As Jay McNeil began to speak, or rather tried to, tears began to trickle slowly down his face. The big left guard sat in his stall underneath the stands at Mosaic Stadium, in a red short-sleeved shirt, pads off. He blinked, hard.
"It was tough, walking off that field,'' the 14-year veteran finally managed to say, softly, his voice cracking with emotion. "The last time. You think back on a lot of things making that walk. I played my first real game in this stadium. You think of all the great players and great coaches you've had. That's what you'll miss most. The people. Being in here, in good times and bad.
"I love these guys. There is nothing like the friendships you develop in this game. You can't replace them.'' He scanned the room. "This is what I'll miss most.
"I've been playing football for 23 years. Since I was 15. This isn't a game you can play in a rec league or a beer league. And it goes by quick. That's something I've tried to tell the younger guys on this team. Fourteen years goes by in a flash.''