Junior Year Box Set

“Tonight is the first step towards repeating as State Champs. Everyone will be gunning for us, so we have to be even more prepared. I’m proud of the effort you’ve all put in. While we aren’t perfect, and we have a long way to go, I think we’re ready for Washington. Now enjoy your dinner, and when we’re done, we have something we want to show you,” Coach concluded.

I had an empty seat next to me and saw Alan come into the tent and look around. I waved to him, and he sat next to me. We didn’t speak through dinner, and I know how hard it is for Alan not to talk, but it was a start for us to rebuild our friendship. When dinner was over, Tracy got up, and everyone turned to the enormous TV she stood next to.

“Monday night the Washington Booster Club had a fundraiser where Coach Crouch talked. What I’m about to show you are excerpts from his speech. For interested parties, we have thumb drives with the whole, unedited version,” Tracy said, as Pam handed out thumb drives to Jeff and then everyone sitting at our school officials’ table.

Tracy hit the play button, and the TV screen showed Coach Crouch step up to the podium to the applause of the Washington Boosters. He seemed very relaxed, and I wondered if he’d been drinking.

“Didn’t the Boosters do a great job tonight?” he said to more applause. “We’re going to have a great year this year, due to the help you all have provided. Instead of having to rebuild, you’ve gone out and helped us be even better than we should have been last year.”

Washington had six kids transfer to their school district who were now starters on their roster. While Coach Crouch had not come out and said it, the implication was that their booster club had arranged for them to go to Washington. The tape jumped ahead to what appeared to be a question-and-answer session.

“How badly will the loss of Ty Wilson hurt us?” someone off screen asked.

“We won’t miss him at all. Ty was only good because of our system of football. At Lincoln, he’ll just be average, at best. I’d be surprised if he even gets much credit for what he does because of that glory-hound they have as a quarterback. Ty made a big mistake by not staying put. With my coaching, I could have helped him get a scholarship. I even had it worked out where he’d be All-Conference as a junior. My brother-in-law runs that, you know. We laugh about the votes that come in from the schools and coaches, and he just throws them away. All-Conference should only be seniors since they deserve it.

“Speaking of Lincoln High, we play them this Friday. I want to see a large contingent come out and watch us pound them. We plan on hitting their Mister Everything each and every play, regardless of whether he has the ball or not. I guarantee he’ll not play another down of football after we get done with him. We’re going to go into their house and embarrass them in front of their fans. The best part is the game is televised. Everyone will see that Washington is the best team in the state. I almost wish I could suit up,” Coach Crouch stated.

I certainly wished he would. Coach Hope got up to a stunned room.

“Officials for the High School State Association are in the back of the room. They have assured me that the officials tonight will protect our players from illegal hits. If it does happen, let the coaching staff handle it. Did you hear that, Mr. Dawson?” Coach Hope said, which caused everyone to laugh.

“I’ll just send Cassidy after them,” I shot back.

“I think that’s an even worse idea. Now go get ready for the game,” Coach ordered, and we all went to the locker room to get dressed.

◊◊◊

The locker room was quiet, but I wasn’t worried about the guys being nervous. They all seemed to be focused. While we were in the locker room, the offensive line came up to me; Jim was their spokesman.

“We have your back. If they take a cheap shot, we’ll take care of them.”

“I don’t plan to let them. I’d rather deliver the blow than get clocked. If one of them gets free, just yell,” I said with a smile before finishing, “You guys are great, but you’re not perfect, so it’s gonna happen.”

I found Ty and smiled at him.

“Welcome to Lincoln football. You ready to prove that ass-clown wrong?” I asked.

He broke up laughing.

“You dumbass! I was getting my mad on, and then you have to make me laugh. Let’s do this,” he said, and the two of us walked out to warm up.

If I thought we had a crowd for our team scrimmage, this was unreal. If this continued, we would need to get more bleachers brought in. The stands were full, and there was standing-room only along the edges of the field. An area had been blocked off for press and recruiters. I saw gear for every team in the Big Ten and several other schools we had contacted, including Notre Dame, Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, and Oregon.