Dear Hustle Belt,
Where do I even begin?
I was looking for something new to do, something that would make me somewhat uncomfortable but that I would like to try. I took a chance and sent an e-mail to our higher-ups. Heard from them not long after, and the rest was history.
As a proud Bowling Green alum, #MACtion runs through my blood.
I remember my first piece that I ever wrote for the site. I had officially joined Hustle Belt in November 2022, and offered to cover the rival Rockets season review for the MAC Championship. Before that, I wasn’t
much of a writer. I didn’t know what to expect when putting that first piece. After putting it together, and seeing it on the site for the first time, I felt an immense amount of pride.
I finally get around to writing about my Falcons in their first bowl game since 2015. Putting that piece out kept my love for my alma mater— not that it ever disappeared. Since then, the Falcons have beaten the Rockets in four of the last seven games, have gone to two more bowl games, and hired Eddie George to lead the program. The record isn’t pretty, but there’s still a lot of buzz compared to 2017-21. I even got to collaborate with Black Shoe Diaries for the BG-Penn State game in 2024. It was fun telling them what to expect with the Falcons (who ended up giving them a slight scare).
Not only did I cover the Falcons for three seasons, I also put my passion for soccer out there. I covered MAC Women’s soccer in 2023 and 2024. #MACtion on the Pitch was the weekly recap featuring the women that make MAC soccer what it is. Both seasons were roller coasters that saw Ohio win their first MAC Tournament in 2023, and Western Michigan putting together one of the best seasons in 2024.
All in all, there are way too many people to thank in one short letter. Thank you to Alan for giving me a chance to be a part of the coverage. Thank you to James for your tireless efforts of editing and everything Hustle Belt! Thank you to the SIDs who helped me out for that first season of #MACtion on the Pitch. Thank you to all my fellow writers, past and present, for your continued efforts. Last, but certainly not least, a huge thanks goes to you, the reader.
You visited Hustle Belt and read these pieces because you share our love for our conference, and everything that embodies #MACtion.
While this may be it for Hustle Belt, #MACtion will never die. After 15 years, we pour one out in the beer garden, and raise a glass to the future!
Cheers! Ay Ziggy Zoomba!
Sam Kasuga
