Over the weekend, I got to see firsthand how the Okaloosa County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) operated. Multiple divisions were housed inside the building to keep up to date on how Hurricane Isaias was approaching the coast.

It was an all-hands-on-deck situation, and it really put into perspective how productive working as a team is. Here’s a room full of people and organizations who normally operate separately from one another, but in this specific situation they conjoin into one large group!

It makes you think about how sports require that same type of organization.

In football, a quarterback is unable to properly perform his duties if the offensive line doesn’t do their job. The running back can’t gain yards if the front line doesn’t open up a gap or pick up a block. A defense is unable to prevent a touchdown if a corner keeps getting beat deep, or if there is no communication about a shift being made on the offensive side.

So how do you get a team this organized? Well, with a coach, of course.

For Okaloosa County, Public Safety Director Pat Maddox is the head coach of the EOC. That job title holds a lot of weight when you think about his wins in terms of how many lives are saved.

Just as sports teams hold practice, so does the EOC. Back in May of this year, I attended the Emergency Operations Center Hurricane Exercise. Maddox laid out the scenario of a Category 2 hurricane approaching Okaloosa County and asked each division what they needed to do.

The exercise not only assured Maddox that his team knew what to do, but it also reassured those he asked.

Fast forward to October 9, and here we are with Hurricane Isaias just off the coast.

No one panicked. There were no screams of terror. The EOC was a habitat of cool, calm, collected individuals who knew they had a job to do, and a job that had to be done effectively to accomplish success.

As for me and my duty to the team, I guess you could compare it to a defensive coordinator. With no other media outlets present at the Okaloosa County EOC, I was the communication between them and the public.

Road closures, power outages, bridge closures- what is the EOC seeing that the general public may not be?

It was then my duty to communicate that information as quickly as I could so that the defense (Okaloosa County) understood what the head coach (Pat Maddox/EOC) needed them to do before the offense ran a play (arrival of Isaias).

As long as everyone played their part, there was no doubt that victory would be achieved.

The teamwork doesn’t stop there, however. There’s still damage throughout the county, throughout Crestview, and it’s time for the offense to respond.

So, help your neighbor, help local businesses, and pick up limbs and debris if safe to do so.

In recent college news, the “Protect College Sports Act” passed the U.S. Senate 77-22. However, that doesn’t make it a law just yet, and the House is on recess until after the November midterm elections.

So, let’s break this bill down for anyone who may not keep up with the NCAA or college athletics. Essentially, it’s a way for the NCAA to gain some sort of control over what’s being called the “Wild West Era” of college sports.

The bill would guarantee one free transfer for college athletes. After that, they must sit out for one year before becoming eligible to play again. It grants colleges and universities $27.5 million in additional retention spending on top of the House settlement revenue-sharing structure.

The NCAA also gets limited antitrust protection to enforce rules around eligibility, transfers and compensation due to recent lawsuits brought on by college athletes. But players also receive federal protection for scholarships, health care and NIL rights.

There will be no more seven- to eight-year super seniors as athletes are limited to only five years of eligibility nationwide, and coaches would be restricted from leaving for another FBS job in the middle of the season (Lane Kiffin). Although NIL is staying, there will be a new structure that will tighten the rules around booster/associated-entity payments.

So why does this matter?

College is the bridge between high school and professional. NIL was a way for colleges to almost “bid” on a high school athlete for them to attend and play at that respective university for a sum of money.

Although not every high school athlete gets the chance to sign with a DI university, this information is crucial for how they will have to navigate that road if the bill becomes law.

They may sign with a university and get the chance to transfer, but that choice of a new college becomes a lot harder when you get one free opportunity. The second transfer means sitting out for a year, and playing time is vital to getting your name known in the big leagues.

With tighter rules around booster/associated-entity payments, there may also be a reduction in how much money can be offered to a high school athlete when choosing where to play. Will it still be millions, or now a couple hundred thousand? Only time will tell.

There is some pushback about the bill, so again, this may not come to fruition. As an outsider, a sports fan and a journalist, here’s my opinion on the whole thing.

NIL was passed so that players may receive compensation from brands like EA Sports when they wanted to bring back the classic NCAA football game. Rather than back in the day where players were referred to by only their number, their names would be engraved into the game, for which they would receive payment for that use.

Because of the wording, colleges found loopholes and began pushing the limits of NIL (which is why we are now in the political realm with sports). The solution, in my eyes, is you leave the NIL for businesses who wish to use the name, image and likeness of a specific athlete for brand deals.

Scholarships will still be offered, but the leftover revenue goes toward recruiting. That way, universities can go recruit the players they want, but that money replaces scholarships and goes toward education rather than in their pockets or a luxury car. After all, college is utilized for furthering education.

We will know more about the bill once November comes around, but I would keep a close eye on it if I was a high school athlete.

With this new era of sports we’re entering, the voice of a fan is starting to hold some power. When you look at how college and professional sports are being run, you begin to see that they truly are a business.

The NCAA allows college athletes to be paid through NIL deals, which are like those of an NFL, NBA or MLB player signing a contract with a team. That money not only comes from sponsorships and other businesses but from the revenue from fans as well.

Since we are the consumers of their supply, they in some way have to meet our demand.

I see this more in college than I do professional sports. Take Florida State, for example. The Seminole fan base has been in an uproar about the performance of head coach Mike Norvell. In his seven years at FSU, Norvell holds an overall record of 39-36 and is off to a 1-2 start in 2026.

Seminole fans take pride in that football program and expect more of it. That same reason is why they’re calling for Norvell to be removed from the position. You can make the same comparison to Brian Kelly at LSU last season and Sam Pittman at Arkansas.

Fans want to see wins, and because they fund a portion of what goes into a university’s athletic program, their voices matter. That’s why LSU went out and spent $90 million to poach a coach while still having to pay $54 million to the previous one.

Now, although fans’ opinions do matter in this situation, they seldom get listened to. FSU wants Norvell gone. Instead, it fired Athletic Director Michael Alford.

Was this the right decision? Only time will tell.

Arkansas fans wanted a seasoned, high-caliber coach after Pittman. Instead, they hired Ryan Silverfield out of Memphis, who’s yet to prove he can compete in the SEC. Granted, he’s only in his first year, but this has been an ongoing issue in the state of Arkansas.

Then you look at Florida and Kentucky. These two programs listened to their fan bases. Fan bases that were hungry and ready to get back on track and return to a competitive level in the sport of football.

Kentucky went out and grabbed offensive genius Will Stein from Oregon, and Florida got Jon Sumrall from Tulane, which made a trip to the playoffs last season. Kentucky then took down Texas A&M at College Station, and Florida is the favorite over Ole Miss even though the Gators are ranked lower in the AP poll.

Maybe the fans do know what they’re talking about? Just a thought.

Anyway, I’ll step off my soapbox as a disgruntled fan for now, but I think this is something worth thinking about. Who knows, there may even be a whole ESPN or SportsCenter story about the rise in fan activity in college athletics decision-making.

Until then, enjoy your team’s wins or complain long enough that a change is made.

As I was going through my day, I was reminded that I’m coming up on my 10-year class reunion. In all honesty, it hit me like a brick wall. It doesn’t feel like that much time has passed, but it’s hard to notice those things when you enter the “real” world.

Although the reminder sent a shockwave through my body, I was nostalgic about the memories I made while in school.

I grew up in a small town in northeast Arkansas. The type of town where everybody knows everybody and your friends’ parents become your parents. The football field was surrounded by crops, as was most of the town, and your main system of transportation was a four-wheeler.

You knew every teacher by name, mostly because the one you had for science you also had for math or English, too.

As athletes, the majority of us played multiple sports. Football, basketball, baseball, softball, cheer. Nothing was off the table for us when it came to competition.

I later moved from that small-town 3A school to a larger 7A school states away. My previous graduating class of 94 exploded to 300-plus. I no longer knew everyone, nor did I remember every teacher’s name or see them out and about running daily errands.

The one thing that I found comfort in was sports. Now, I didn’t immediately jump into playing football because, in all honesty, I was intimidated. I had never had a field house or a practice field that was specifically suited for the sport.

I noticed my competitive spirit awaken, in a sense, while in PE and further on while playing flag football with my church youth group. I decided then to transition back into high school competition, and I’m glad I did.

That leap for me led to new friendships, new life lessons and new sports. I got to experience things in my life that I most likely never would’ve gotten to at my previous school.

I’m a little envious of the high school athletes that I now cover. I wonder if they truly know that those moments out on the field, the court or at the plate are going to be things they look back on with great appreciation.

The coaches who get on to them for making a mistake are their biggest supporters (outside of parents, of course).

Maybe that’s why I have a passion for being a sports reporter. I find myself relating to and remembering a time when I was in that position, and I never want their achievements and hard work to go unnoticed.

The other night I had the pleasure of joining a Zoom call with the legendary John “Flip” Filippelli. For those who may not know who “Flip” is, here are a few of the accomplishments he’s achieved throughout his 50 years of sports broadcasting experience.

Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer, Yogi Berra Museum Humanitarian Award, helped launch and build the YES Network, MLB on Fox and Baseball Network, senior adviser/former president for the YES Network, New York Yankees Lifetime Achievement Award, NYU Sports Business Executive of the Year and the only person in sports broadcasting with 100 national and local Emmy nominations.

Whew! Now that we’ve established who Filippelli is, let’s get back into what the experience was like.

Upon joining the meeting, the first thing I noticed was the row of Emmy Awards lined up overhead on the shelves behind him. I’d approximate a visible 10 in the small viewing frame that Zoom allowed. Below that sat around three to five camera lenses that “Flip” utilized for photography.

Eventually I, along with fellow students/alumni of Dan Patrick’s School of Sportscasting, got to hear about Filippelli’s life growing up in New York and the advice he had to share. One of the many wise sentences that stuck out to me was “Find a purpose for your passion.”

It sounded very familiar to one of our core values here at the Crestview Bulletin, “Passion for what you do.” See, when you’re passionate about something, you care deeply about it. Whatever your “product” may be, you make sure it feels good, tastes good, looks good and, in my case, reads good.

You have all your ducks in a row wearing the same uniform and walking in step with one another and none strays from the line. That’s how much passion can drive someone. But it can also hurt you.

If too passionate, you may think the achievement is too far, or you try too hard and begin to bury yourself. You could crumble under the weight of the pressure. Which brings us to another point made by Filippelli.

“Pressure is a privilege.”

Now, think about this. How often do you hear about someone being under pressure? Most of the time it’s probably during Game 7 of the World Series with two outs and two strikes, down two runs, or a 50-yard field goal with two seconds on the clock that either puts your name in the rafters or becomes one of the greatest “what ifs.”

In those moments, you see what you’re made of. That pressure to do well, to succeed, it makes the neurons in your brain begin to fire off ideas. A procrastinator might thrive in these conditions because the pressure of last-second work makes them work.

Lastly, Filippelli spoke about breaking away from a tour at NBC to walk around the offices and ask for a job when no one knew who he was, and how after working downstairs he got caught on a closed set of Saturday Night Live to be told he needed permission to be there. And that if there was a next time, “You tell them Lorne Michaels says you have permission.”

The lesson here is, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Did Filippelli break the rules a little? Sure. But look at where it got him. He paired that lesson with “keep learning.” Mistakes often lead to knowledge. Constructive criticism from a boss or a partner is learning from your mistakes.

So be bold, be passionate, make mistakes and keep learning!

We’re coming up on the 25th anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. It’s a day that continues to live in the minds and hearts of Americans across the country as we hold true to “Never Forget.”

I was very young when that fateful day took place in 2001, but I am still reminded to “Never Forget.” As I went through school, something about learning what happened that day stuck with me.

I don’t know if it’s because of the slogan, because my birthday is in September or because I grew up in a patriotic family. What I do know is that even at a young age, hearing about 9/11 affected me.

Projectors pointed at classroom walls mirrored my teachers’ computers, showing videos of two planes crashing into the Twin Towers in New York City. Flames rose and smoke billowed from the World Trade Center as people panicked, looking for a place to flee.

I had empathy for them. I could understand their fear and confusion. I, too, wouldn’t know what to do if I were in the situation they were in.

Although many lives were lost that day, others were saved because of the quick actions of New York first responders. Police officers, firefighters and other emergency personnel ran toward the burning buildings rather than away from them.

It was a scene that anyone with common sense would want to stay away from, yet they went into it.

And let’s not forget that two other hijacked planes were headed toward targets that morning. On United Airlines Flight 93, ordinary passengers and crew members who had been on their way to see family, conduct business or reach other destinations fought back against the hijackers.

No one aboard Flight 93 survived when the plane crashed in Pennsylvania, but their courage prevented the hijackers from reaching their intended target.

Maybe that’s what it means to “Never Forget.” Yes, that day will live in infamy throughout American history. The sheer number of lives lost in the terrorist attacks involving four hijacked aircraft is hard to comprehend.

But instead of remembering only the events that occurred that day, we should remember the people.

The police officers who reached out a helping hand to pull people from the rubble. The firefighters who entered burning buildings filled with smoke to lead others to safety. The EMTs and health care providers who treated those affected by the attacks. The passengers and crew members who fought the hijackers aboard Flight 93.

It may have been an attack on the U.S., but American patriotism shone brightly that day. The actions of so many individuals portrayed what it means to be an American: selfless, heroic and brave.

So let us not forget the event. Let us not forget the people. And let us not forget the strength Americans have when we band together and stand side by side.

Back in the fall of 2016, I had the privilege of going to watch the movie “Greater” with my varsity football team. As an Arkansas native and die-hard Razorback fan, I took pride in knowing that the university I loved got some recognition on the big screen.

The movie follows the life story of Arkansas walk-on Brandon Burlsworth. Burlsworth was a kid who grew up in the small town of Harrison, Arkansas, and like most kids in the state, all Burlsworth wanted to do was play for the Razorbacks.

After receiving all-state honors, Burlsworth received zero Division I scholarship opportunities. Although he was offered the opportunity to play at smaller schools, Burlsworth declined their invitations and decided to walk on at the University of Arkansas.

While there, Burlsworth trained and worked hard which led to him earning team captain, All-SEC 1997-1998, first-team All-SEC in 1998 and All-American in 1998. He was the first All-American from the University of Arkansas in a decade, while also becoming the first athlete to earn his master’s degree at the same time.

See, Burlsworth did things by the book. Not only did he train hard and work toward his goal, but he also held strong in his faith. He didn’t drink, he attended Bible study, and he held himself and those around him accountable.

After his senior year at Arkansas, Burlsworth was drafted 63rd overall by the Indianapolis Colts, where he was awarded a starting position as a rookie. Unfortunately, Burlsworth never got to see the field as a professional football player.

Anytime I watch this movie, a tear comes to my eye. At times it makes you think, “Why him?” He worked so hard to finally get here, and now that dream is gone.

But that’s not the reason behind the movie. Burlsworth’s story is a testament to those who are dedicated and diligent in life. Branded “the Burlsworth way,” it’s sticking true to who you are and believing in yourself. That whatever you put your mind to you can achieve.

Through my short time here in the Crestview area, I’ve noticed that this is a common theme that coaches teach their athletes. To be deep-rooted in their faith, to train hard throughout all seasons, and to keep one another accountable.

Although the story has a tragic ending, the motivation it provides is unparalleled. For young athletes, it can be hard knowing that there is a nation full of players competing for a college offer. Less than 2% of Division I college athletes get the chance to go pro anyway.

But look at Baker Mayfield, Stetson Bennett, Hunter Renfrow and Drew Mestemaker. Each one started their college career as a walk-on and is now one of the biggest names at either the college or professional level.

I say all this not to bring down the mood, but to bring encouragement. Burlsworth’s story isn’t just for high school or college athletes. It’s a story that transcends sports altogether.

There’s a sort of excitement that fills the air when August comes around. After months of being dormant, the world of sports awakens at the start of the eighth month.

You could say that the sports season begins in March with Opening Day of Major League Baseball, followed by the WNBA regular season in May. But an entire nation doesn’t rumble across states like it does when football season arrives.

Whether cheering on a high school team, college/university, or professional organization, we as fans join in a massive celebration and anticipation for what may happen in the final months of 2026.

At the high school level, it’s been months of grinding through the hot summer waiting to play in the cool shade of night under the lights at the chance for a state championship. The student section roaring for their team as the sound of brass horns blare throughout a stadium, and parents sitting in attendance hoping for a win but cheering on their child to compete at their best level.

College is a little more complicated. More teams on a nationwide scale rather than in a single state. There are also more opinions about who’s the best in the nation when a single game hasn’t even been played.

Not to mention the ever-changing rules around NIL and the transfer portal.

This, I believe, is going to start making an impact at the high school level. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that as a sweet sixteen gift an athlete gets a car and an agent.

It makes you wonder if the world of college football will ever return to how it once used to be, or if its past glory has been buried under piles of cash.

Then there’s the professional level. Rather than in the stands, fans are circled around a television with cushioned seats. There’s no roar of a crowd except through speakers that may get muted once a commercial airs. And you can normally expect a team from last year’s Super Bowl to be there once again.

Unlike high school where parents worry about their child getting hurt, it’s fantasy footballers who may lose to their friend because they didn’t start the right quarterback for the week.

Now, it may sound like I don’t enjoy some of these things.

Are there things I don’t like? Yes. Do I think the changes being made are good? Also, yes.

As a sports reporter, changes mean stories. A new rule being implemented needs someone to explain why the rule was put in place. An athlete transferring colleges or being traded to a new team needs someone to break down the deal that was made or what that player brings to the table.

It generates questions around a team or a league that we as fans love trying to answer. Whether we end up right or wrong, we remain entertained in the process.

I don’t know who the FHSAA State Champions will be, nor the College National Champions, nor the two Super Bowl teams. What I do know is that high school football is here, the SEC is still the greatest conference, and the NFL needs to rethink the new kickoff.