This is my eighth quarter on The Tech Talk, seventh as sports editor and, God-willing, my last. I have out-tenured five editors, numerous associate editors and news editors, and almost every time someone leaves, they write the sad, farewell column.

I'm not very sentimental. I'll spare you that same elegy.

But when I was thinking of an idea for my last sports column, I thought of my life since I've been a Tech student -- a life defined with Tech sports.

Like the old man who reflects back on his life and reminisces about his fondest memories or deepest regrets, I relived some of the best and most heartbreaking moments I personally experienced in Tech sports since I came in the fall of 2001 -- the hardest part was limiting my list to five events.

5. March 18, 2002 -- Bulldogs vs. Villanova, NIT Sweet 16

The dynamic duo of Gerrod Henderson and Antonio "Tiger" Meeking, along with Zach Johnson, high flying Marco Cole, point guard Lavelle Felton and Darrian Brown, had dispatched UL-Lafayette and Vanderbilt in the first two rounds of the NIT before an average crowd of 4,000 people in the Thomas Assembly Center. The Bulldogs rolled past the Ragin' Cajuns 83-63 and beat the Commodores 83-68, before a dogfight with the Villanova Wildcats in Philadelphia.

Villanova led the Bulldogs the entire game and was on top by 10 points with less than two minutes remaining, before Tech hit three consecutive three-pointers and held the Wildcats scoreless to pull within one point. Villanova made two free throws with 13 seconds left, and the senior, Henderson, who was known for his last-second heroics, took the final shot. However, the ball bounced out of the rim, and the Bulldogs lost 67-64.

4. Oct. 18, 2003 -- A Diamond in the Rough

For the first six games of the season, sophomore running back Ryan Moats and Ralph Davis had split time at halfback for the Bulldogs. But just a few days before Tech's homecoming match against Hawaii, the Bulldogs lost Davis for the season due to an indefinite suspension -- the rest is history. In his first start, Moats rushed for a career-high 267 yards and two touchdowns in Tech's 44-41 loss to the Warriors.

Moats finished the season with 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns before setting Tech single season rushing records with 1,774 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior. The 267 yards against Hawaii was Moats' first of five 200-yard games, and he was named this year's WAC Offensive Player of the Year. Now he is playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.

3. March 11, 2005, WAC Tournament -- Lady Techsters 92, Fresno State 87 (2OT)

After a tumultuous regular season ending, featuring back-to-back losses at Rice and Tulsa to force a share of the WAC crown with Rice, the Lady Techsters found themselves battling adversity from all angles in the semi-final round of the WAC Tournament. Criticism about the seemingly lost prestige of Tech women's basketball, fatigue, a hungry Fresno State team and a 15 point deficit with only seven minutes to play had the Lady Techsters on the ropes.

However, Tech found its spark in senior guard Erica Taylor, who scored 16 of her 25 points in the final four minutes of regulation and two overtimes. Tech finished regulation on a 21-6 run to knot the score at 73 heading into overtime. Clutch free throws in double overtime sealed the win for Tech, and the exhausted Lady Techsters celebrated perhaps one of their toughest come-from-behind victories in history. Former head coach Kurt Budke said it was one of the greatest games he had ever been a part of in 20 years of coaching.

2. Oct. 2, 2004 -- Tech Wins Battle of the Bulldogs

The No. 17 nationally-ranked Fresno State Bulldogs marched into Joe Aillet Stadium sporting a 3-0 record and on a mission. Tempers flared between players on the field before the game even started, and the tension could be cut with a knife. More than 18,000 screaming fans decked out in blue packed "the Joe," but each was nervous when Fresno State went up 21-14 with 13:14 left in the fourth quarter. Then, Mighty Moats scored a touchdown at the nine-minute mark. But the extra point was blocked. Moats found the end zone again with an eight-yard touchdown scamper to put Tech up 28-21 with 3:20 remaining, and the Bulldogs held on for the upset. The sea of blue roared over the banks of the stands and across the field, flooding Tech players and sweeping down the goal posts.

1. Sept. 13, 2003 -- Miracle in Michigan

Trailing 19-7 with 2:31 left in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs offense had sputtered against the smothering Spartan defense all day in East Lansing. But senior quarterback Luke McCown and the scrappy Bulldogs were brewing a miracle. McCown directed a nine play, 63-yard drive, capped off by a Julius Cosby four-yard touchdown catch, to pull Tech within five points with a minute to play.

Freshman defensive back Dez Abrams recovered the ensuing on-side kick, Tech drove down the field and it was third and goal with eight seconds remaining. McCown snapped the ball, rolled right and tossed a prayer in the end zone É caught by D.J. Curry. Tech won 20-19, and the former boisterous Spartan Stadium was in shock. The Bulldogs celebrated one of the biggest wins in program history, and Tech fans watching the game on Cox Sports jumped out of their pants.

Josh Milton is a senior journalism major from Ruston and serves as sports editor for The Tech Talk.