p.m.

The team heads off into the night to their own rooms. The season is over, but what a ride it was!!

Postscript

I would like to thank Tim, Bob and the entire team for allowing me to tag along to experience an amazing four days. It is a trip I will never forget and I am always amazed at how wonderful the Concordia athletes truly are. This team was no exception. They have carried on the torch started in 2003 and have stoked the flame that will hopefully burn bright for years to come.

Special thanks to the three seniors who I have gotten to know over the past four years. Although your playing days are over, your legend will never die and the principles you taught the team will live on for years. You should be very proud of all you have accomplished. I know that all three of you will be very successful after you graduate and you will have more fulfilling life trophies then ones that collect dust in a case. Just remember you will always have a home at Concordia and hopefully you will come back often to check up on the team and your friends. And for Anna, it's time to get to work, basketball season is here and the fun is over!!!

Go Cobbers and I am already planning the trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009!