It feels like I’m graduating early.
In late August 2019, I came to Columbus, Mississippi — a city and state I’d never visited before — for my first full-time job, covering high school sports for The Dispatch. I’d just graduated from college, of course, but in a lot of ways, it felt like I was getting ready for Round 2.
That was more than three and a half years ago. My last day at The Dispatch is today. And man, has it been a great time.
On Monday, I’m hopping in my car and beginning a drive across the country. On March 13, I start a new, remote position that allows me to live in Sacramento, California — my hometown and a place I’ve missed dearly — for the first time in almost eight years.
But I’ll always carry with me my memories of this place.
In my time here, I’ve gotten to do so many different things, including some I never expected and some I probably didn’t want to do. I’ve gotten to cover high school sports, Mississippi State, East Mississippi Community College, The W and more — including local news, education and business reporting during the height of the pandemic.
In July, under circumstances no one would want, I took over the sports editor role. It’s been a challenge — but an honor — spending the past eight months leading the section and managing our talented reporters, Alex Murphy and Colin Damms.
I’m confident Alex, Colin and whoever takes my place will do a great job in carrying on what I like to think I’ve helped to build here.
I want to thank them as well as managing editor Zack Plair and publisher Peter Imes, who have given me so many opportunities. The Dispatch was the only paper to even interview me during my post-college job search, and I’ll always be thankful Zack and Peter took the chance. Getting the chance to cover countless high school championship games, the Liberty and ReliaQuest bowl games, the 2021 Men’s College World Series and the 2022 NCAA softball postseason will always be among my fondest memories during my time here.
But it wasn’t just in those big moments where I was reminded much I enjoyed my job.
It was talking to a German tattoo artist in West Point who held the world record for most people tattooed in 24 hours.
It was covering eight-man football and slow-pitch softball for the first time.
It was my first trip to The Mag raceway and the racing world — one I’d never really been exposed to before.
It was the people I met on the high school and MSU beats, including those I count among my closest friends. I’m certainly not ready to leave them just yet; in fact, I’m hoping the Mississippi State men get sent to Sacramento for March Madness if it means I can rendezvous with them out West.
With all the challenges of the past three and a half years, things haven’t been easy for me. Six months into my time in Columbus, COVID hit. The tragic death of sports editor Tom Rysinski last summer upended things, and I couldn’t help but think of that when MSU football coach Mike Leach died this December.
As you’ve no doubt noticed, The Dispatch has also been subject to a lot of changes of late. A few months ago, we made the decision to no longer print on Mondays; we recently transitioned from Sunday print to Saturday as we began mail delivery. These are changes that are far from unique to The Dispatch, too. Most newspapers are unfortunately facing similar decisions these days, and it’s the new reality of late. Thanks to Peter and our leadership here, I’ve thankfully been able to avoid layoffs, furloughs or restrictions in hours — something with which my friends at other publications haven’t been so lucky.
For now, I’m leaving the newspaper business but not sports media. (I probably could announce my new stop right now, but I’m still pinching myself and I’m worried doing so might jinx it.)
I know my new job wouldn’t have been possible without the experience I got here and the skills I honed. I became a much more creative, more original and simply a better writer. I got to improve my page design and editing skills and manage people for the first time since my college days.
This part might not be true, but I also feel like I grew as a man as well. I accepted the job at The Dispatch before my 21st birthday and turned 21 less than a month before starting; I leave a 24-year-old with a greater appreciation of Mississippi, the people and places I’ve gotten to know here and the world beyond me.
Particularly when I moved to Starkville this past August, I began to look at my time here as more of a college experience than I’d ever had at Missouri. Two of my closest friends live in the same apartment complex as me; I honestly spent more time with them while on the MSU beat since April 2021 than I probably did with my college friends after freshman year. Playing golf and poker or sitting outside at the Bin will always be a good memory.
I might be out of town come Monday, but I won’t be gone. I’ll keep up with the people I’ve met here — my friends; my former Dispatch colleagues; the coaches, parents and players I’ve gotten to know.
I’m sure I’ll still be watching my share of Mississippi State games and following high school scores on Twitter. By this point, I’m way too invested. Will West Point football win its 12th state title? How will the MHSAA’s new 7A classification pan out? I may not have to keep up anymore, but I’m betting I will anyway.
That’s just how it goes once you get acclimated somewhere. I came here knowing how far it was from home, but if Mississippi and California weren’t quite so far apart, I’d probably still be here. Honestly, I’d probably never leave.
But everything has its end. As of tonight — to extend the metaphor — my “coursework” is complete. The cap and gown are waiting for me, and so is home 2,000 miles away.
It’s time to graduate. Again.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 24 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
