Gladiators of the Gridiron

Luke stuck with me as I continued warming up, when there was about 15 minutes until the actual starting time for the practice, Rabbit showed up as well as the rest of the coaches.

Luke told Rabbit to get loose and warmed up before practice started. Coach Norman came over to say hello to us three, mentioning how good it was to see such eager and determined Freshmen.

'But, I did want to ask you boys, I know you both tried out at defensive positions, but if you wanted to try out for the offence as well, this first practice is your chance,' Coach Norman informed us.

'Oh, w-well thank you sir but um… I think I just want to focus on doing my best as a Cornerback for now,' Rabbit said.

'Yeah, thanks but no thanks. I'm only going to play as a Cornerback. I won't play a single snap in any other position,' I said.

'Ah? But… I was planning on starting you as our key Safety,' Luke said.

'No way. I like you, Coach Hoang, but Safety is just for DBs who can't play man coverage.'

His expression soured as he narrowed his eyes at me.

'Haha. Sounds like young Tyrese wants to spend most of the first practice running. Well, if you boys change your minds, don't be afraid to let me know,' Coach Norman laughed before moving away.

'Look, I know you're passionate about being a Cornerback, but I really think your skills and talents would be perfect as our Free Safety (FS). With your speed, instinct, and intuition, you'd be able to shut down and impact the whole field rather than just one player,' Luke said.

'This isn't a negotiation. I won't be a Safety. I'm playing my whole career as a Cornerback, and I'm going to show that this sport can still be dominated by a Corner.'

He frowned as he listened to me. Rabbit awkwardly stared at the grass as he continued his stretching.

'Very well… of course, I can't make you change positions. All I can do is use my expertise and wisdom to inform you of the best way to enhance and further your career going into the future,' Luke said.

I rolled my eyes. 'I'll take that on board.'

'Hmm… I need to make sure everything's set up. Good talk today, Samuels,' Luke said before wheeling away.

It was quiet for some time before Rabbit stood up and said, 'Um… uh, I think I'm gonna go do a lap.'

And off he went.

It wasn't much longer before the rest of the team showed up, and by 11 AM, everyone was ready to get things underway.

Before things started, the varsity and JV teams were officially announced, and then it was also explained that though they were separate squads, we’d still all be training together.

Of course, the whole team had to warm up together, but while we were going through our group stretches, Bella began to make her way around to each player, stopping by each of them and marking something down on a clipboard.

When she got to me I looked up at her. Her green eyes scanned me, judging me before she said, ‘Name?’

'Tyrese Samuels,’ I responded.

She looked over the clipboard and then nodded, pen at the ready. 'What's your number?'

'What?'

'Your jersey number. What do you want?' she clarified.

'Ohh. Uh, twenty-one.'

She looked down at the clipboard for a brief moment. 'Someone already has that number.'

'I'm playing as number twenty-one, that's my number,' I said, my eyes narrowing.

She looked up from the clipboard, icy eyes analysing me again. 'Calm down, Samuels. I was just messing with you… you're pretty full of yourself to think you can demand whatever number you want.'

She marked it down and moved over to the next player, some of the others around me snickered quietly as I glared at her.

'Don't worry about Coach Short. She gives all the newbies a hard time at first,' another player said.

'Coach Short?' I looked at him. He was bigger and older than me, a well-built Senior with a crew cut and bleached tips. His loose singlet showcased a tattoo of an angel across the golden skin of his chest.

'Ah, yeah, it's a nickname for her. She's Coach Long's daughter, so she's like a smaller version. Long becomes Short, you feel me? Plus, she's an assistant coach too,' he explained.

My eyes turned back to Bella again. 'I see.'

‘Hey, I’m JJ by the way.’ He reached a hand out to me and dapped me up.

‘Ty. CB, you?’

‘Middle-Linebacker. Always good to have fresh blood join the team, congrats on making varsity straight away. Not many rookies get to do that.’

‘I don’t need congratulations for it. It was inevitable.’

He laughed and shook his head. ‘You funny, rook. Let’s see how well you can keep up through the year.’

Practice fully got underway soon after and time began to fly by, though as I looked around at the others, I noticed that it didn’t take long for the big Lineman to be dripping with sweat, chests heaving as they struggled through the drills.

I was relishing in the warmth of the midday sun, only feeling that the breaks were too long as I waited in line for the drill ahead.

We had to run sideways through an agility ladder, both feet having to touch down in one box before moving onto the next and halfway through we’d have to catch a pass without breaking stride.

It was almost my turn to run through it again, but the two players in front of me were too busy talking amongst each other to start either of their runs.

‘Hey, can’t you keep it moving? I ain’t got all day to listen to you bitches chatting,’ I said.

They both turned to look at me, but even Luke got on their case about taking too long, so the player furthest ahead had to run through the drill before he could say anything back to me.

‘You better shut your mouth, boy, ‘fore I shut it for you. Who you supposed to be anyway?’

He was only just taller than me, a little skinnier though. His jaw was covered in a faint stubble, and his hair was styled in short, thin twists.

‘The best player on the team,’ I told him.

He laughed in my face; my eyes narrowed. ‘Ight, you’re just talking bullshit. I see how it is. You know what, you don’t know what you’re saying so imma ignore that disrespect earlier.’

He turned away and ran through the ladder drill, though he ended up dropping the ball thrown at him.

I rushed through after him, catching the pass easily and tossing it back. I jogged over to his side as he was returning to the back of the line.

‘Nice catch, bitch,’ I said, grinning from ear to ear.

He stopped and turned to get in my face. ‘You really talking all that shit for someone who hasn’t played a single snap in an actual game. Shit, I bet you won’t even see a snap this year.’

‘Why? Cause an old man like you is gonna keep me off the field?’ I raised my hand up between us, closely showing him my middle finger.

‘There’s more talent and skill in this finger of mine, than you’ve ever had in your life, man. You should worry about trying to get an offer from some fucking shitty ass D3 college, and just let me do my thing and carry you to the first bit of success you’ve ever had in your life.’

He shoved me away and I swear he was about to take a swing at me before Coach Hoang’s voice thundered through the air.

‘Samuels! Banks! That’s enough! Sideline, now! Before I send you immature brats home.’

JJ got between us pretty quickly too, I didn’t even think he had been that close to us when the fight broke out. He focused on Banks, trying to calm his fellow Senior down as he ushered him away.

‘Fuck man,’ I muttered and turned away, making my way to the opposite sideline and getting a drink as I sat down.

I sat in silence, feeling like a little kid sent to timeout as I watched the practice continue.

‘You’re not that good, you know?’ I almost jumped in surprise from hearing a voice right next to me, not even noticing that someone else was there.

I looked over and saw a kid sitting next to me, sharp, astute eyes staring up at me behind thin glasses, unblinking and having an uncanny, fake look about them. He looked like he was only ten, and he wore a backpack with a miniature 49ers helmet dangling from it.

In his hands was a thick notepad opened up, a pencil laying against it. A quick glance at the pad and I saw a list of descriptive features to identify different players and notes on them underneath.

I snatched the notepad from him. ‘What do we have here? A spy from other teams? What are you doing out here, brat?’

‘Hey! Give it back you, ass!’ I easily held it out of his desperate reach. ‘I’m not spying! I’m just a scout, dammit! I’m creating a portfolio on all the players,’ he said.

‘Does the coach know you’re doing this kinda thing?’

‘... No.’ He stopped trying to snatch it back. ‘I was gonna show them after I was done.’

I flicked through it till I found a description fitting myself. ‘Let’s see here… shark face huh? Shitty fucking brat.’ I sighed as my eyes scanned the page.

‘Good fundamentals. Mhmm. Well-rounded. Animal instinct… sluggish first step? Difficult to manage? Goes against the system?! What the fuck does a brat like you know?’

‘Hmph. I wasn’t finished with yours. If you let me have it back I still need to put down anger issues.’

I threw the notepad back into his lap. ‘Like I said, you don’t know shit.’

‘See! Anger issues. Acting like such a diva, like you’re some superstar … Your team chemistry is way too low, and it’s so undeserved, because you act like you’re a nighty-nine overall when honestly, you’re closer to a seventy-five.’

‘This isn’t fucking Madden,’ I said.

‘No. You’d be a zero if it was Madden. I was comparing you to other high schoolers.’

I glared at him, holding my tongue.

‘Even if you’re the star player of this team, congrats on being king of the trash heap. You won’t win shit if you don’t fix your issues. Fast.’

‘Tch. Keep watching from the sidelines, brat. I bet you’re not even on your middle school team. I doubt even your pee wee team wanted you.’

His hands tightened their grip on his notepad and pencil, but he didn’t say anything as I stood up and walked away.

Bella came over to meet me at the sideline as I walked away from the bleachers.

‘Cooled down enough to join us again, Samuels?’ she asked.

I nodded.

‘Good. Now, if you pull another stunt like that, your ass is going home early.’

‘I’ll be on my best behaviour, ma’am.’ I said with the most artificial sweetness I could muster.

‘Who are you calling ma’am?! We’re the same age! G-Go do some sprints!’

***

When all the drills were done for the day, we moved to the weight room to finish off our practice. Apparently, my overall physical strength was “lacking”, even for my size. At least according to Bella.

After our weights session, Coach Long called us all together for one last announcement.

‘Good work on your first practice today, boys. It was a good effort across the board, now we need to keep it up, we’ve only got a month till the start of the season, and we need you all in fighting shape before then.’

Bella and Coach Norman started walking around and handing out large binders to each of the exhausted players.

‘On that topic, here’s the playbook for this season. Study it thoroughly. It’s got all the important information for each and every one of you highlighted. I need you all to have it mesmerised before the first game.’

I took my copy and gave it a quick skim, frowning a little.

‘Alright, I won’t hold you up any further. Great work today, go home and rest up, you all deserve it.’

I looked around, the rest of the players were eager to head out and get home. I stayed right where I was, and I noticed Rabbit did too, his wide eyes staring at me as if he was watching to see what I did so he could follow suit.

I needed to work harder. I could still push myself more.

Seventy-five overall… that’s bullshit. I won’t stand for it! I’ll prove it to everyone. It’ll be an undisputable fact, that I am the best in the world.