Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in Búho Nation! The team here at Who Gives a Hoot? wanted to share what we are thankful for this year.
Luke Opperman
Most importantly, I am thankful for the young men who put their health and safety on the line to play their all for the fans all season long. UO has provided a lot of entertainment over the course of 2020, so I am thankful for the staff and fans who invested countless hours in the team to provide an unparalleled first season. Finally, I am thankful for the great game of soccer finding a place in the community and metro area that I have come to call home.
Ryan Legrande
This year I am thankful for Union Omaha’s ability to have fans at matches and keeping us all as safe as possible during a global pandemic. I know it wasn’t always easy but I thought they did a fantastic job keeping everyone safe throughout the season.
Liam Keating
As we look back on Union Omaha in 2020, there is only one thing that I can be thankful for: the chance to write, photograph and interview the many different people that make Union Omaha special.
I am thankful for the guys at WGaH who had never met me before, but trusted some kid that goes to college a couple hundred miles away. They allowed me to write content for their blog without hesitation.
I knew this was going to be a great relationship when Luke Opperman asked me a delicate question on our first phone call together, “Are you 21? I wanna buy you a beer.” I responded with, “Yes”. Then the sound of hooting and laughter from the voices on the other line could be heard.
It’s this relationship of trust that I am thankful for, but also I’m thankful for the Union Omaha staff who never met me as well. They allowed me to be on the pitch to take photographs and to interview their players.
This was my very first opportunity to become a professional sports writer. Union Omaha gave me this chance and I was able to watch Evan Conway drill a goal in the closing minutes against North Texas, these are the memories that I will remember forever.
This year has stunk in so many ways, but Union Omaha and their hospitality has been a bright spot. Here’s to more stories and wins in 2021, Happy Thanksgiving!
Jon Ryan
I’m thankful for all the firsts I was able to experience, especially in a year like 2020 has been. I’m thankful for that first home goal. I’m thankful for that first home win, the only moment of 2020 that sent shivers up my spine. I’m thankful for the men and women that made this season possible, one I will not forget. And I’m thankful for the people I’ve met along the way, my new friends in my new home, that I hope to enjoy many more seasons with in the future.
Riley Martin
I am thankful that Union Omaha has arrived in our city. I struggled to get into the soccer culture here in Omaha, until I became an active member with Parliament. It has opened so many doors to be able to share my passion with like minded people: everyone from the Parliament members, to the club has been incredible to be involved with. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to be apart of something special here in Omaha, and for many more incredible nights in Werner Park with our team! I am also thankful for Evan Conway’s left foot!
Ben Turner
I am thankful for so many things about Union Omaha: the players, the technical staff, the employees in the front office, my fellow fans that I’ve made fast friends with, anyone who put their health and safety at risk so I could enjoy my hometown team play soccer. The list is long and I could write hundreds of words about each person I’ve met through this team.
However, when my head hits the pillow at night, I’m thinking about the goals this team scored. From Evan Conway’s strike against North Texas, then Luke Hauswirth’s strike against Tucson, EVD’s goals that had no celebrations, Sebas’ cheeky PK that almost hit me in the face, that improbable ball that Devin stabbed out of the air, Christian Molina’s celebration against Tucson, JP Scearce’s headers, Elvir’s goal they disallowed, Ferrety and Elma scoring to rescue points on a Friday night in Georgia, Panchot breaking our scoreless streak, Dami’s first goal on our three goal night, and of course, that stoppage time goal to send us to the final. I can see them all when I close my eyes and that should help get me through until we kick off again.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Who Gives A Hoot? 