“It just seems like this is too soon,” I complained.
“Like I said, you need to man-up. Tell me, how many freshmen are starting on a team with this level of talent?”
I thought for a moment. Luke had pulled it off three years ago. Mike and Kevin hadn’t started to play varsity ball until their junior year.
“I’d guess not many.”
“You’d be correct. The only other one I can think of is the freshman back over at Washington. He’s starting, but not putting up near the numbers you are. By the time he’s a senior, he’ll be a beast. The problem with him right now is he doesn’t make everyone around him better. You do. Luke’s numbers have almost doubled since you started. The whole offense is better. Hell, since you went all superhero in your first game, the whole team is better. You have the potential to be special. I wish you could see what I see. You know I love Tracy. For her to be going out with a good guy, he has to be good looking. You have the looks to be the poster boy for a program, and if you don’t think that plays into it, you’re nuts. Big-time football is all about marketing and selling tickets,” Tom told me.
“Okay, I’m not sure how to take that last part.”
“Look, tomorrow is just a look. Nothing is written in stone. Hell, by the time you graduate, Florida will probably have a new coaching staff. So get your head out of your ass and have some fun with it. If you have to, just play the role of a big-time recruit; then own it. You have nothing to worry about.”
I felt myself relaxing. Tom was right. I needed to look at this as an opportunity and just get over my fears of inadequacy. It was time to either put up or shut up. If I failed, I would just dust myself off and move on, one day at a time, right?
WHEN I WAS SETTLED in at the hotel, I pulled my tablet out and sent a text to Tami to jump on the video-chat. I could see she was in her living room as she kicked back and watched a movie with her mom.
“Hey, Gorgeous, you all packed for Wesleyan?”
“Almost. I was stressing about getting everything perfect, but Mom reminded me that all I need to do is call you and you can just run it over.”
“Really? And how long a drive is it?”
“Just a couple of hours, it’s no big deal for my best friend to drive over to come see me.”
“If you need me to come see you, all you have to do is ask. I’ll drop everything. You just say the word. Only problem is I don’t have a driver’s license.”
“There is that. The move is so much easier knowing you’re in my corner.”
“I have some news,” I offered.
“Spill it.”
“I’m working out for the University of Florida tomorrow. If the workout goes well, they’ll start recruiting me.”
“Bullshit.”
She could read me, so she could tell that I told her the truth.
“I swear, David, you just fall into it, don’t you?” she asked.
“Yeah, I was thinking I should go play the lotto. I need some cash.”
“So tell me, how did all this happen?”
“Actually, it’s all through Tom Dole. His boss is a booster. He called their recruiting coordinator and arranged an informal tryout. I about had a cow when he told me on the flight here, but he calmed me down. I just figure I’ll go with it and have some fun. He told me to pretend I was some big-time recruit and to own the place. It actually sounds like fun.”
“That’s great advice. I know you. You worry about stuff like this and overanalyze it to death. When it comes time, you’re a different person. You just exude confidence. Do me a favor: don’t get caught up in the surroundings. I want you to focus on the task at hand and do your absolute best.”
“I hear you. I do tend to get distracted. I’ll treat it like a game and just get into the zone.”
“What time are you getting back Sunday?”
“Probably late afternoon. What time are you going off to school?”
“Mom’s going to take me and spend the night. I can’t move into the dorm until Monday. She wants to leave around five at the latest, but I can get her to wait. I really want to see you before I leave.”
“I’m hoping we’ll be back before three. Tracy’s picking me up. Is it okay if she comes along?”
“Of course, ‘stupid boy,’” Tami answered.
“You had to get one last ‘stupid boy’ in. I’m going to get even when I see you.”
She stuck her tongue out at me. We chatted about a few other things and then decided we better log off. I was keeping Tom up.
Saturday September 28
I WAS UP AT SIX SO I could go run. The hotel was on the edge of campus. I talked to the desk clerk to get an idea of the layout so I could plan my route. It was going to be a beautiful Indian-summer day. The Kentucky campus was impressive. I really enjoyed my three-mile run. After I got back and stretched, it was almost seven. I decided against swimming today and headed up to the room. Tom was just getting out of the shower when I came in.
“Did you go run?”
“Yeah, I kept it light and ran three this morning.”
He just looked at me as if I had two heads. I jumped into the shower and was ready to leave before Tom got dressed. He didn’t seem like a morning person.
There was a restaurant attached to the hotel. When we were seated, Tom filled me in on the details for the day.
“Joe has made arrangements with the Kentucky staff to provide you with some gear for today. Kentucky has a couple of quarterback prospects coming in for their campus visit today. They’re letting you do some drills with them. It’ll give Joe a chance to do a quick evaluation. Then the rest of the day is ours to enjoy.”
Our server interrupted our conversation. She was obviously a coed who’d had a little too much to drink the night before. She was cute, so I naturally went into flirt mode.
“What can I get you boys to drink?” She was focused on Tom.
“Coffee.”
She turned to me and did a double take. She actually smiled.
“You have too much to drink last night?” I asked.
“Sugar, you have no idea. Are you in town for the game?”
“Yes, and I’m doing a private workout. They’re trying to decide if they want to recruit me or not.”
“Let me guess—you’re a quarterback,” she said as she rolled her eyes, since she obviously had heard that line before.
“You must get hit on a lot to be so jaded.”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Stand up,” she ordered.
I arched my eyebrows and smiled as I slid out of our booth. When I got up, I pulled my shirt up so she could see my six-pack. I sat back down and she seemed a whole lot more interested.
“Oh, my, you’re a sexy one, aren’t you? My only concern is you might be too young, and I’d go to jail for what I’d like to do to you.”
Tom cleared his throat to slow us down.
“I think your dad wants to eat breakfast.”
“Not my dad, but he’s right. I need to eat something before I go work out.”
“Oh, I think I like you. What are you having?”
“I want two large milks; an orange juice; two sausage, egg and cheese omelets with wheat toast and home fries,” I ordered.
Tom looked shocked. I just shrugged.
“They’re trying to bulk me up.”
Tom ordered and we settled in for breakfast. As we were leaving, she gave me her phone number and told me she was off at one. Tom just shook his head as we headed over to the athletic center. The Kentucky staff was very gracious. They set me up with everything I needed for the workout. They pointed me to one of their practice fields, and Tom and I got there early. I was glad because it gave me time to stretch out and run to get warmed up.
Tom and I were goofing off when I saw a blur run past me.
“Hit me long.”
Without thinking, I dropped back and threw a forty-yard bomb that hit the receiver in stride.
“Man, you’re fast! I wish I had someone like you to throw to,” I said as he came up and I shook his hand. “David Dawson.”