April 9, 2004
EDITOR'S NOTE: Senior power forward Mike Farrell is in his final season on College Hill and his second full season as the men's basketball team captain and author of weekly web journal entries on www.goleopards.com. Each week, the American Studies major and Florida native will detail his life as a student-athlete.
I've only have a couple more journals left in me, and I'm sorry about the wait, but I hope that you all would understand that I needed a little time to sit back, enjoy life and forget about basketball for a while. Well, that time has passed now, and I am ready to talk a little more hoops. But first, I gotta get this story out to the people…
Everybody has their hero stories, especially around this time of year. Well mine goes to the guy, behind the guy, behind the guy. Brandon Nolt the team's athletic trainer for this year was a powerful inspiration to the team. I forget exactly when it happened, but at some point in the middle of the season, Brandon had to undergo an appendectomy. He was laid out on a bed for days, often times thinking of what he could have possibly done to his appendix. Never had it given him trouble before, but now, at this crucial stage in the season, the organ wanted to burst right through Brandon's skin. The appendix had had enough.
Mike Farrell's Journal Archive
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2003-2004 Season
 • April 14, 2004
 • April 9, 2004
 • February 23, 2004
 • January 26, 2004
 • January 5, 2004
 • December 11, 2003
 • November 20, 2003
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2002-2003 Season
 • February 21, 2003
 • February 2, 2003
 • January 23, 2003
 • January 14, 2003
 • December 31, 2002
 • December 10, 2002 |
Mike Farrell |
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Shortly after being removed, the appendix declined the opportunity to speak on why it had come to such bad terms with its former host. The only statement that the appendix made was: "He cared too much for other people, and I just felt abandoned."
This is true. Brandon is the man. For almost the entire season he had to put up with the stench of my feet while he taped my left ankle. Often times, these feet would have been stuck in snow boots for hours at a time before coming out to be wrapped. And how about this? Only once did I ever complain to B-Dawg that he had taped my ankle too tight - and the reason he had done so, was simply this: he wanted to give it a little bit more support than usual because I had tweaked it again the previous day. Maybe that, my friends, is the reason for Brandon's appendix to feel left out in the cold.
On a more serious note, it would be my pleasure to thank the entire training staff. They have done an exceptional job - especially with me and everything that I have put them through. Matt and Dawn, I started out with you, I guess you didn't like me too much, because the next year you passed me directly on to Steph, who at least stayed on for a couple of years with me before bailing out and handing me over to B.
Thanks so much for your dedication, all the stim-and-ice, and encouragement that you have given the team over the last four years. You all rock.
Peace
Mike Farrell
