Column: Second Thoughts

Welcome back to the fall sports season. I hope you’re as excited as I am.

This is my second go-around with the academic school year and I’ve learned a lot since I started at the Tribune in May 2010.

In my position, the beginning of a new school year is like a fresh start. A chance to look back on last year and decide what to throw out, change or keep the same. I’m on the same mental schedule as a teacher — excited once summer begins but itching to get back at it in the fall.

This second trip through the fall season should be a lot smoother. I know all the coaches and players, and therefore plan on bringing you more stories in more ways.

Here’s a list of what to look for from the Tribune this fall:

• Fall Sports Yearbook: Remember those seasonal sports previews? Forget about them. They have been scrapped in exchanged for the sports yearbook, a 32-page magazine printed on glossy stock. The Fall Sports Yearbook publishes on Wednesday and includes season previews and schedules of every local team, along with a Q&A with Lake Mills volleyball coach, Jim Boehmer, and a feature story on the 25th anniversary of the year the Glenville Trojans football team ended its 70-game losing streak. The Fall Sports Yearbook is included in the Tribune’s print edition so be sure to pick up a copy — it’s a keepsake.

• Trib Sports Report: This weekly podcast will be published each Friday morning on AlbertLeaTribune.com throughout the school year. It will feature interviews with local coaches and athletes and commentary on local, regional and national sports.

• Sunday feature stories: After writing for the Tribune for more than a year, it’s safe to say that I receive the most positive feedback from feature stories. While we all love scores and game recaps, features are read by everybody whether they’re sports fans or not. Unfortunately, they tend to get put on the backburner during busy sports seasons. This fall I am making it a priority to publish a feature story in every Sunday Sports section. Look for a story Sunday on Albert Lea boys’ soccer player Timothy Furland and his experience playing for the Minnesota Olympic Development Program.

• Videos, videos, videos: Couldn’t make it to the game? Fear not. If my writing can’t paint a good enough picture for you why not see the game yourself? The Tribune Sports Department plans on publishing two or three videos per week this fall, including highlights and interviews with players and coaches.

• Photo galleries: Print readers, if you’re not getting your photo fix head to AlbertLeaTribune.com where galleries are published of each event we cover.

• Twitter: The Tribune Sports Twitter account is growing slowly but needs more followers. Follow us @altribunesports to receive up-to-date scores and news about your favorite teams.

• A happy marriage of media: The Tribune and KATE Radio sports departments began collaborating this summer and will continue to during the fall. Read KATE Sports Director Aaron Worm’s column in the Tribune every Monday and hear me join The Blitz broadcast each Thursday.

Andrew Dyrdal’s column appears each Thursday in the Tribune.