Esports Coordinator for @MizzouEsports, Twitch Affiliate, Husband to @Alchamee1, #1 fan of @ggDetonate, he/him #TrustTheProcess #MIZ cgraham@missouri.edu
Columbia, MO
- Tweets 23,385
- Following 1,455
- Followers 1,925
- Likes 41,406
Me and my role at @DU_Esport moving forward:
This is gonna be a 🧵so strap in.
Effective July 21st, 2023 I will no longer be employed at Davenport University. I have spent my past four years here building relationships, building a program, and making amazing memories but alas,
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If you're an esports coach, coordinator, director, teacher etc. Make time for YOU! If you don't, then eventually you won't be able to make time for your students
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I don't know if I stand alone on this but:
If you are a high school esports program, please set your DMs to be open or list your teacher and an email or way to contact them in your bio. We want to recruit your students. Please allow us to work with you to do so.
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Since it's recruiting season and all of the esports directors, myself included, are looking to put together a BANGER of a 2022 class. I wanted to give a quick tip to recruits:
Check the Cost of Attendance to the school you are looking at. Don't get sucked in by scholarship #'s
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Last official day at Davenport.
Grateful for everything these last 4 years.
But the program is going to be in capable hands.
Time to #TrustTheProcess and get to work at Mizzou.
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I heard if this gets 200 likes and 75 RTs that @NACEsports will sponsor their own version of Hot Ones with @CoachAntor called:
NACE Presents: Spicy Take and Cool Sessions. Hosted by Adam Antor
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RG3 consistently shows how you can give detailed and accurate takes while towing the line on delivering quotable and memorable lines.
Someone give this man a raise and don't let him leave. He might be a top 5 sports broadcaster at this time.
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Weird esports dad brag:
Watching your students mature over time. I have some students who are night and day different than when they were recruited. It's awesome seeing them become more accountable and responsible.
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it's time to move on. I will be moving onto the position as the Esports Coordinator at @MizzouEsports. This is an opportunity I didn't think would come and would have kicked myself if I didn't take it.
With that said, I highly encourage anyone to apply for my current position
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If you are a
High school senior
High academic achiever (3.8+ unweighted)
Want to compete in esports at the collegiate level
Want to attend a D1 SEC university
Want to be in-seat
Let me know.
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No one. Big 12 dissolves and remaining members disperse between AAC, Big 10, and Pac-12. AAC becomes the new P5 conference
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I put this out as a teaser before but after getting the green light 🟢, it's official.
@DU_Esport will be looking for writers, gfx designers, and casters for Winter 23 and beyond.
Positions are scholarshipped with remote schooling being an option.
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When my grandmother passed away in 2013, keeping to my normal routine was what really helped me. It's not that it kept it off my mind, it just kept me from dwelling. Hope you are well and take YOU time if you need. The community will understand
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Esports and their Traditional Sports Comparison
League of Legends - Baseball
Call of Duty - Hockey
CSGO - Soccer
Rocket League - Football
Can't really place the others but this seems good to me.
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So I guess the cat is out of the bag now.
Former CSGO coach @chrisgelety is no longer at DU as he has taken the Asst Director position at @MTUEsports.
Thank you to Chris for everything you have done for the past 2.5yrs for DU. This program wouldn't be where it is without you.
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Best part was his instinctual reaction to go back for a second bite before realizing it was a bad idea. Absolute legend
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Actually insane. The #PlayVSNever hashtag is 100% accurate. Having exclusivity over a game and pushing students away from competing unless they pay your price has THIS effect on the communities. Want to help scholastic esports grow? Open it up and take down pay walls
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DU is looking for a new FULL TIME Asst Coach.
This person would work with me as the other full time esports personnel for the university.
Pay is $32k but depending on qualifications can potentially be moved up a bit.
Must live in Grand Rapids for this position.
davenport.csod.com/ux/ats/ca…
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That moment when you leave the discord server of the program you built from the ground up.
Necessary move, but definitely wasn't easy. 🫡
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So no official announcement but DU will be looking to recruit outside of just players next year.
We want to expand our students to more than competitive players.
We will be looking for 1-2 beat writers, 1-2 gfx designers, and a bevy of casters for our titles.
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Wondering if any of my high school contacts have any women playing on their Valorant teams?
DU will be fully investing into a women's Valorant roster for Fall '23.
@MiHSEF @IHSEA_org @EsportsIndiana
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Just a heads up that DU is looking for 1 more coach for this upcoming school year.
Specifically we are looking for a part-time Valorant coach. Remote coaching is an option, pay is $10,000 for the calendar year.
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12hrs later, I have arrived in Philly for @fragadelphia.
Now we are eating a late dinner at a TGI Friday's that has live music on a Wednesday.
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Since the @ESEA season is coming to a close soon. Time to throw out the tried and true:
"Hey kid, you're pretty good. You want to get an education and compete in CS?"
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You know what would be really cool?
A Michigan CSGO Collegiate Championship this fall. Round robins and bracket play. Whatcha say?
@MTUEsports @UMichEsports @MichiganStateCS @wmuesports @cmichesports @esports_emu @FerrisEsports
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But what if @DU_Esport had a collegiate Valorant LAN on campus around May?
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As someone always down for a challenge. I tackled the 12 chili dog platter from the Rockford Corner Bar. 45min, 12 chili dogs, and a spot in the Hall Of Fame.
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If a Sportscenter-esque format can give me:
Storylines
Scores
Insight into teams
Entertainment
It's a no brainer. Just having a space to go and get score updates around the country would be huge. Also storylines = better connection to a school and give rivalries meaning
Collegiate esports fam: What type of content would you love to see more of if you were to sit down and watch collegiate esports at home?
(Retweets greatly appreciated❤️)
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All of these ESEA players that are LFT. If you don't have a degree, why not give college a try. Resources, dedicated practice spaces, avoidance of players coming and going from your roster. It's a win win.
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Gotta love team breakfasts/lunches during LAN trips.
These things wear me out but it's an amazing experience and a good chance to work with students in a different capacity.
And by that, I mean become the team dad.
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My wife and I were talking this afternoon on our way back to Columbia from my hometown and both agreed:
@Mizzou has probably the best work environment we've ever experienced.
Happy to be here at a university where everyone is bought into the university and it's culture.
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Man, this most recent @playvs tactic is something else. Just when you think a company cannot do anything more to earn the ire of the gaming community, they hit you with a "hold my beer".
The real individuals who suffer are the students we should be helping. So sad.
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First National Championship as a head coach. So proud of the players and all of the work they put in. They 100% deserve this win and all of the praise that comes with it.
Can't say I wasn't grinning from ear to ear after I saw us win that final round.
And with that, your DU CSGO Ultra team are National Champions.
We are beyond proud of the achievements these men have accomplished this semester.
GGs to @MizzouEsports. Three maps, close every time. We wouldn't have had it any other way.
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Okay, hear me out. What if @DU_Esport did a virtual CSGO camp over Christmas break.
Is this something people would be willing to sign up for?
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So to wrap this up, it's time to move on from #OntheProwl 🐾 to chanting M-I-Z Z-O-U.
And remember to always #TrustTheProcess
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This is how I feel after signing up for a couple of classes this semester.
33yrs old, going back to school to finally get my bachelor's.
Very necessary step, but damn am I NOT enthused.
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First LAN of the year.
Shoutout @PioneersGG for hosting at Hy-Vee arena.
@MizzouEsports
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Today really felt like a first day of class type beat.
Walked out with a couple of goodies (backpack and duffle) and I cannot tell you how good it feels to have an office.
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Absolutely huge and a good move for collegiate.
This will put more pressure on players to graduate and emphasizes that collegiate's primary goal is education.
Massive W for Riot
Big collegiate esports news, RIOT has implemented a new eligibility rule:
Students may only compete in 5 academic years for CLoL and CVAL
Thoughts?
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That's a wrap for the Mizzou boys at @DreamHack. Hitting the road this morning and headed back to CoMo
Shoutout to @CollegeVALHub for hosting the tournament this weekend. We wouldn't have been here otherwise
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I present to you my "I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed" look.
Credit to the wonderful people at @efuse and @CollegeCoD for the awesome LAN event and a nice stockpile of photos to use for memes.
📷 @eFuse
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If you are an esports director offering an esports summer camp this summer or have already held one, please raise your hands.
Doing some data collection and would love to know cost/person you charged, how long the camp was for (days), and how long per day was
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Dear Collegiate Esports world,
All of us would love to go to Florida, Hawaii, the Bahamas, or somewhere warm in November. Please make this happen.
Signed,
Every director/coach/coordinator who lives where the wind hurts our face
Tomorrow being November 1st means MTE season is right around the corner. Two of my favorite weeks of the year 🏀
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I've been in charge of @DU_Esport since ~ May 9th, 2019. I think I have finally been running an esports program longer than I coached football.
My background is officially no longer in traditional sports.
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Hey! Are you a collegiate esports director, coach, or head coach?
Have you thanked your admissions reps lately?
No?
Do it! I am constantly in awe with how much these people do on a daily basis to make my life easier in terms of recruitment.
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I guess this is a good way to start the week!
I am please to say that I will now be a part of the Esports & Education panel this Saturday as a part of the @Immortals Invasion in Detroit.
Feel free to stop by the Durfee Innovation Society from 12-4pm on Saturday to catch it!
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when it comes available. I still believe in DU and the potential for growth that can happen here in the esports space. I have seen the administration invest year over year and learn more about esports as a by-product. They care about the student and they care about the vision.
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Man, EDU twitter is POPPING OFF this morning. I guess it's a good thing I don't support a platform that essentially robbed the students of both money and an experience to appease shareholders.....
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Wraps for @DreamHack ATL day 1
@MizzouEsports survives and advances to day 2.
Didn't post anything since we arrived at like 6am ET and passed out until we got to the venue.
Back tomorrow.
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As a user of the @Stay_Plugged_In platform,
please PLEASE have your tracker information on there as public and accurate as a recruit.
Rank is an easy way to pique my interest, but if I can't verify it or see your data over time, it makes the process more difficult for me.
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Well it's official. I am excited to finally announce my new position of @DU_Esport and am looking forward to building someone amazing in Michigan. @adamantgam3r watch out! The rivalry between our programs just got really real.
Esports News
Davenport University announces resignation of Andrew Smith as head Esports coach and promotion of Colin Graham to fill the vacancy
@DU_Esport bit.ly/2w747AI
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Happy to have the opportunity to witness some of the best high school talent in the nation. Also excited to get my first real experience of working with students from the West as I am primarily a Midwest/Heartland guy.
Thank you to @Stay_Plugged_In for the opportunity!
Meet the Head Coach for the SPIN @CocaCola #AllStars🌟
Esports Coordinator for @MizzouEsports, @cpgraham5 🐯
Colin will be the Head Coach of the West Region, and we're excited to have his vast FPS knowledge and leadership on board!
#ShootfortheStars💫
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What esports program, person, or event gets the first ESPN: 30 for 30-esque documentary?
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That moment when you finally land a jungler for the fall and now have a full LoL roster.
This has been the most stressful portion of this recruiting process and I hope that the HS scene will recover with PlayVS out of the picture now to make recruiting LoL easier moving forward.
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Waking up with that ECL feeling.
Huge GGs to the boys: @spekcs @PuggCSGO @cornFPS @C0J0M0 and @swichercs
Also shoutout to the fish man himself: @koi_csgo
Also shoutout to all players who have been on the DU team across this journey.
First full collegiate roster in ECL.
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The rollercoaster of emotions this evening.
I cannot express how proud I am of the guys taking down the #1 seed and most hated team in Adv.
We are the FIRST EVER full collegiate roster to lock in a spot in the ECL Relegation tournament. Let that sink in.
#TrustTheProcess
It took us three maps, some heart attacks, and overcoming adversities, but the CSGO D1 team pulls it out.
With this win we lock in a spot in @ESEA Adv UB Finals and our spot in ECL Relegation.
GGs to @TeamLuxeORG
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The urge to have DU students from each game create a podcast and put it under the umbrella of the DU Esports Podcast Network
Yes I stole this idea from @cornFPS
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Doing something different this semester and registering my teams in both @nacestarleague and @neccgames
So you'll see @DU_Esport in a wider variety of leagues this semester as we kind of test the waters to get a better perspective on what everyone has to offer.
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When @CoachBilski told me that this Mizzou job was going to be night and day different than DU I believed him but didn't realize how different.
Roughly 3 months in, and the types of opportunities and experiences that are cropping up probably would have never happened at DU.
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Since yesterday's tweet was a hit, I wanted to give a tip to all of my director and coaching colleagues:
When sending out a mass generic email to a large group of recipients, utilize the BCC or Blind Carbon Copy feature of your email.
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Now that I am home and rested from the @NACEsports National Convention I want to say thank you to everyone at NACE for an awesome convention.
Huge thank you's to @esportsmike @themissingward @AshleyOfTheYear and @MikeyTRL for everything they did this week.
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The man caught me in 4K.
If I could go back and change it, I wouldn't. I would do the same things all over again. Being a FPS school has been one of the most fun experiences and allowed me to impact so many more students.
DU has become THE CSGO school and that's pretty cool.
“This is insane for collegiate esports,” Colin Graham said. "I never thought we were going to be here. I thought we were going to be a League of Legends school when I started.”
dexerto.com/csgo/how-davenpo…
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What a wild moment. To have the D1 on stage against @EvilGeniuses after getting the win over Black Hvnd in groups. This is after D3 opened up their LCQ match on stage.
This LAN has really shown how far this program has come and I am excited to see where it can continue to go.
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Good hire. I spent some time recently sitting down with Noah and talking to him about how I built DU.
His program now though and I wish him the best of luck. He's got a good head on his shoulders and I am certain he will continue to lead the program in a positive direction.
Esports News
Noah Antor named head coach of the Esports program at Davenport
dupanthers.com/news/2023/7/2…
@DU_Esport
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I'd like to say I'm surprised by the antics of some TOs but the most recent DM I received from one flat our robbing my students of their earnings is beyond me.
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A story of happiness and sadness in images.
Note: from image 1 to image 2 was less than 2min.
@AquaFPSgaming
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Thank you to all of my coaches I have had the pleasure of working with over the past four years: @chrisgelety, @pinoyknight5 @ShxneDuncan @MiaxmoR6 @agmFPS @VaalNailo and @koi_csgo . You made my job infinitely easier.
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Babe wake up!
A new Dust2 article about @DU_Esport just dropped
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Just looked at the DU schedule tonight and we have all three CSGO teams competing and League of Legends competing tonight.
Busy night for DU
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I want to know if I am alone in this.
How many of my colleagues put significant weight into a "highlight reel" of a player?
I personally am more concerned that you can:
A. Are coachable
B. Make the grade
C. Are a good culture fit
D. Can be a good steward of the brand
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Proud of the guys. IIRC, this was a perfect season: No games dropped and no maps dropped.
Proud of everyone and the work they have put in. Huge kudos to @koi_csgo and @1viathan for working with this roster
Thank you to
@PuggCSGO
@C0J0M0
@swichercs
@spekcs
@cornFPS
2 maps and one very cheeky backstab later, @DU_Esport your NACE Starleague CS:GO Grand Finals Champions! 🏆❄️
GG's to all of our players 💙
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Real feel good moment today when I can make a student's aspirations come to fruition.
Things are looking good for DU this year. Keep my head down, nose the grindstone, and everything will be coming up Millhouse for DU and my students.
#TrustTheProcess
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Moving forward, not only will we be enforcing this for our opponents but will be upholding this internally.
With more leagues releasing schedules well in advance, it just makes sense to keep a consistent schedule to benefit student schedules and broadcast schedules.
See our competitive reschedule policy for the fall 2023 season!
Policy: drive.google.com/file/d/16dt…
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Last @NACEsports convention in the red and black ✅️
Conversations towards something bigger ✅️
Shoutout to everyone at NACE that made this year a blast.
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Hey there! So those that follow me know I am the Head Coach of @DU_Esport and it's currently crootin' season.
I get asked, as I'm sure my peers do, what I look for in a student athlete. So I thought I would take a moment to give a quick idea of what I am looking for (1/2)
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Someone come tell this man it is illegal to be this double cheeked up on a Saturday.
@BroganLL
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Exactly 1 year ago today, I said "I do" to the most amazing woman ever. It was the best decision I ever made and I'm happy I chose her as my person to spend the rest of my life with. Happy Anniversary @Alchamee1. I love you. May the fourth be with us, always
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Now that I'm home,
Thank you to @Immortals for putting on the panels today. Also thank you to @riotgames for having amazing employees that I was lucky enough to share the stage with.
Had the chance to meet some great people from @UMichEsports and @ClubEsportsWMU as well.
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Time to ruffle the feathers.
This is fine and proper. A space built for competitive should be used primarily by competitive players. I've heard from students that sharing their space at a former institution was a headache.
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Did you know only 10.2% of collegiate programs offered their facilities to their students and the public in 2022?
Read a deeper analysis in our 2022 Trends in Collegiate Esports Report. And if you want to help us continue our efforts, fill out our 2023 survey, dropping 9/22! 🙌
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It's about that time for a PC refresh in our lab.
Our 3yr old iBP PCs have been suffering from having only 750GB of SSD space and 16GB of RAM. Starting next week they get a nice 32GB of RAM and a 1TB M.2 added to each of them in our back room.
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First iced coffee of the academic year.
Move in is today and tomorrow, all of the students are about to be back, and tryouts start next week.
Bring on the school year.
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So I guess I can add Eligibility Chair of the @MECesports to my list of fancy titles.
Thank you to everyone in the MEC for entrusting me with this. You will soon realize how wrong you were to do this.
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Welp, all of DU's CoD team has officially gotten to Columbus.
Now to snack, sleep, and prep for @CollegeCoD media tomorrow at @BelongArenas and prep for our first round match on Saturday against @SEUEsports
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