By Will Vandervort / Photo courtesy Colts.com.

Football season usually ends for me when my Steelers are eliminated from the playoffs. Yes, I will still watch football because it is my favorite sport to watch after all, but at that point, I really don’t care what happens.

But this year is a little different for me.

When I worked for IPTAY Media from 2009-’12, it was an experience that allowed me to get to know the student athletes a little more than in my typical role as a full-time beat writer. Working for Clemson’s Athletic Department, I was able to form a relationship with student-athletes and their families on a more personal level.

I traveled with almost all the teams in those days and that included staying at the team hotels, attending team meals, watching all the practices and observing pre- and post-game speeches and celebrations. For the most part, I was a part of the team.

Because of this, and the trust I gained from the coaches and players in the locker room, I was able to form friendships with coaches and players that I value and honor as such. One of those friendships is with former tight end Dwayne Allen.

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