Just a Dumb Jock

Dumb Jock Writing

July 9th, 2022

Hello Future Fans/Subscribers,

My Introduction

We all have to start somewhere. This is my start…

I was born and raised in East Tennessee. I love it. I love the people. I love the culture. I love Saturdays at Neyland Stadium watching the Volunteers play football.

I was introduced to the game of football when I was seven years old and in the second grade. I spent more time studying, practicing, and playing the game than anything else. It was my life. My friends were my teammates. The great majority of memories of my youth involve football.

But one day, it ended. No more practice. No more competition. It felt like my best friend died. I was not ready to quit, but it was not my choice. Even on the brink of 40 years old, I miss it. I miss the smell of hot plastic mixed with the freshly mowed grass on the practice field. I miss the popping sound of helmets and shoulder pads colliding as the center snaps the ball to the quarterback. I miss the gasps of players and fans when a defensive player smashes the ball carrier with a bone-jarring hit. I miss it all.

I would never trade my memories of football, however, football hid a part of my life. From middle school and beyond, my English teachers would comment on my writing. They always told me I had potential with my writing. In high school, my sophomore English teacher was surprised that a "dumb jock" could write as well as I could. She made the comment in jest, however, it was true. It is a stereotype that football players are nothing but dumb jocks. I'll concede that this is a blanket statement as there are many very intelligent people in football, and sports in general. But the stereotype began somewhere.

Over the past twenty years or so, I discovered a passion for reading and writing, something that teenage me would have never imagined. It began when I enrolled in college. I loved the courses that required essays. I graded the best in those classes. When I enrolled in a Master's program in Business, I excelled due it being a highly writing intensive program. I began to appreciate all forms of writing as I wrote mock business plans, research papers, and persuasive essays. After college I began to write fiction and try my hand at creative writing. It took me longer than I care to admit, but I finally wrote a novel (turned out it was barely a novella). I self published and sold less than ten copies. Admittedly, it was not a good book. I stand by the idea and the plot, but my writing left a lot to be desired.

I learned a lot from that first experience, mainly that I truly enjoyed writing. But it also humbled me. I learned that I have the natural desire to write, and some talent, but I was not a superstar writing prodigy.

I am close to finishing my second book (this time it will be a novel). I have been looking for ways to write more, in my everyday life. Which brings me to this. I am going to write an article, at least one every two weeks, perhaps more, just for the sake of writing. I am going to call my blog, Dumb Jock Writing. I do not care if a small number of people read my articles, I am going to write. My goal during these articles, and perhaps a short story of fiction, is to practice and hone my writing skills. I hope people will read my work. I hope that they will provide valuable feedback. Both positive and critical. I invite you on this journey with me. To show myself and others that a "dumb jock" can break the mold inwhich he has been placed.

We all have to start somewhere. This is my start…

David Ogle