Football season has started again. I mean, not the game part, but for our family, we are in full swing of the season. Our summer is over, and DJ is back at work, pulling long office hours, and we usually have a few days where the girls don't see him at all. I thought I'd share today a little bit about DJ's job and how it came about.
When DJ was in college at Arkansas State, he was invited to watch a football practice by one of his buddies. The coach needed someone to film practice and DJ just happened to be in the right place at the right time, and he knew how to work a video camera. He climbed in the film deck, and the rest is history!
Seriously, that's how this whole football gig started. In the early 2000's, our college did not have a video coordinator. Bigger colleges/larger divisions had video coordinator's, but smaller programs that didn't have the resources usually didn't have a full time video coordinator. DJ ended up getting a full scholarship and he worked for our college football program. His hours were long, and by the time we met, he had been doing the football thing for a few years. We actually started dating in the beginning of the 2004 season, and we spent a lot of time hanging out in the football office, me going to all of the games, him sneaking me on to the sidelines, and then spending long nights together while he broke down and edited game film. Back in those days, we also made a few trips to the airport together just to pick up exchange film.
DJ ended up graduating with his degree in Communications, with an emphasis in New Media. I still don't really know what that means.
Upon graduation, we didn't really know what was next. While DJ had spent several years working for our football department, they weren't ready to hire him as a full time video coordinator. They offered him a graduate assistant position, but that would mean that he would also be going for his Master's degree, and he didn't really need a Master's degree. But, it was a way to keep him around. He'd get paid for going to school and continue to work for the football department.
A few weeks after we were married, he found out that Louisiana Tech University was hiring for a full time video coordinator position and he applied. He got the job and within a few weeks we were moving to Ruston, La. I had literally just gotten a job and had to turn in my notice. I had been working there for just 7 weeks. One day, I should blog all about our life in Louisiana- we lived there before this little blog began..... it was a time that I look back on with fond memories, but there were parts of Louisiana and events that I sometimes hated.
At the end of that football season, our coaching staff was fired. In the coaching world, when you don't win, you don't have a job. (again, I think that could be an entire post for another day). Since our staff was let go, DJ was in limbo and he began looking for another job just in case.
We moved to Muncie, Indiana exactly one year after moving to Ruston, La.
After 4 years in Muncie, we decided that we wanted to be closer to home, and the job at the University of Tulsa became available. DJ applied, (knew someone that knew someone; in the football world it's A LOT about who you know) and he got the job! I was pumped to be "back in the south" (at least closer than we were in Indiana) and closer to family.
We've been in Tulsa for 5 years and we are heading in to our 6th season. On our staff, we've been here the longest, and we're the seasoned veterans. Which is weird.
So, I have a lot of people that ask what it is that DJ does exactly. A lot of people figure that he breaks down the film, but there's a lot more to it than that. And many people are surprised when I point blank admit that we don't see him often during this time of year, and they're still surprised that he has to work on Sundays!
So, here's a little about his summer schedule.
In early June, colleges host high school football camps. DJ has to be there, and he has to have those filmed, and the film broken down and uploaded so coaches can watch practices. Around mid-June he works on updates to coach's computers. He's in charge of all technology in the football office.
Around the end of June to mid- July, he has time off. It's typically around three weeks, and we use this time to travel, visit family, and catch up on our honey-do list at home. He also checks in to the office when he can or goes up for half days when we're in town.
He travels with his computer and technology. He's able to remote in to the office, in case any coaches are working over their little break, and he can fix things even when we're at my moms.
Mid-July, he's required back for normal office hours, and players report back at the beginning of August. This is when days become long.
DJ is usually out of the house before we wake up. Because it's so hot, his morning's usually begin with practice, followed by position meetings, lunch, more meetings, another practice, grabbing dinner at some point, and more meetings. After each practice, DJ is working on breaking down and uploading the film and having it available for players and coaches to watch. He's available during their meetings in case anything goes wrong with the computer systems. He makes sure the rooms are set up correctly for meetings so the coaches will have everything they need to run efficiently. He typically makes it home well after the girls are in bed, and is gone again before they're awake.
The girls and I use this time to get ready for back to school. We stay busy with dentist and doctor appointments, hair cuts, back to school shopping, and we soak up the last few days we have at home or at the pool. When we can, we head to the office and meet DJ for lunch or dinner. Sometimes, it's hard because the girls will want to know where daddy is, and I just tell them he's at "football". I think by now, Gretchen is use to it, and Megan is getting accustomed too. This year will probably be the hardest on Adalyn. She likes for him to tuck her in, or she tries to wake up early to get in some daddy time, and when he is home, she wants her daddy.
The schedule lightens up once college classes begins for players. DJ doesn't usually have to be in the office until 7:30 or 8, and he usually gets home right at bedtime or soon after. But, i'll tell you something. Knowing that he loves his job, makes it so much easier for us. We love being around the game, around the players, the coaches, and the families.
Find my other Football Wife Life posts here.
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