July 26th
To see you again.
Damon
I wake up to her running her hand down my chest.
“Morning,” she says.
“Morning,” I reply as her hand dips lower. I was going to talk to her about my fall schedule and try to figure out the best time for us to talk every day, but that can wait.
For as long as it takes.
“Before you attacked me, I was going to talk to you about what my life will be like once season starts.”
“Which is basically this week, right, since fall practices are starting?” she asks.
“Yeah.”
“I expect you will be quite busy. Learning the playbook, practices, competing for your spot.”
“I think you’re exactly right. Knowing you’ll be coming to visit me in Lincoln will get me through it.”
“I’ve never been to Lincoln before. You’re going to have to show me around.”
“I can’t wait,” I say, kissing her cheek. “It’s hard to believe we start fall practice this Wednesday. It seems like the summer has flown by.”
“Isn’t that when all the media attention will really kick into gear?”
“Yeah, for sure. Like who is where on the depth charts. They’re especially going to be wondering who will be the starting quarterback.”
“Will that be hard for Chase to deal with?” she asks me.
“Dad’s always told us not to read what reporters are saying. That they can’t predict the season. That it’s up to me. Us. I do expect there to be a lot of hype around Chase. So, I figure I’ll try to safeguard him from it a bit until they start hounding me.”
“You’re Danny Diamond’s son. Surely, they are going to have questions.” She gives me a coy smile. “I know I have a lot of them.”
“Like what?”
“When are you going to have time to call me?”
“Every night before I go to bed so I can see your gorgeous face.”
She smiles. “How are your practices structured? Like, do you still work out?”
“We do. There’s a flow to the practices each week.
The first few days, there’s no media in attendance.
On certain days, they allow some players to speak to the press.
And that first Saturday, we get to do an open practice for fans, which raises money for the school.
Every Sunday, we are to rest and recover.
Although I’m sure Chase and I will spend that time watching practice tapes and trying to up our game and gauge our competition. ”
“And impress your coaches, one would assume.”
“That’s the goal.”
“Something I don’t know is, how many wide receivers are actually on the roster? I mean, how many people do you have to compete against to start?”
“There are sixteen on the roster, which includes redshirted players—something I do not want to be. In each game, there will always be two receivers on the offensive side of the ball. But depending on the play called, there can be up to five.”
“And what’s your competition like?”
“There were two outstanding players last year. One was drafted in the sixth round, and the other was a true freshman who played in all the games last year. He’s number one on the depth chart as of now. I’m probably not going to take that spot, but even being number two would mean I would start.”
“Which is your big goal.”
“Big goal? Nah, that’s just one of my goals. The big goal is a national championship.”
“Is that realistic, knowing how their year went last year?”
“I always break down my goals into smaller, more doable actions. For example, in order to reach the big goal, we have to win most every game. So, each week, that’s the goal.
Then that goal is broken down into smaller ones.
Practicing well, being conditioned and game ready. Mental preparations. Everything.”
“And what kind of mental preparations are you going to have to prepare for my visit?”
I grin. “I think, for that, I’m going to have to be in really good shape. Physically.”
“Yes, you must,” she says, running her hand over some of my muscles.
We share a long can’t wait to see you again kiss when she drops me off at the airport.
“I can’t believe it’s going to be almost a month before I get to see you again.”
I kiss the top of her head. “I’ll miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too.”