The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

The silver lining

With every step I took, I felt as if my fingernails were clawing a chalkboard.

The air in the SIU locker room was so thick with emotion after the game, you could sense it even if you had your eyes closed and knew nothing about what had just happened.

But there I was, a heartless journalist in the middle of a group of men who had just died.

Professionals to the end, the players listened to my questions, thought about them and gave honest answers, but I still felt Alexis Moreland, a journalism major, knew what I had to do and answered a bunch of questions because of it, despite his tears.

I was never concerned about their professionalism in that awkward situation.

It was mine I questioned.

Objectivity be damned - I really liked this team. It was tough to see them like this. It was tough as an SIU student and a soon-to-be alumnus.

It was tough as a person who loves this place and whose life this University forever changed.

And it was especially tough knowing what quality human beings made up that football team.

This loss really stung for me, and I'm just the guy that has been covering the team.

Imagine how much it hurt for people that were actually a part of the team, those who had put in countless hours of practice since spring, and those who had sacrificed their bodies.

They are now faced with putting a positive spin on what will likely be remembered as a disappointing season - which, as it turns out, it not that unrealistic.

I've always tried to look on the bright side of things, but was never able to put my philosophy into words - that is, until Sunday morning.

I passed out at 8:30 Saturday night, feeling dead from the lack of sleep the night before.

When I woke up and flipped through the channels, I saw Joel Osteen - a Texas preacher who is wise no matter what your religion.

He just happened to be talking about the very subject I was going to be writing about, which was coping when things don't go your way.

Osteen used the example of a man who gave thanks every time he paid his taxes, because it meant he had a job. He talked about a man who didn't care about losing his legs, because it meant he was alive.

Osteen's theme was "be thankful for the situation God has put you in, as opposed to complaining about what you don't have."

The same concept applies to SIU, and could provide comfort to those who lost a heartbreaker Saturday night.

My advice to the football team is very simple - be happy and be grateful.

Be thankful you lost because it means you are playing college football.

Be thankful you were upset because it means you were once on top.

Be thankful you will miss the 18 seniors because it means you had friendships.

Be thankful you have thousands of heartbroken fans because it means they all cared.

Be thankful you had to answer tough questions from reporters because it means you are high-profile enough for their readers to care.

There are also a million memories to look back on.

"I wouldn't trade it for anything," Brandon Bruner said after the game, one of the many Salukis talking in short spurts because he was holding back tears. "This is probably the best team I ever played for, so I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Should SIU be disappointed? Of course it should.

Saturday was a disaster, and it would be lying to say this team fulfilled its potential. The Salukis were simply too talented to lose in the first round, and it's particularly disturbing because it followed the recent all-around Saluki tradition of losing big games in the postseason.

But it happened, and those who look backward will only regress.

Besides, I can think of a much worse life than being an SIU football player.