A letter from the Sports Director…
March 14, 2020 | Sports,
Dear KCOU family, friends, listeners and staff:
By now you’re all aware of the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak on the University of Missouri. KCOU 88.FM and the Sports Department are no exception. As a result, we have decided to cancel all remaining sports broadcasts for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester.
It has been an incredible honor to be the Sports Director of this fantastic station. When I was elected last March, I set out with a goal to diversify and grow our staff, professionalize and converge our on-air content, and make a personal impact on the lives of Mizzou students pursuing a career in the vibrant field of sports journalism.
Now, at least for this year, that journey has come to an abrupt end. It’s not the ending myself or any other of the six graduating seniors wanted, but it’s clearly the right decision given the circumstances, and if you’re like me, you believe it was never in our control anyway.
It’s hard to say goodbye, but I can’t help but feel extremely thankful. KCOU is a safe space for students to learn, grow, socialize and get your proverbial toes in the water in an industry many dream of jumping headfirst into as young children.
Without KCOU, I wouldn’t have learned anything about radio or radio production. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to determine my future career in the field of live sports broadcasting. I wouldn’t have made friends and met people very different from me without it.
Despite the current climate, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say thank you to the Mizzou students for your vote of confidence in the recent Mizzou Student Media. Major thanks are deserved to Claire Winegarner, our current GM, who has done an incredible job in her mission to secure permanent funding and stabilize the climate of student media at the University. Her successor, Sean Day, will no doubt do a great job following in her footsteps. Student media is designed to serve you, the student, and it will continue to do so thanks to your vote.
I have to take time and thank several people. Thanks to our sports directors past, Carter Woodeil and Josh Neighbors, who provided a great example and gave our department great footing to grow. To our advisor, Becky Diehl, who’s always willing to work with us and all other student media no matter what we needed.
To my wonderful executive staff and station executive counterparts, specifically Reid McEowen and Nash Walker, thank you for your work to get KCOU on the air day in and day out. To my co-hosts of Preferred Walk-Ons, Ben Krakow and Chase Phillips, it’s been a honor debating everything in sports, especially when we had to be up at 8 am on Wednesdays.
Most importantly, I’d like to take time to thank my family and friends who constantly tune in to listen to hear sports talk they’re not even remotely interested in otherwise just to support me. To my fiancee Sarah and her mom Michelle, thank you for your interest in sports for an hour at a time. To my grandmother, Edith, thank you for your help in providing the opportunities to be here at school. And lastly, to my dad, my number one supporter, the biggest proponent of 10 cent beer night on this show, and a listener no matter what the content, what time the broadcast, whom the opponent. thank you.
No one can say for certain, but we can be confident that the sun will rise on a day where Mizzou’s campus will resume in-person classes. And sports will get back to normal with them.
And as we look into the uncertain issue, that is what it’s all about. There is a brighter future for KCOU. When Mizzou sports return to the field, diamond and court, KCOU will be there. And as for me, this is not a goodbye. I will still be around, available for any critique, guidance, and a letter of recommendation. I cannot wait to see how you grow as journalists.
But for now, for always tuning in. Thanks and God bless. Signing off for the last time,
Garrett Jones.