Going Dancing - Jordan Hodges - Liberty University

Story provided by Fanword.com

By Jordan Hodges

The moment we won the conference championship, I was overwhelmed with emotions.
Joy, happiness, excitement — all of it.
I remember jumping off the bench, and I just couldn't stop.
It just happened.
The energy, the rush, the sheer thrill of the moment consumed me.
At one point, I looked around at my teammates and shouted, "We did it! I'm so proud of y'all!"
And then, the tears came.
I don't even know how to explain it.
It was as if every ounce of hard work, every late-night practice, and every moment of sacrifice suddenly hit me all at once, causing a whirlwind of emotions.
When it finally settled, I just stood there, taking it all in.
"We really just did that."
As we took pictures, cut the net, and celebrated, it sank in even more.
We had fought through the entire conference, battled against some of the best teams, and now we were standing here as champions.
And soon, reality set in.
We weren't just conference champions—we were going dancing.

March Madness is Here

The NCAA tournament.
The Big Dance.
March Madness.
It's what every college basketball player dreams about.
And now? It's happening. We're in.
Every March, I'd sit in front of the TV, watching the tournament, completely locked in.
It didn't matter who was playing—I'd watch every game I could, just because I loved basketball.
And every year that we didn't make it?
It stung.
I tried not to dwell on it, but ya, it hurt.
Now, we get to be the one on that screen.
I get to be one of the players that some little girl out there is watching and dreaming about being one day.
It's surreal.
We know we're up against a tough team in Kentucky, but at this point in the season, every team is good.
We belong here.
We've earned this.
When I step onto that court for our first NCAA tournament game, I know I'll feel the nerves.
The bright lights.
The cameras.
The energy. But most of all, I'll feel gratitude.
Not every player gets this opportunity.
Some teams work for years and never make it.
The fact that we're here?
That means everything.
And we're ready.

A Family Affair

I got into basketball in third grade, but I can't pinpoint when it became part of me.
I do remember being about eight years old, standing on the sidelines of an AAU tournament or maybe one of my sister's practices.
I picked up a ball, started dribbling, and just kept playing around with it.
I was having fun.
Then, my mom asked if I'd ever want to play basketball.
"Sure," I shrugged.
At that age, you're open to anything.
You don't think about the future—you just do what seems fun in the moment.
Watching my sister play, seeing her team practice, and traveling to tournaments with her made me fall in love with the game.
There was something about the way they played hard together, the way they built a sisterhood.
It was inspiring.
And then, of course, there was our family TV.
Basketball was always on.
College basketball.
The pros.
March Madness.
It didn't matter.
I was glued to the screen. And before I knew it, I wasn't just watching anymore—I was playing.

This is For the Girls

To any young girl reading this, dreaming about basketball—this is for you.
Have fun. Enjoy the journey. Basketball will take you places you never imagined.
Because of this game, I've traveled across the country.
I've been to Seattle.
I've been to Israel.
I've experienced things I never thought possible.
And now?
Now I get to step onto the court in the biggest tournament in college basketball.
Somewhere, a little girl is watching, just like I used to.
Watching the NCAA tournament, seeing the passion, the competition, the history.
Maybe she's dribbling a ball in her driveway, dreaming of one day being here, too.
I want her to know: "Keep going. Keep playing. One day, that could be you."
My mom always told me, "The ball will stop bouncing one day."
That stuck with me.
Basketball has given me so much more than wins and losses.
It's shaped who I am, and it's taught me leadership, resilience, and discipline.
If I had only focused on the game itself, I would have missed so much.
And to any athlete struggling with pressure or feeling lost in the grind, just breathe.
Find the joy in it. Focus on the little things.
With my college career coming to a close, I feel nothing but gratitude.
Every memory, every moment, every lesson—it has all been worth it.
And now, I get to end this journey on the biggest stage in the game.
This is March.
This is what it's all about.
This is my dream—coming true.

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