Well, this is it. This is the last Lowe Down from DeKalb, IL. The movers will be here tomorrow morning to pack things up, and move me to Nashville. Luckily, I'll have a few more days left here. I plan on making Tuesday night the BIG night. I look forward to sharing some laughs with the good friends I've made here.

It has been a difficult last few weeks. I've come in contact with so many great people. This weekend really emphasized that to me, as the student-athletics and coaches of the NIU football team really tried to make my last trip a special one. Yes, the Huskies did fall to Bowling Green Saturday night, but they made a solid effort. More importantly to me, they were all very gracious of the small acts I've performed for them over the past year. You don't work in this industry to be noticed. At least, I don't. I really love what I do because of the relationships I build. The "kids" are so important to me. You watch them grow and mature. You watch their successes and their failures, but most importantly you watch them become good people.

I've already been choked up a few times, but I haven't let anyone know. My avid readers know I can be emotional, so I'm sure that will come Tuesday night, if not sooner. People make the place ... and that is very true in this instance. NIU has some challenges. Fund raising can be difficult here. People can sometimes be very fair-weather. Above all of that though, you have very good people. All of these people are here, trying to make things better ... trying to improve their athletic programs or trying to simply make the department run. It isn't always easy at a "mid-major" and I realize that now, but everyone I've come in contact with has been great. These people know the challenges. They realize how difficult it is here at times, but these people will remain here in hopes to make this a better place. Maybe I just wasn't strong enough.

On the other hand, I cannot deny the fact that I am thrilled the next Lowe Down will be from Nashville, TN. It still is odd to think about moving again, but good opportunities are difficult to find. This is a great one.

I'll be sure to post my new contact info as soon as I get settled. I imagine that will be a week or so, but I'll be back on the web soon. I promise.

Thank you all for being supportive. It isn't always easy, I'm sure. But it means the world to me.

A lot of people say it, but I certainly mean it; I am one of the luckiest men alive.

I have great friends. I have a wonderful family. Even the acquaintances I have are really good people. I suppose I've always known special people have surrounded me. I'm fortunate for that. It was made obvious again, just how amazing my friends can be when I accepted a job at Vanderbilt last Thursday. The out-pouring of emails, the shout outs from Marc and the ephus, the phone calls ... it can really humble a person. It does so to me.

I consider myself a decent person. Someone who tries to live his life to the fullest, and someone who values true friendship and those others that share their friendship. But time after time, I am amazed at the people I've surrounded myself with. My family, my friends. Without a doubt, they all support me in everything I do. How many people can say they have the support from everyone they know? The decision, which I'll touch on here in a minute, was a difficult one. I took a lot of advice before coming to the conclusion. I had to. This was a big deal. Another move one just over a year? To another state? Another school? Well, after the decision was made, I sent out as many emails as I could to let people know. I wanted to share my great news with everyone, and each of you that have replied ... well, it has meant a great deal to me. I thank you.

Humbled, indeed.

So yes, I have accepted a position with the Vanderbilt athletics department. And just to clear up any misunderstanding ... Vandy is NOT eliminating their athletics department. I'm not taking a job in the rec sports department. Vandy is not going to leave the SEC. Not at all. They are committed to competing at the highest levels of D-I athletics. Be rest assured that if I felt they weren't going to be doing these things, than I wouldn't have signed on. I have a great deal of respect for the people in the Vandy athletic department, and I look forward to working with them for years to come.

And the decision certainly wasn't easy. In between the day I interviewed, and the day they offered me the position, I had 10 days to think about things. I had 10 days to seek advice collect my thoughts and make a decision. The phone rang Thursday morning, and I was offered the job. You'd think those 10 days would have prepared me for that phone call. But I wasn't prepared. I wasn't sure if I wanted the job. More so, I wasn't sure if I was ready to leave NIU. Of course, there was some negotiating with Vandy, and then with NIU and then again with Vandy. But it all boiled down to opportunity. I really enjoy NIU and especially the relationships I've built with staff and student-athletes, but I see the opportunities at Vandy as greater. More exposure within a larger conference. More SEC championship events to host. More opportunity to host NCAA events. Better facilities. A more interesting city. Don't be fooled. It still wasn't easy. There were positives and negatives to both. As I started my drive to Mount Pleasant, MI, last Thursday, I started weighing those positives and negatives. After about two hours in the car, I called Vandy and accepted the job.

I'm thrilled about the decision. I'm nervous about moving again, and having to pull all my roots up again. But this is a great thing. A wonderful school, beautiful campus, SEC athletics, a tremendous city ... there are many things I am looking forward to. This is a big job, one I hope and pray I am ready for, but everyone seems to think I am. My friends are the greatest. They have really made this entire process a great deal easier.

It will be hard to leave. Just when I was starting to get the hang of things around here, and just when I was cultivating relationships ... coaches, visiting teams, officials, MAC personnel, other NIU staff, the student-athletes ... just when I was feeling comfortable. But I suppose that is how life works out. Now I have a new challenge. New people to meet. New relationships to cultivate. And hell, I'm going to be the director of my own department. How many 26-year-old people can say that? As humbled as I am, this is an awesome feeling.

I'm sure this Lowe Down has been hard to follow. My head is filled with so many thoughts right now ... what do I do about my insurance? my retirement funds? checking account? Blah! I've just got a lot on the brain. It'll all be worth it though. When that first day at the new gig rolls around, and I'm thrust into preparing for an SEC basketball season ... I'll remember why I went through all of this. Why I made the move. Why I accepted this position. And I'll also remember why I have such wonderful friends. the ephus is right. Not everyone talks about his or her dreams. Maybe I'm foolish for doing so. I mean, if I don't reach my dreams, everyone will know. They'll know I failed to reach those dreams. But I honestly believe, that as long as I have the support of so many wonderful friends and my family, those dreams will come true.

To everyone that has emailed or called, again I thank you. I will return every email or call. Give me some time. It will come. And if you have any suggestions about where to live in Nashville, shoot them MY way!

I am a lucky, lucky man.

Comcast Cable is horrible. Well, actually the cable tv aspect of it is ok, but their internet has been a pain to deal with. For the past week I have been without internet access from home. Every once in awhile, it would start working but only to turn off five, ten minutes later. Hell, it could shut off while I'm typing this. They are sending someone out here Wednesday, but you can be damned sure I'm getting a few free months out of this.

To update you all on a few things, I flew to Nashville last Monday for my interview with Vanderbilt. I enjoyed my visit there, and everyone was sharp and classy. It seems like a great office atmosphere and the people seem to genuinely enjoy the school and community. I walked away from the interview feeling like I really impressed them. I think I'll be offered the job. I'm hoping I am. It would be nice to be offered a great job, at a great school in a great conference. Who wouldn't want that? And it never hurts to have options. I'm in no hurry to get out of this place. Hell, if someone called me to offer the Vandy job Thursday night , I would've said no. If someone had called me up Friday afternoon, I would've said yes. My mind has been thinking about this constantly, as you can tell. If forced to make it, the decision will not be easy. I just want to make sure it is educated, solid decision and not one made by emotion. Hell, I just hope to have the option. So we'll see. Either way, I'm in a good situation.

The Huskies continued the magical season yesterday, coming from behind in the 4th quarter to win another overtime thrilled vs. Ohio. It was an ugly game for the most part, but the guys found a way to win. The season is in full swing, and our guys are feeling all of the emotions possible. I just hope we don't feel the one of defeat. It would be sweet to crash the BCS party!

Next Monday night, I get to see my boysVertical Horizon in concert. I'm heading into Chicago to give both Flip and Kristen their first VH experience. Greg and I were just discussing, via IM, how VH's music has changed over the years. Their new stuff is more rock. It's more pop. It is different from the humble beginnings of VH, on their acoustic guitars. I may miss the older stuff, but they have a job. Music is their career. They've got to sell some albums right now. The new album is good. I like it a lot. But it hasn't quite touched me like some of the previous albums. But that is ok. I just wish they'd put out a new cd ever few months. I enjoy all of their music, and I can't wait to see them next week.

Well that's it for this installment. Time to watch some football and baseball. GO CUBS!