Fantastic post SluggerDad. I think it really hit on lot of what players go through.
Can be quite the emotional ride for parents too. Season was probably the longest 4 months I've experienced. Some absolute great memories but also some serious anxiety moments as well.
You want your son to get opportunities and as Coach May and others have said the only way that happens is if you can help the coaches win games. Frankly over a 63 game season son had periods where he was helping win and also periods where he was not helping at all. Most of his freshman buddies experienced the same.
Mom and Dad being first timers were sweating the exit meeting process a bit. Felt silly afterwards as the 4 coaches were very pleased with his season. They focused way more on the experience he got as a freshman than the up and down results. I bumped into PC a few days later and he said even he struggles as a parent separating his own kids results from their experience.
Good luck to all the new college parents in the fall.