I was up just a bit before the alarm and checked the weather and thought that figures it's 5 AM and it is already 75 degrees. The coffee was ready and I forced myself to sit down and drink the coffee. I drove to school and started for the locker room and was headed off by someone saying looks like we are starting in the auditorium. At exactly 6:00 the coaching staff walked in and I was glad to see it had remained the same. Coach Weston, without a microphone , as there were only 70 players or so, said good morning. Last year when I needed to take over this program things were a mess and I'm being polite. This year starts with a meeting and rules and expectations clearly defined. Should you have an issue, please see me and while I will answer your questions, I'm telling you now they won't change. Of you can't get on board, please play another fall sport. Is all that clear.
We start at 6:00 Monday through Friday this week that means you are on the field with the appropriate equipment, today it's helmets only and we will find out who is in shape and who isn't.
If you are hurt, that's not a secret and a coach needs to be advised immediately, not some time in the future. The training staff and a paramedic will be at every practice, game and scrimmage.
I know that if you manage to win a game, there are parties and I won't even try to stop that. What I will stop and the entire staff is on board with this are parties and Alcohol. You might get a surprise visit at these parties and players in attendance, even if they are not drinking, will be suspended 2 games if we find adult beverages. That will not even discussed.
If you are not in school, you don't practice and if you are out on game day you don't play.
Academics are important and starting the third week of school they will be monitored. Anyone with less than a C average will be suspended until that level is achieved.
As you are aware there will be an unusual amount of media presence, many of you have agreed to this and the few who have not, those wishes will be respected. Those who have agreed and will be interviewed you have the right and the ability to say what you think. Understand exercising those rights have responsibilities. Remember you can't be sitting in a movie theater and stand up and yell fire.
The use of any drugs that come with out a medical prescription will not be tolerated. We will not random drug test but if we even suspect any drug use we will have a discussion with the player and his parent.
Lockers have been reassigned and your practice jersey, helmet and pads are in your lockers. If the size needs adjusted see the equipment manager. Also, in your locker you will find a list of positions you might play. Understand that is fluid.
Be on the field in helmets in 20 minutes and be ready.
You are dismissed.
JJ came up to me and said dude, I'm moving back to Texas. I laughed and said, well at least he didn't say no sex. In the locker room everyone was searching for their locker and I found mine in a corner and it was an area for captains and I thought that was fun. Well that was the last pleasant thought I had that morning as there were 40 yard sprints, stadium steps, agility drills and after an hour my shirt was soaked in sweat and there wasn't a dry spot on it. There were guys puking and collapsing and just stopping. There were multiple water stations and we were encouraged constantly to drink. Guys with medical issues were immediately attended to by the medical staff. Right at 10:00 we were all gathered together and coach said, play books are at your lockers and Wednesday night there is a test, pass or simply turn in your equipment. He said be here ready, in helmets at 6:00. We just stood there looking at each other and all of a sudden Josh yelled, ALL FOR ONE and immediately there was a loud response ALL FOR ONE. I saw coach high five with an assistant on their way to the field house.
We all walked up to the field house but I stopped and sat at the top row of the bleachers as I wasn't I standing in line for a shower. I took my sweaty and disgusting shirt off and just sat there exhausted. After a few minutes I went to the car retrieved my phone and called work. When Amy answered I asked to speak to Mike Simmons. She laughed and said well he is either at football practice or fucking around somewhere, what can I help you with? Then she laughed and said Mike, how was practice? I simply said anything I need to know about? She said only that your team has it under control and enjoy your day, we are good. I said thanks and went to the locker room and it was almost empty as people simply went home to shower. JJ was sitting in his locker and I went up to him and he said get a fucking shower your disgusting. With no argument to that it was a shortish shower and shorts and a tee. JJ was still sitting there reading the playbook and he looked at me and asked, how can this be so fucking different. I laughed and said it isn't only the terminology is different. MJ, they also want me to play safety. I said well with your speed you can run down anything that gets loose, it will be fine. So you hungry?
We took separate cars to Eat N Park and almost emptied the salad bar and we both had a burger as well. JJ asked, so MJ how many guys will quit and I said 3 or 4 as they won't want to work like this and sit on the bench. I explained the playbook and said the terms were different on offense, even for me, but I bet that was for Wyatt as that dude has his work cut out for him. Most of lunch was about the playbook. I did get a message from Zaid, saying things were good and he would let me know the minute they weren't. Around noon JJ and I drove home and I promptly took a nap. I woke wondering what the evening couple of hours would bring. I needed another shower and drove to school and was in the locker room by 5:30. The evening event was the same as the morning with a little less time on each event. It was 9:00 before I hit the shower.
As tired as I was I stopped at the super market and bought much needed groceries. While I paid for this using dad's credit card, I was hoping this wouldn't be a regular thing. Well, just another thing to adjust to, living in the apartment and the added freedom. At home I unpacked the groceries and was eating a sandwich with iced tea and thought it was a good day and it was all business and it was a side of the coach and the no nonsense approach that was different and needed. After the sandwich, I cleaned up and went to my room and set the alarm then did some reading for history. After about an hour I started on the playbook and JJ was right the terminology was different and so were many of the play especially the blocking schemes, I felt sorry for the office line guys. I knew those twists were to make us less reliant on what we did last year and to keep the opponents off guard. Apparently they were working all year on things.
Tuesday's weather was even more humid that the previous day and it started with warmup drills like jumping jacks and sit-ups and push-ups and sprints and agility drills. We were at that for about 90 minutes and Coach yelled, pad up and be back here in 15. Being back in full pads is 15 minutes was a fucking challenge and the damn heat made it no fun at all. The drills were blocking sleds and dummies. The final drill was fun but it was at the end of the session there was a center who snapped the ball which was handed off to a running back and the center had to block a linemen or a linebacker and the damn hitting was intense. I envied Jim and Wyatt and the Paul the other QB as they just watched. A little after 10 Coach called us all together and said tonight is street clothes as the media people will be here to explain the process with them and meeting with you position coach and a review of the playbook. Tomorrow is a walk through of some plays and tomorrow night an inter squad scrimmage. Know the plays. Like yesterday we all stayed together and Josh yelled ONE FOR ALL and everyone responded ONE FOR ALL. I hurried to the locker room and didn't have to wait for the shower and I quickly dressed in work clothes and drove to the construction site as the furniture install was underway.
As I walked to the building I counted 5 trailers being unloaded and a large crew of Union carpenters. I laughed at that as there was no wood in sight. Half my team was there Dillon, Riley, Major Jim and Zaid. Bruce was trying to give directions to the installers but was basically in the way. I looked at all the boxes and asked Dillon if we should start a cardboard division? He laughed and said don't start but how is camp? I replied, hot, sweaty and tiring. I was watching Bruce, the furniture salesman, and I took a step in his direction and Riley said boss, I got this just relax. She went over, had a brief conversation with Bruce and he shook his head and went to the construction trailer. When Riley returned I asked, what did you say to him? She smiled and said, I told him to stay out of the way or I would "punch list" him to death. I laughed and said, nice job. I stayed for about two hours and was bored as all there were doing was staging things and damn there were a lot of parts, panel frames, tiles, work surfaces and a truck full of chairs, all needing assembled. I didn't even want to think about the computer equipment that needed installed. This would all take at least two weeks. Thinking I better get out of the way as well, I drove home, having been assured by Zaid that things were being handled.
At home I boiled some eggs and cut up a bunch of vegetables and put it all together with some lettuce and made a giant salad and added two slices of sourdough bread and ate reading the paper. I emptied the pitcher of iced tea and brewed a couple of pitchers more. I grabbed the newspaper and started to read while I ate. I almost choked on my food when I turned to the sports page and saw a big article about Sam and the transfer. I read the article twice and almost fell out of my chair laughing at some of the comments. The best was Sam saying, " after much thought and many prayers, he needed a faith based education". Then there was the smaller class size nonsense. Dr. Johnson was quoted as saying "Sam is a great kid and we wish him well and hope his new school is all he hopes it will be". The article went on to say how much the lack of any depth at QB could possibly be a real problem for our team. I finally had to laugh as it was total bullshit. Two high school principals simply lied to keep the drama on the low. I cared but it wasn't my fight as I wasn't mentioned in the article.
Back at school it was individual meetings by position and that complicated thing a bit for me, JJ, Josh and Adam and a few others as we could play both ways. I found the meetings boring but just smiled and watched the underclassmen who were doing this for the first time, on the varsity level. One real pain was that starting with the scrimmages there would be film review every Sunday afternoon and we should plan on 2 hours. That sucked as it was a 6 day commitment. I was glad that JJ wasn't in the meeting with me as he would be bitching up a storm. After an hour we were asked to go to the auditorium and the media people would be there. The meeting with the media was a lot of information and a ton of questions. We were assured that those not wanting involved would have their privacy respected, the every individual player would be interviewed. Before anything was aired we could review the video either alone or with our parents. Just as things were rapping up they asked for the 5 captains to remain for a few minutes. We were introduced to the director and the reporter and asked if we would stay for about an hour after the morning practice. Dress would be whatever we wanted after we showered. We agreed but I really wanted to check on the install but needed to be out of the way and less hands on.
Once we were free of everyone, we gathered around the cars and chatted. First we discussed dress and decided we would ask coach for our game jerseys. If that didn't happen JJ suggested shirtless and we all laughed as that wasn't an option. It was then agreed that it would be school t-shirts as size too small. Then Josh looked at me and said, MJ you know there will be the Sam question and I would bet everyone would like you to deal with that and there were 4 smiling faces staring at me. I said well if you guys insist but down the road there will be payback. It was now about 8:30 and the 5 of us decided on Eat N Park for a snack and it was good to be together and we laughed and told stories, mostly JJ about Texas. We decided that we would deal with all issues as group and no fewer that three of us dealing with an issue. Josh asked a few questions about college. and I didn't tell him that the coached would be up for the first game as I didn't want him pressure. I thought he was a good strong side defensive end. All I said was once Wyatt gets on the field the opportunities for everybody will explode. Josh and Alex both laughed and Jim remained quiet as he still had not committed anywhere and now he had health issues to deal with, but to be honest I hadn't seen any issues lately. With that we all drove to wherever each of us were going and as for me, I needed to get home and say hello to the rents.
Dad and Megan were out back and Cole was no where to be seen. I grabbed another iced tea and went outside and asked about their day. Megan was wrapping up a case and dad was interviewing sales people, finding no one to his standards. I just shrugged at that and said, well I guess you will just have to sell something. When I asked about Cole I was told on a date and leaving very early for yet another practice round as the Tournament started Thursday. He had a special outfit for the practice round but wasn't sharing. I said, well I'm sure it will be on TV and I bet it deals with fun and respect for the game. I told dad and Megan if he made the weekend I would drive up early Sunday and asked if anyone wanted to come along. Dad shocked the shit out of me when he said he was going up Friday. Then he added, just to be there if he misses the cut. Mike, he doesn't like the course and absolutely hates the first two holes. It could be over on Thursday on the third tee. The subject changed to football and I told them that it was hard and very well organized and reminded them that coach didn't have the camp last year. I said good night as it was another early morning and after practice the captains were being interviewed and then I was going to get in the way of the furniture install. Megan found that funny and I went to my room.
Once in my room I sat on the loveseat and called Mary Ann. We talked for a while about what we were both doing and she had been shopping with Terri. I asked, what she bought me and she laughed and said well not much and laughed. It was a very pleasant conversation as neither of had any expectations. We discussed the weekend and as there was no practice on Saturday and we discussed doing something together but didn't settle on anything specific. Once we hung up I put coffee on the timer, set the alarm, stripped and jumped into bed.
I was up with the alarm, dressed filled my coffee mug and drove to school. Once there I went and knocked on the coach's door and asked if we could have game jerseys for the interview. It would be just captains and we would give them right back. Coach was quiet for a minute and said Mike, they are still in storage but I think that would be a great idea, I'll do my best to make that happen. I said thanks and got up to leave and was asked to hold on. Mike, one of the first questions will be about Sam, I assume you guys know that and have discussed it. I said that's correct, well they all asked me to deal with that question. Coach started to say something and I stopped him saying, I know what you guys did and I don't appreciate that process at all. However, it's not my shit and I will stay out of it. There will be no drama but I feel you guys owe, those of us playing by the rules, something for putting up with and participating in this coverup. Coach, is there anything else? He said, I'll work on the uniforms. While he agreed about the uniforms he was clearly unhappy and definitely in coach v player mode. I simply went to the field and took the frustrations out on the exercises.
We were in full pads and jogging through the plays and there were very few mistakes about plays and I was again bouncing back in forth between running back and linebacker and I was wishing it was just defense. I was remembering how beat up I was last year and didn't need that again. The truth of it was that it's a lot of pressure and less fun. I was hoping once the games started things would change. There was a short break and when we came back it was full speed. My position coaches both called me aside and asked how I was holding up, playing both positions and I simply said fine, but I prefer linebacker. They said that's understood we were just checking. I looked at the two of them and asked, what the fuck do you really want? Coach Kaz said, appropriate language and I replied understood, same question. Well Coach Weston is concerned about the interview after practice. Well, coach and I discussed that earlier and I resent being questioned or reminded. If anyone thinks they can put words in my mouth I'll resign as a captain and we can see how that plays. Think about how that will play in the fucking interview. Coach Kaz said run 4 laps for language. I said gladly and started for the track. I heard a whistle and thought that was for someone else and kept going. Then I heard Coach Weston yell Simmons get your ass back here. I was tempted to keep going but now it was public drama. I went up to coach and just stood there. He looked at me and asked what was that about? Well it seems like your hired guns were questioning my ability to keep my word and I reacted and was told to run laps. So if it's all right with you I would like to get to that. Coach, please understand I'll bite the bullet, this time, and yet not bite hard. He said get back on defense and don't hurt anyone. I said, yes sir and joined the defense.
The live drills were not really live as we all held back. Jim ran a few plays all called by the coach and Jim just followed the plan. I wondered how long that would last and if I was betting it would be next weekend at the scrimmage. Once it was Wyatt's turn I was moved to offense. The first play was a hand off to me and that went smooth. The second play was a pass play and someone missed a block and the pass was batted down and he was pissed. Back in the huddle he looked right at the dude who missed the block and said to everyone, let's do it right this time on, two. This time he went under center took the snap, faked a pass to me and lofted a high arching pass that JJ ran under and could have run forever. We all looked at each other and ran the next play. On the way to the locker room Wyatt came up to me and said it was good to have you in the backfield with me. I laughed and said dude it didn't appear that you needed much help. Great job in the huddle with the missed assignment. He smiled and went to join a buddy.
When I got to the locker the 5 of us had game jerseys and my #24 was on my seat. For the first time we moved ahead of the line for showers. Which resulted in good natured boos and it appeared to be a very loose locker room. I looked at JJ and he was all smiles as his long time #21 was on his seat. Josh found the coach and we were asked to go to the gym and they were waiting for us. I thanked him for the Jerseys and he smiled and said well isn't it "one for all and all for one." Getting the message I replied, yes it is.
In the gym we said hello to the people we met the night before and I laughed as we were assigned seats. We looked at each other and sat where we wanted and the entire staff laughed and someone said damn this might be a fun group. We were told that this will take longer and they wanted 30 minutes of useable information and to please watch our more colorful language. We were asked our names and how we wanted to be addressed and JJ immediately responded I am James Messer, aka JJ. Then he pointed to me and said no matter what he says he is MJ. I said MJ is is fine and I am Mike Simmons, Josh McNiff said I am Josh and Adam Rusnic said I'm Adam. It was the same for Jim as he was simply Jim. We each had a wireless microphone attached to our shirts and we were almost blinded by the lights and just sat there. The lights were adjusted so that we could see and the first question was so how did you 5 get here and Adam replied well Jim, MJ and I were selected buy the coach and JJ and Josh were elected by the team. JJ, that must have been quite an honor as this is you first year having moved from Houston. Well it is and I make friends easily and have been tossing the ball around with a bunch of guys. Along those lines how different do you find football here in Western PA? JJ said, well I'm not sure as I haven't played a game here but the social aspect of things is very different here as elite players here don't walk on water and have the same restrictions. Well they are still treated differently here and get away with stuff but not like where I was from. We were all asked about the classes we took and how much presser there was for us to repeat and what we thought of our local and National rankings. We all took turns answering questions and the general feeling was ranking never mattered, what mattered was who won the last game. Media pressure was already intense and our first scrimmage was moved to the stadium next Friday and there would be spectators.
We had been at this for about 45 minutes and they finally got to Sam. The reporter said, you guys have a team motto "All for one and one for all". With that in place how did the Sophomore quarterback get away and transfer. Knowing it was my turn, I replied well that is a two way proposition and one was missing. So MJ what part was missing? I said well, I believe when you ask, and I know you will ask a lot of people, everyone will say the second part and I agree with that. Well how does that effect the team? I replied, I'm not actually sure as he had not played a varsity down and during informal workouts there was some difficulty with reads. MJ, you guys obviously knew we would ask about that and your buddies obviously chose you to deal with it so I'll just ask you, how does someone transfer to another school and immediately play football? Well that is way above my pay grade and I have only a limited understanding of that process. Naturally it all starts with a transfer and the two school principals decide if the transfer is because of athletics. Sam and his parents must have presented an impressive case to Dr. Johnson for Sam and his need for smaller classes and a faith based education. MJ are there large classes in you school? I replied, I have no idea as everyone sitting here is in the top academic classes and we have every AP class covered multiple times. Sam would have been a sophomore and I have no idea what classes he was in or how good a student he is. I hope he enjoys the smaller classes and that his faith grows and develops as he physically and mentally matures. The reporter actually laughed and asked, do you really believe all that? I took a deep breath and said said, every one here knows I have a lot going on and what I want is to win 2 gold metals and a giant Hershey chocolate bar, graduate and move on to VT. I don't have time to worry about people who aren't here. Then I said this is an isolated case. A transfer to or from our school is unusual. With the exception of JJ, I have played with these dudes since 5th grade. I met the freshman QB the other day as his dad took a job with Highmark. The first time I set eyes on JJ was when he climbed out of an F-15 his dad was flying. There are schools in this state, schools we will most likely play at some point. One school will play with players from 5 states. I smiled and said, I better leave it at that. The others were asked if they had anything to add and Josh said well we have a backup at QB a freshman the same age as Sam with more experience and we will be fine, even if we need him. Thankfully that ended the session.
As we walked back to return the jerseys I said, I'm starving how about burgers and a beer at my place? JJ laughed and said THANK GOD, IM BACK IN TEXAS. When the guys stopped laughing I said dude, I said beer not beers. Yup, I was blowing off another afternoon.
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