Seemingly against all odds, I lived to see another birthday.
That’s right, folks. This gorgeous Saturday is my 29th birthday. As much as I hate disappointing people, I’m happy to announce that despite all the haters and critics, I just couldn’t be stopped for celebrating another birthday. (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
Not only am I celebrating my birthday, but in true blue-collar fashion, I flew down to Nashville to do it with my family and girlfriend.
Now, I’m not one to talk about my private life or boast. It’s just not in my humble working class nature. Yet, you guys truly can’t imagine the past year that I’ve been through.
Boys, it’s about that time. Let’s start cracking cold ones and celebrating a great day of college football in America. pic.twitter.com/66LwBVfdA6
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) October 17, 2020
Not only have I had to deal with the coronavirus pandemic upending life as we all knew it, but then I had to start a war to save football while battling some serious health issues. During a normal year, I’d make enough dumb decisions to put my health at risk. This year, it was really at a different level and it all had to happen while carrying out a war to save the soul of this country.
I’ve spent the past 188 days fighting to save Big 10 football. Today, we accomplished the mission.
Much like the Osama Bin Laden raid or D-Day, you never know when your number will be called to serve. All you hope for is to execute your job and the mission.
We did just that.
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) September 16, 2020
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been to the doctor’s or to the hospital for tests since May 2020. It’s sucked, but it also just adds to the legend I suppose.
While we all know I saved football, what most people didn’t know is that I had to do it while battling a million different wars on a million different fronts.
See, I didn’t do it for me and I don’t need sympathy. I saved football, despite my health, because it was the right thing to do.
To the Nebraska, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Iowa and other Big 10 fans who joined the fight, we’re friends for life.
We’re enemies on the field, but we’re band of brothers after fighting on the frontlines to save football.
You see me in a bar and the drinks are on me.
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) September 16, 2020
I did it for everyone working 40 hours a week hoping to have something to watch with their family on a Saturday. I did it for all the bartenders and waitresses depending on football happening to put food on the table.
It was never about me. It was about the everyday man. Now that the war is long over and won, I can sit back and truly look back at the insanity of the past year.
My haters and critics might hope and pray for my death, but they’ll have to wait at least a little bit longer. Trust me, if my track record shows us anything, it’s that my foes don’t exactly meet happy endings.
Whether it’s the NCAA, a global pandemic or my own body, this brain remains undefeated.
So, on my 29th birthday, I plan on cracking beers left and right in Nashville, but remember that I’m not doing it for me. I’m doing it for all the guys who never had a chance.
To those of you who have been with me on this ride for a long time, I can promise we’re not done just yet! I can’t wait to run it back with all of you.