Reddit gave me and three other moderators the opportunity to travel to Indianapolis to cover the NFL Combine! Over the course of three 12-hour days, we conducted 90ish player and media member interviews and spent 10 hours on the field during drills. The following are my notes from day 2, with day 1 here and day 3 to follow.

This morning when I tried to pry myself out of bed, it took multiple tries to force my body upright. A morning routine that usually takes 20 minutes took 40. One of my socks is twisted, creating an awkward lump where a seam is lifted up between my foot and the toe box of my boot, instead of sitting neatly by the side. I have to wonder about the effect of age on my durability these days, but the adrenaline of working the combine is already giving me the boost I need to type out the notes on yesterday (Friday)’s events.

We sprinted into the media hall yesterday just in time to start interviewing QBs and WRs. Thursday felt like a fluid (if intense) rush of activity, but on Friday the athletes had to come to us from medical checks, so the timing was much less consistent. What had been an ebb and flow became a swarm and hush. Frantic rushes collapsed into dead quiet with little warning.

The work itself was easier and more familiar now. With a less strenuous role this time, I eased into my tasks by listening to interview questions and answers over my shoulder. I’ve always been most interested in the humans behind the jerseys, and some of these NFL hopefuls come bearing powerful stories. Running Back Jonah Coleman was asked about his academic All-American honors, and told us about the drive he feels to be the first in his family to attend, and then graduate, college. Jalon Daniels (QB, Kansas) shared the story of his nonprofit, inspired by the strength of his mother and aimed at lifting up other single mothers by lessening the struggles they face.

On Thursday I was a bit star-struck, but I was surprised at how quickly it faded. Recognizing a media personality was fun, sure, but the work to be done blunted the amazement. For that reason I heard myself react “oh hey, it’s Mina Kimes.” instead of pulling out my phone to ask for a selfie. The media hall was fairly calm when she arrived, so we were able to introduce ourselves. I’d helped her with her AMA 4 years ago and reminded her of how, at the time, she’d thought she was being bullied by being called a ‘chad’ on the subreddit. When we began the pivot to our pitch about setting up another AMA, she volunteered to speak with us on camera instead.

With about an hour remaining on the schedule, we noticed that all the on-screen personalities were disappearing. Tech crews were appearing from behind their desks, dismantling sets. Large crates were wheeled out and stuffed with furniture from the sets.

We were all discussing which o-linemen we’d like to see tomorrow while the big guys were already getting out of dodge. It’s a fact of the industry that the large outlets need to optimize for maximum value of time, and that always leaves certain positions in the dust. At least it meant we’d have less competition for player time!

The relief of finishing the media hall portion of the schedule was short-lived – about as long as it took to walk from the hall to Lucas Oil Stadium. We posted up in my favorite new spot to work.

This view certainly beats my usual office in the basement of my home in rural Virginia. The coach who administered the 40 yard dash was the embodiment of stern but fair. Between position groups, I had the chance to ask him how he’s able to focus on the drill for so long. He told me that starts by angling his hat so that it blocks out the crowd. Then his eyes follow a predetermined path from the heel placement, to the hand, and to the raised arm. It all happens in [the fractional moment](https://imgur.com/a/Wonfldn) as a player explodes from their position, and he’s expertly capable of ensuring there isn’t a fault.

We headed back onto the field after the first segment of 40s were completed. I felt more secure in myself after getting the rhythm of things the first time. That proved right away to be somewhat unfounded. I brought my arms up to slip on the media vest, and as they came back down I karate chopped the shoulder of Ike Taylor. I profusely apologized and he laughed. “You gotta keep your head on a swivel at all times out here, at all times.” Only in this environment can I elicit wisdom from a stranger by karate chopping them.

I was genuinely exhausted after capturing photos and videos of the positional drills. Don’t let anyone convince you that the media members aren’t working hard out there. It takes focus, physical control, and endurance to consistently capture each rep and to reposition as the coaches quickly switch between drills. There was no force capable of preventing my crash once we stepped foot back into the airbnb, no matter my attempts to get this drafted before bed. Media session has already started here now on Saturday, already thinking ahead for what I’ll put into my next combine notes. See you then.