Sept. 30, 2004

by David Noel

Before practice started last year, things were going so well for me. I was on scholarship for the first time, which meant there was so much stuff I didn't have to worry about. As a freshman I had to fill out all kinds of forms, but that burden is lifted off you when you're on scholarship.

And on the basketball court, I felt like I was really playing well. I was up there on the level with everyone else. I didn't think anything could stop me from being able to help the team. But when I got hurt, it took me out of my groove. That was my first time in any of my sports that I had ever really been hurt. I had to spend all those weeks sitting out and then try to come back and fit in right away. I could feel myself falling behind every day. I prayed about it every day. Even by the end of the season, I still didn't feel like I was back where I needed to be.

The whole year, I just didn't feel like I was me. I was kind of timid with my thumb when I first came back, and then when I took the brace off I couldn't grab the ball like I wanted to. I mean, I'm a wide receiver and all of a sudden I can't catch the ball? That doesn't make sense, and that's not me. By the end of the year, I was so frustrated with the whole situation, and I think I let it get to me a little bit.

Once the season was over, I took some time to myself. I went home and spent some time with my mom. Just being at home made everything feel so much better. I decided that once I started working out, I wasn't going to stop. After the season I talked to the coaches and made a list of the things they wanted me to work on and pasted that list on my wall. That way, every day when I walked out of the room I could see the things I needed to work on and check it off when I felt like I was improving in a certain area.

I still feel like I have to prove myself to Coach Williams. I don't think he has seen the real David Noel yet. He might have watched some tape of my freshman year, but he hasn't seen it first-hand. Even in those early practices before I got hurt last year, that's different from playing in a game. I want to show him the things I can do when I'm playing with confidence, because when that happens I feel like no one can stop me on either end of the floor.