Silence Is Golden

In this deeply personal installment of Empty the Bench: Small Market Edition, Callan McClurg steps away from the stats and the standings to recount the most challenging chapter of his professional life: the 269-day silence brought on by the global pandemic. What began as a routine rainy Wednesday at USD’s Fowler Park quickly devolved into a generational "where were you" moment as the sports world—and the microphones that narrate it—went dark overnight.

Silence Is Golden, offers a raw and humanized look at the psychological and physical toll of a forced hiatus. Callan gets vulnerable about the "Dark Ages," discussing the crushing weight of isolation, the struggle with depression, and the survival mechanisms used to cope when your identity is tied to a roar of a crowd that no longer exists. From the initial shock of March 11, 2020, to the specialized "lifelines" that kept the dream alive, this is a story of resilience in the face of an invisible opponent.

The narrative follows the bizarre transition back to the booth—a world defined by plexiglass barriers, color-coded wristbands, and the haunting, tiny echo of piped-in crowd noise. Callan shares firsthand accounts of the "Road Warrior" era, from solo Amtrak trips to Irvine and birthday breakfasts at 24-hour Denny’s, to the San Diego Sockers’ improbable championship run played entirely on the road.

We conclude with a reflection on the lessons found in the quiet and a moving tribute to fallen colleagues Seth Smith and Dom Errico. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that while sports are built on physics and skill, they are fueled by human connection. It’s a celebration of the noise we once took for granted and the gratitude we carry every time the "on air" light flickers back to life.

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