Thread by @JaysonJenks

I feel like my grandpa when it comes to twitter because I don’t really get how to use it and I suck at it. But today I’m just going to share a little thread on how a story came to be because it is kind of a random story.

I wanted to do an easy story about the Apple Cup last week: What was at stake for both QBs? And I wanted to talk to three former QBs on both sides of the rivalry. After striking out with a couple other Cougs, I tracked down a number for Matt Kegel.

I had never heard of Kegel. Didn’t know about the 2002 Apple Cup. Didn’t know about the 03 Apple Cup. I don’t say that proudly. It’s shitty reporting. I just called him for a pre-baked story idea. It was easy.

So we talked for like 10 minutes and he was nice and said he loved Minshew and told me that he never beat the Huskies and when it ended I said thanks and hung up and told a friend that it just went ok. Nothing great. Then my Coug friend told me about the 02 game. Shit.

I knew I had to call Kegel again. Not only did I feel stupid, I was nervous. I’ve talked to enoughformer athletes to know some don’t take questions about past failures well. Kegel was so nice about it. And so raw. He talked so vulnerably about that game.

This is a hard thing for me to convey, but something about him moved me. That game meant so much to him. That moment. And he felt so bad for cougars. He apologized to Cougar fans on the phone! It stayed with me.

Later that night I told him I wanted to do a story. We talked on the phone for two hours. I’ve never heard an athlete be so vulnerable sharing the pain and frustration of a loss, of a disappointment. He loved the Cougs so much and felt so damn bad.

I realized then what I wanted to write about, why it stayed with me. It wasn’t just about a bad loss (or two). It was about dealing with huge disappointment and regret. Moving on, letting go, learning what you’re made of. Things I struggle with all the time, every day.

I’m probably making too much of it but I loved those themes. I need those themes. It’s hard for me not to get defeated when stuff doesn’t go my way, when I fail. Matt Kegel learned that a long time ago, in a game all you Huskies and Cougs no doubt remember. He definitely does.

So here’s the story. I have no idea if anyone will read it. But it mattered to me. It’s about Matt Kegel and hard lessons I hope we can all learn from.

theathletic.com/684842/2018/11…