Junior Year Box Set

Chapter 11 – The Worst Day Since Yesterday

Chapter 12 – Searching for Something More

Chapter 13 – I Wish I’d Never Done That

Chapter 14 – Know This, We’ve Noticed

Chapter 15 – We Bounced All Over

Chapter 16 – Alpha Male Unleashed

Chapter 17 – Learning to Skydive

Chapter 18 – Some Roads Lead Nowhere

Chapter 19 – Somewhere Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace

Chapter 20 – The Covered Bridge

Chapter 21 – Beloved Cubbies

Chapter 22 – Our Fearless Leader is Worthless

Chapter 23 – Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly!

Chapter 24 – A Party You Don’t Want to Miss

Chapter 25 – Don’t You Want to Share the Guilt?

Chapter 26 – I’ll Do Whatever She Wants

Chapter 27 – Add This to the List of Firsts

Chapter 28 – You’ll Never Look at Me the Same

Chapter 29 – The Trick is to Keep Breathing

Chapter 30 – How’s Your First Scandal Going?

Chapter 31 – No Practice, No Play

Chapter 32 – Hell Hath No Fury

Chapter 33 – I Got the F-ing T-Shirt

Interlude Bo Harrington

I’ve only known David for a relatively short time. I was between jobs when Joe Phips, University of Florida’s receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, called me about a prospect he’d met over the weekend. When he told me the kid was a high school freshman, I said there was no way in hell I’d waste my time and energy on some rich kid whose parents thought he was special.

Joe told me to call Don Berta, University of Kentucky’s recruiting coordinator, because they’d offered the kid. I have to be honest, I almost didn’t make the call. Joe also sent me film. If I hadn’t just wrapped up working for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, helping one of their backup quarterbacks fix a problem with his throwing motion, I would never have made the call.

When I called Don, he had quite a story. This raw kid, who’d just started his first varsity game, walked into a recruiting visit where the top quarterback prospect in Kentucky was attending. David had outthrown him. He also said this kid was a leader that other players instantly liked. He’d been instrumental in getting the majority of the recruits to accept offers to Kentucky’s nationally ranked recruiting class.

That comment was enough to get me to watch the videos Don had sent over. It showed both his workout at Kentucky and the game films of his high school games. Even when he played fullback, it was obvious this kid had talent.

The reason for the calls, and what jumped out on film, was that David was playing in an offense that was terribly unsuited for his skill set. I was directed to call a local businesswoman, Mrs. Sullivan, who would eventually help form the Lincoln High Booster Club. I did so and quoted her my fees. She said that she didn’t believe David’s parents were in a position to pay that much, but she would see what could be done. I then called Coach Lambert to make sure I wouldn’t be stepping on any toes. I had him call Coach Matt Styles, the head coach for Kentucky, because I’d assisted them during spring practice. Coach Lambert was on board after that and called Mrs. Sullivan to put his stamp of approval on my helping. Later that day they agreed to have me come work with David.

I’d told Mrs. Sullivan that I would come in for a week and see if I could help. I didn’t want to waste my time or her money if David wasn’t someone I wanted to work with. I also told her that if I stayed, I might have to leave for another job—which is what ended up happening.

I’ve worked with a lot of quarterbacks at all levels, mostly college and pro levels. I can think of only a handful that work as hard as David does. When I first met him, he checked off all the physical attributes you want in a quarterback: he was tall enough to see over the offensive line, was in great shape, and was so raw he hadn’t learned any bad habits yet. He passed the ‘eye test.’

Much more significant, from my perspective, when it came to learning from me, David soaked up knowledge like a sponge.