For as long as I can remember, ESPN’s “SportsCenter” has set aside a few minutes at the close of its year-end show to air a short compilation of highlights from that particular year in sports. This heavily-anticipated mash-up is simply coined “Images of the Year.”

Maybe you’ve seen one or two of them before. From the highest, most celebratory plays, down to the somber, most controversial moments, these compilations serve up the most buzzworthy stories the sports industry has to offer in one condensed, delicious bite.

I don’t claim to be the biggest sports fan I know, nor do I incorporate ESPN’s flagship program into my daily morning routine as many of my friends do, but I never miss this annual tribute. I get chills every year I watch it. And I know I’m not the only one.

And sure, we can chalk that up to some fancy editing backed by a Billboard “Hot 100” hit, but maybe it’s more than that. Maybe it’s because looking at something in hindsight gives us the opportunity to have a fresh, new perspective ­— to reanalyze and appreciate the small details we didn’t notice before. Maybe watching history unfold right before our eyes ultimately conjures up a sense of pride that we had the privilege of being there in the first place. Maybe it just serves as a welcome reminder that the human story is a captivating one, full of limitless potential and moments that reshape the world we live in.

And it’s not just in sports. These moments are happening everywhere, all the time. Ohio State and the city of Columbus made a lot of noise this summer. Did you hear it? Spectacular concerts were played, a new president started work, millions were raised toward the goal of curing cancer and social media outright exploded around the news concerning former marching band director Jonathan Waters’ firing and senior quarterback Braxton Miller’s season-ending injury. These events have positioned us on the cusp of potentially the most compelling Fall Semester in this city and this campus’ history.

It’s my goal as photo editor to give you chills at some point this year. I hope you’re looking forward to seeing our images each week as much as I am.

And just think — when April ultimately rolls around, we’ll have our very own “Images of the Year.”

In the meantime, enjoy some of our favorite images of the summer.