we fled out to the stadium. A line formed and we jogged the stairs. Of course, after twenty-five we were all tired.
“This proves my point. You guys didn’t train hard enough this week. But that’s okay because we’re going to be ready for USC. Those Trojans are going to be ready for a war and we’re going to give them one. Strap on your swords, bees, and let’s lead ’em on to the hive,” he said as our team got fired up.
Two days later, we were on a plane heading down to Miami. I had always heard that the bowl games were something special, but to be in the biggest bowl was something special all in itself. And to play in it as a freshman, I truly was psyched.
As soon as we got there, the hotel’s upscale lobby was swarming with press like we were celebrities or something.
Lenard came up to me with one of the other defensive guys and said, “Alright, bonding time.”
“Just because we have the night off doesn’t mean we need to go out on the town,” I said, reminding them of the coach’s philosophy. Just because an opportunity presents itself doesn’t mean you have to seize it.
Lenard grabbed me by my collar and said, “Quit being a wimp. You’re supposed to enjoy this time. You may have an opportunity to come back out here, but as seniors this is our last shot. We are up in the house and Miami here we come. You coming with us?”
“Yeah, I’m coming to keep y’all out of trouble,” I said reluctantly. He was right—we wouldn’t be here together like this again.
Unfortunately, the spot we chose was a bar full of Trojan fans. It wouldn’t have been that big a deal, but Lenard was sporting his Jackets jersey. The crazy looks we got were eerie.
As soon as we ordered from the bar, a drunk bald guy yelled out, “The sorry Yellow Jackets are in the house.”
I said, “Let’s just go, guys.”
“Nah-unh. I’m not about to leave without my drink,” Lenard said.
I didn’t have a good feeling, but what could I do? We sat down at a table, and tried to mind our own business and wait for the waitress to come and take our food orders. Then the same drunk fool came up to us with a few of his buddies and started a brawl.
He said, “I know you guys don’t think you’re going to win.”
“Alright, man. Whatever. Nobody is mad that you’re a Trojans fan. Just get out of our face and we’re cool.” Lenard said, and held up his hand in a peace sign.
Unfortunately, the guy didn’t go away. “I know your new little freshman quarterback thinks he did good in the ACC Championship game, but we’re gonna smash his head in. Who does he think he is? He’s so stupid that he got himself ejected for betting on the games. Well, you better get ready to lose because your tired defense ain’t much better. Shucks, you all shouldn’t have even been playing in this game.”
“Okay, I’ve had enough of him, y’all.” Markus stood up and pushed the guy into a corner.
It was on then, with everyone fighting from one end of the bar to the other. At first I watched, but if I was anything, I was loyal. There were only a few of us, so my punches had to count. In no time, I heard sirens and folks started scattering.
I grabbed Lenard off of a man, then yanked on Markus. I shouted, “We’ve got to get out of here now!”
But before we could get away, the police herded us into a corner with the rest of the customers. I couldn’t believe the mess we were in. It didn’t take law enforcement long to figure out who we were and haul us away. It seemed like an even shorter time passed before an angry Coach Red showed up at the precinct.
“Lenard! Perry! What is up with this? You’ve already been suspended for fighting.”
Lenard rushed to answer. “Folks started coming at us with bottles and stuff. What are we supposed to do?”
Coach snarled, “You shouldn’t have been out there in the first place.”
At the same time I was thinking, Yeah, that’s what I told them. But at that moment, what could I have done? I wasn’t strong enough to lead them to do the right thing. So I gave in to the pressure and let them lead me into doing something that was wrong. We had cuts on our faces, and Lenard was holding his ribs. We had a National Championship game to play and some of the key players were banged up over this foolishness.
Coach lectured us all the way back to the hotel. I heard him, but he couldn’t have made me feel more like a loser.
“It ain’t like he’s gonna bench us,” Markus said as he leaned over and clutched his stomach.
“You know what?” Coach said. “I heard that. All three of you guys are going to sit out the first quarter of this game.”
“You want to make that stupid move, Coach, then do what you got to do,” Lenard yelled back. What was he thinking?
Coach replied, “Since you’re so big and bad, when you get a chance to play, make up the difference. Fight on the field!”
Lenard lowered his voice a few decibels and said, “But you’re tying our hands, Coach, by keeping us out one quarter.”
Coach Red said, “What’s fair is fair. Yes, I want to win a National Championship, but more than that, I want to make you guys winners in life. Actions come with consequences.” Now you’ll never forget how much your stupid actions cost your team and your fans.
Back at the hotel, Saxon said, “Coach can kiss off.” Word of our punishment had got through to the team.
My roommate and our new quarterback, Lance Shadrach, chimed in, “Yeah, if you’re not playing, I’m not playing either.”
Since Mario, our former starting quarterback, got caught up in a scandal, Lance was ready for the job. He showed out at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game and we won. Though the media was saying we wouldn’t have a chance against the Trojans, Lance had the heart of a warrior. I called him a brother in white skin and I knew he was going to show up and do his part on game night. But he and Saxon were talking foolishness. Before I could set them straight, Deuce, our other roommate and running back for the team, echoed Lance’s sentiments.
“If the quarterback and tailback don’t play, or at least threaten not to, Coach Red will change his dumb tactics. What’s he going to do without all of us?”
The three of them went on and on about how they were going to convince the other players to boycott. I was just so thankful that I didn’t get arrested like the rest of the club members, for inciting a riot at the Miami bar, that sitting out one quarter of the football game was really no big deal. Even though it was the biggest football game played in college sports.
Deuce came over to me and rested his hand on my shoulder and said, “Look, if it wasn’t for you taking time out to help me study, I wouldn’t get through school. Seriously, if you hadn’t stepped up and made me get all of that calculus, I’d be sitting out the whole game. I know Lenard and Markus, man. They convinced you to go somewhere you didn’t want to go. All that football hazing is a bunch of crap. For real you shouldn’t be punished for what coach practically signed off on. He told us to follow the upper classmen when the
