story courtesy of the The Daily Item
by Tom Housenick, Sports Editor
Susquehanna University's men's and women's basketball teams had just finished off home games Feb. 10 with Albright, when the real fun began.
Both teams were fighting for playoff berths in what was a cluttered Commonwealth Conference race with just a week's worth of games remaining and I was battling deadline after a doubleheader ended at about 10 p.m.
With no dominant team on the men's side and only two real good women's clubs, six of the eight combined Commonwealth playoff berths were still up for grabs.
After conducting interviews, I had more questions than answers.
But all of my inquiries had nothing to do with point totals, a scrap under the basket or late-game strategy. They were about the abundant playoff scenarios that remained.
With two games left in the regular season, what if Commonwealth contender Albright won its next game and lost the finale and fellow playoff battler Juniata won both games?
What if Juniata split its remaining games and Albright swept its two?
What if ... ?
I asked a slew of them with deadline looming.
Each scenario was met with an accurate, concise explanation.
Ten minutes later, I had the answers I needed to complete my story.
I made deadline and left O.W. Houts Gym a happy man.
I didn't have time to research each possibility at that late hour. I knew I didn't have to, though.
Jim Miller had my back.
It was his job, sure. But many others in the business aren't as dedicated.
Miller is Susquehanna's sports information director.
Come July 6, he won't be. He'll be enjoying some time off, moving closer to his Lancaster roots and then working for former Middle Atlantic Conference rival Elizabethtown by month's end. (All Susquehanna sports teams are members of other conferences as of today.)
Miller wasn't looking to leave SU. SU wasn't looking to dump him.
Circumstances were such that he couldn't pass on the opportunity.
The Crusaders' athletic administration will be hard-pressed to find someone to replace Miller.
His thoroughness and preparation was appreciated by all media members who hunted him down with questions and requests.
Before games. After games. Mid-day interview requests.
Miller always had us covered.
I always admired his professionalism and work ethic, though this is the first time he's hearing that.
But Miller was more than just a promotional tool for the university. He was a prepared man. He was an organized man, though his desk never gave you that impression.
He didn't have all of the answers all of the time. But if you needed to know something about the Crusaders football team's playoff history or the men's golf team's MAC dominance, he got what you needed.
Not in an hour. Not after lunch.
As soon as humanly possible.
Phone calls always were returned. E-mails were never ignored.
Elizabethtown knows what it's getting in Miller.
Susquehanna surely understands what it will be missing without him.
My fingers are crossed that his replacement is half as good as he is.
So, too, are SU's.