utdailybeacon
For as long as the sports editor of The Daily Beacon can remember, there has always been a tomorrow. Since first stepping into the office as a freshman, the editor has carried the comforting certainty of returning to what they love each day. That feeling has persisted throughout the past three and a half years.
In the fall semester of freshman year, the editor wrote one story per week for the 'Vols in the NFL' feature. At the time, conversing with strangers was a source of fear, and the editor's understanding of journalism was limited to writing from the comfort of a dorm room. Thus, they became acclimated to producing a single story while navigating college life.
A random turning point arrived with Super Bowl LVIII. Watching from a common area in Dogwood Hall with friends, the editor saw the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs battle for the championship, with former Tennessee football players Trey Smith and Jauan Jennings on opposing sides. When Jennings briefly appeared to be a candidate for Super Bowl MVP, the editor downloaded Google Docs on their phone and began writing a story mid-game. The goal was to have a piece ready for then-sports editor Caleb Jarreau if the moment materialized. Although the Chiefs ultimately won and Jennings did not get his MVP moment, the editor quickly pivoted the story to highlight another ring for Smith. That small act of initiative satisfied Jarreau, who offered the editor the chance to cover the 2024 baseball team that same night.
That opportunity marked the editor's first beat and helped them confront their fear of talking to people. The team went on to win the national championship, and the editor covered it from the press box at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. Experiencing such a pinnacle in their first go-around was rare—some journalists never get that chance, and others might consider it the peak of their careers. For this editor, it was only the beginning of what every day would look like.
That fall, the editor took on the assistant sports editor role alongside Jarreau, and about four months later, when Jarreau left for a full-time job in November 2024, the editor moved into the sports editor position. They have held the role ever since. The editor often jokes about being the longest-tenured sports editor in unofficial Beacon history. Former sports editor David Cobb, sitting next to them in the press box at Saturday's Kentucky game, made the same observation. The editor would not trade the experience for anything.
No day in the newsroom is the same. No two workdays look alike, and no opportunity has ever been identical. The editor is grateful for all of it. Each day—through the good, the bad, and the ugly—reminded them that there was always a tomorrow.
Life is hard. The editor has been fortunate in many ways but has also faced shortcomings that made some days harder to endure. If there is one thing about the editor, it is that they care deeply—they are their own worst critic and take some things harder than others. When the editor lost a cousin in August, they kept much of the grief to themselves. Not knowing what else to do, they showed up the next day. It was the first loss so close to home, and it made them realize that tomorrow is never promised.
The Beacon became the editor's place to show up. They have spent countless hours within the basement walls of the Communications Building. It is not the most glamorous place to spend time, but it becomes a part of you. There, the editor met lifelong friends. Jarreau remains a very close friend—a mentor who provided opportunities and introduced the editor to many people they were too shy to approach. Alex Sarkis and Theo Colli have become two of the editor's closest friends, and they will take over the section in the spring. The editor is confident in their ability to uphold the standard of the Beacon sports section. Caden Dyer has also become a close friend over the years, as they have shared similar stints within the office walls. They have seen editorial teams change year after year and share similar ambitions because they care about the product. The friendships formed in student media are not limited to those individuals, but there is only so much print space available.
If the editor has ever had a conversation with someone, they want that person to know how appreciative they are of the time taken to speak with a kid just trying to figure out life. It has been an honor to interact with everyone crossed paths with—editors, staff writers, contributors—all of whom have played a meaningful role. The editor would not be the person they are without everything the Beacon has provided, and the people make it what it is.
The editor has traveled extensively, visiting 13 of the 16 SEC cities since coming to college. They have covered a national championship, two Elite Eights, a College Football Playoff game, and nearly every sport the University of Tennessee offers. They even convinced the school to send them to Italy to cover the Paralympics. Their work has earned award placements and national recognition, including an APSE scholarship.
The coolest part of the tenure has been witnessing people grow. The role of sports editor was not just about covering events; it was about being a leader and helping others find their footing in a place that gave so much. The editor hopes they have fulfilled that responsibility. While the tenure has been remarkable, the people worked alongside made it even more meaningful. It might take a 'sicko' to have done it as long as they did, but the even cooler thing is that the Beacon will continue without them. The editor was just another chapter in the story of the best student newspaper in the South—and another chapter in their own life.
Many moments have reaffirmed why the editor chose this path, and almost every reason comes back to the people. Their pessimistic manner might not suggest gratitude for everyone, but there are not enough words to describe what the last three and a half years have meant. Everyone says to get involved and find a place in college; it is not a cliché. The Beacon was that place. And when the editor wakes up tomorrow, they will still feel that way.
The editor feels blessed to serve a purpose, to be surrounded by people who care as much as they do, and to have a support system as simple as a student newsroom. While their time is not yet over and it feels like their tenure with the Beacon is never-ending, December graduation looms and the farewell is imminent. It only felt right to sum it up in the final project they organized—the basketball preview. They ask readers to enjoy the stories inside as they take a quiet step out the door that has consumed nearly a sixth of their life.
The editor loves sports and the people they are surrounded by. Without the Beacon, they would not be the person they are. It gave them a reason to be grateful for the life they are living, even through hard times. While they do not yet know what comes next, they are at peace with the thought that they will wake up tomorrow and do it all over again. Maybe they will eventually start living like tomorrow is not promised. For now, they are simply grateful for another tomorrow.
Originally reported by utdailybeacon.