When this column began back in August, I had a few goals that I’d set out. I wanted to cover a vast array of Cyclone sports and provide insight and argument as to what I saw.

I also, above everything, wanted to spark discussion among you, the readers. For a long time I’ve believed that the most discussed issues are ones in which people have a strong opinion. Over the course of the last eight months, I hope I’ve given at least something to those discussions.

In that time, we’ve all seen extreme highs in the sports world, such as the Cyclone football win over Texas and the lows, like the final play of the Nebraska football game, or the ten-game losing streak for the men’s basketball team. We’ve also seen two former high-profile ISU coaches win national championships, both only in the second year with their respective programs.

Within the last year, Cyclone sports fans have fallen even more in love with Paul Rhoads, and saw the return of one of their greatest heroes in Fred Hoiberg, who has fan expectations through the roof for next season.

And while Cyclone sports across the board haven’t had the greatest 2010-11, fans are certainly not despondent about what lies ahead for the men and women who compete for the cardinal and gold.

So my challenge, and my request of those of you who take the time to read the Iowa State Daily — and more specifically the Sports section — is to continue to share your thoughts, feelings and opinions about Cyclone sports.

The Cyclone fan community is in general a smart fan community. Fans who come to games and matches in Ames know what they’re watching and can have an intelligent discussion about it.

As fans of sports in general, we all have an opinion about what we see. Whether it’s your stance on the NFL lockout, LeBron’s Decision or if Derrick Rose is in fact the NBA MVP, we have a stance.

And that’s the beauty of being a sports fan. The things we have opinions about are, in general, about a game or an athlete — something far removed, at least I hope, from the often-depressing world news reports.

But I’m the lucky one. I’ve had the distinct privilege of having this space to put my thoughts on paper and the web. Because at the heart of it all, even despite my journalistic values, I’m a fan.

I won’t pretend to deny or pull the wool over anyone’s eyes just because I sit behind a keyboard. I love sports. That’s why I wanted to write about them. I was just fortunate enough that the right people believed I was talented enough to have a forum to talk and write about what I’m so passionate about.

While this is the last time you’ll read a sports commentary piece in the Iowa State Daily from Jeremiah Davis, I sincerely hope that if I’ve sparked any discussions, they will continue to occur.

If I haven’t sparked any discussions or provoked any thought, then so be it. But at least I know I really tried.

Have you? Have you given your opinion about sports in one forum or another?

If you call yourself a sports fan, you owe it to yourself to make your voice heard. Call in to a radio show, write a letter to the editor, tweet if you have too. Just please, if you do anything, don’t bite your tongue when it comes to discussing sports.

Take it from me: it’s the most fun and gratifying thing about being a fan.