Campus Quarterback Heat

1 - Ethan

Ethan

I let out a deep sigh as my gym bag dropped to the ground and my eyes roamed over the poor excuse of a team they’d put together. This couldn’t be it.

It couldn’t be the reason I left a prestigious college so I could have a chance to play. These guys didn’t look like they could tell the difference between a football and a golf ball.

But this was where I was, and I had to go with it. This was my choice. I wanted to play football, not spend my entire college career on the bench. Which was exactly what would’ve happened if I’d stayed.

So, I’d have to suck it up and make the best out of the situation, if there was such a thing in this team.

I sank down on the bench in the locker room and took a deep breath.

The smell of sweat and rubber assaulted my nostrils.

Something I had gotten used to over the years. But at that exact moment it annoyed me.

“Hi everyone, I’m Oscar Harris, but you can call me Ozzy,” the coach said once I’d joined the huddle. “As many of you know, I’m not actually a football coach. I’m more experienced in basketball, but they needed someone to lead the team, so here we are.”

I cringed internally. They didn’t even put in the effort to get a real coach. And yet they expected us to actually make something out of this newly formed team. How were we supposed to do that?

“Why don’t we take a moment to get to know each other?” Coach Harris continued. “Why don’t we start with the dashing young man who decided to show up late?”

I cursed my watch for being so unreliable. “Hi, I’m Ethan Rose. I’m a quarterback who just transferred in from Stamford.”

“Do you have some experience in the game?” Coach Harris asked.

“My family’s completely obsessed with football so it’s something I grew up with,” I said, wishing I could vanish. “And I was part of the team at Stamford. We were a second division team working toward promotion.”

“Well,” the couch said with a smile. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a pro.”

The guys cheered, but I felt like a fool. I wouldn’t exactly call myself a pro, especially not in a situation like this one. I’d barely played in one full game. The guys at my old school were so much better. That’s why I’d ended up watching them play instead.

“Can I go next?” The guy was too excited for his own good.

“Sure,” Coach Harris said, stifling a smile.

“I’m Lucas Charmichael,” he said with an exaggerated bow. “And I’m officially your new cheer coach. Go boys go!”

He clapped his hands and spun around, nearly giving himself a concussion. But at least he gave everyone a good laugh.

“Seriously, though… I’m a wide receiver with very little experience and many big dreams. So rest assured, you’re in for a good laugh.”

Coach motioned to the mountain of a man standing next to Lucas, and he shifted uncomfortably before stepping forward.

“I’m Malik Jefferson, linebacker.”

I mean, I never thought I’d be in the competitive league, but this was so much worse than I’d ever thought it could be. And I honestly didn’t know how I felt about that or any of the guys on the team.

It would take a lot of work to get this team up and running, and I didn’t think the coach had it in him. He looked defeated before we’d begun, like the thought of this job would put him in an early grave.

“I’m guaranteed to get you all laid,” someone said, drawing me from my thoughts. “Dylan Feinberg, running back and firm favorite with the chicks at your service.”

My eyes rolled so hard they nearly got stuck. I always hated men who acted like they were God’s gift to women. So I could instantly tell we wouldn’t get along.

“I’m Cameron Ortiz,” the shy-looking guy in the corner mumbled. “I’m just a rookie but have always dreamed of being a kicker.”

“It’s great to meet you all,” the coach said, but before he could continue, I raised my hand.

“Do you have experience playing football?” I asked and instantly regretted it.

Coach Harris shook his head. “I don’t. It’s the one sport I could never get the hang of. But I’m confident that we’ll get this team on its feet. And even though I’m still learning how football works, I’m sure that we’ll make a name for ourselves.”

I felt my hopes crashing down around me and saw my dreams shatter. I was also sure we’d make a name for ourselves, but not in the way he was thinking. We were about to become the biggest joke out of Connecticut in recent history.

But I was an optimist, and I wasn’t going to let my bad vibes drag my team down. Who knew? Maybe the inexperience from our coach was exactly what we needed. It would make our plays unpredictable, and that could work in our favor.

“Are you guys ready to talk strategy?” Coach Harris asked, and the guys eagerly agreed.

We all gathered around the whiteboard and looked at the plan he’d come up with. But none of us understood what he had drawn out.

“I want us to apply pressure immediately. We need to control the tempo and force mistakes.” We shared confused glances but let him continue. “We’re going to run a full-court press. Swing the ball. Don’t stand still. Stretch the floor and then push through the lane.”

None of us said anything because we honestly didn’t know what to say. This was unlike any game plan we had ever seen before. For starters, there was no court.

“I want Ethan to bring up the ball, read the defense and then call for a screen. The wide receivers need to set the picks. And the offensive linemen need to box out. At the snap, you should all move in a circular pattern to confuse our opponents so they don’t know who has the ball.

And if you see daylight, take the shot.”

“But coach,” Cameron said, looking completely confused. “Who’s going to block?”

Coach Harris frowned. “Block what?”

“Let’s just try it and see what happens,” I said, trying to save the coach from total embarrassment.

We headed out, and he clapped his hands like he was starting some kind of drill at the gym.

“Alright, bring it in. We’re running it live so remember spacing, tempo, movement,” he said as we fell into the lineup.

We all stood where we thought we were supposed to be. Our helmets were on and our cleats were set, but nobody looked confident. We were all trying to figure out how we were going to implement this strategy, but none of us actually had a clue.

“Ball at the point!” the coach called out. “Bring it up slowly and let the defense show their hand!”

I glanced at the sideline and took a snap. The receivers instantly started sliding sideways, cutting across the formation like they were trying to shake defenders who didn’t exist.

The tight end planted his feet and leaned into the defender with his arms tucked in like he was setting a pick. But the offensive line hesitated, unsure whether they were supposed to block or box out.

“Move! You’re blocking the lane!” Coach Harris shouted from the sideline.

I took a couple of steps back, unsure of what was going to happen next. My eyes darted from side to side as I waited for something to open, but it didn’t.

Instead, Malik shot through untouched. He hit me square in the chest and drove me into the turf so hard that the ball just popped loose.

I stayed down, unable to catch my breath. The screech of the whistle rang through the air, but it was followed by complete silence. And honestly, I didn’t know if it was just me or if there actually was no sound coming from my team.

Feeling a little better, I pushed myself up, and something quickly caught my attention. A cheerleader flew across my field of vision, back arched, arms locked, auburn hair catching the light. Every move was controlled and exact. Nothing like the mess we’d just made of that misplaced play.

When she landed, she didn’t clap or beam like the others. Intense green eyes scanned the field, and her gaze caught mine with mild curiosity.

My heart skipped a beat, but I reminded myself that I wasn’t here to make friends or get emotionally attached. I was here to play the game and hopefully earn myself a future in the sport.

Women were distractions, and friends often came with consequences. And I wasn’t up for either of those things. So I dragged my eyes away from the girl and pushed to my feet. We had a team to prepare, and I wasn’t going to let us fail.

“Okay, that didn’t go as planned,” Harris said as we gathered in front of the whiteboard. “You can’t let the defender walk straight into the line like that.”

“Coach, that was a blitz,” Malik said.

“Same difference,” Harris said, waving him off. “You didn’t seal the paint. You know what? Let’s just reset and try again. This one doesn’t count since it’s the first time.”

I flexed my fingers, not sure if I was ready for another round of whatever that was.

“That was too slow,” Harris continued. “We’re going to need to pick up the pace. Don’t huddle, let’s catch them before they set their defense.”

We exchanged concerned glances, but none of us said anything or tried to argue his logic.

“We’re going for the same look,” Harris added. “But this time we’re adding a double screen.”

“But coach—”

“Trust it!” Harris snapped, and Malik shut the hell up. “I’ve run this move a thousand times.”

We lined up again. The center snapped the ball, and we leapt into action. Lucas ran toward me, trying to set a screen. Another receiver cut in behind him, crossing the formation. The tight end stepped sideways instead of blocking, and Dylan hesitated, unsure if he should be cutting or protecting.

I barely had time to turn before the defense exploded. The defensive end crashed through the right side while the second linebacker came up the middle.

I panicked as I spun and got hit from both sides. With a helmet to my ribs and shoulder to my back, I slammed into the ground while the ball flew out of my grasp.

I couldn’t take it anymore. These plays weren’t going to work because no one knew what the coach was actually trying to achieve. And keeping quiet obviously wasn’t helping us.

“Coach!” I called as I got back to my feet. “What if we spread them out? We can do a quick pass with one read.”

Harris was quiet for a moment, but then he said, “Fine, let’s go five-out.”

I didn’t correct him. I was just grateful to try something resembling football. We lined up again, and this time I was sure we’d achieve something.

The receivers spread wide while the running back stayed by my side. It was sloppy and uneven, but it gave the line a chance to breathe.

“Quick touch,” Harris called from the sideline. “Catch and shoot!”

I took the snap and this time the offense line actually blocked. The pocket formed for a heartbeat and Malik started the blitz. Dylan collided with him, slowing him down just enough.

I didn’t wait. I planted and fired a shot right past the slot receiver. The ball hit his hands, and he turned upfield. The tackle was almost immediate, but the play worked.

“There it is!” Harris shouted, his excitement evident in the way he was cheering.

“Yeah, man! That was the most epic play we had all day,” Dylan said, giving me a pat on the back.

“This calls for a celebration!” Lucas chimed.

“So what will it be? A beer party at my place?” Malik offered.

“Sorry guys, but I have an assignment coming up so I won’t be able to go out with you,” I mumbled.

Even though I’d had a lot of fun, I needed to remember what my priorities were. And they did not include getting drunk or becoming friends with these guys.

The guys seemed a little disappointed, but they didn’t let it drag them down, so I headed to the locker room. I needed a long, hot shower if I planned on being on the field again the next day.

But as I was walking, my gaze fell on the beautiful cheerleader again. She was sitting on the bleachers with a few of her friends. They were laughing, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it had something to do with the skills we’d put on display.

The thought alone was enough to make my stomach churn. I had countless football dreams in my life, but I never imagined I’d be in a situation like this one. And of course there had to be a gorgeous girl to witness it all.

I gave her one last glance, and for a moment our eyes met. She gave me one of those warm smiles and waved. My heart did a somersault in my chest and I was pretty sure I went pale as a sheet.

I felt like such an idiot, so I just put my head down and walked past them without any indication that I’d seen her sweet gesture.