"Coach?"
asked the student manager.
"What,
Sam?" Coach Riner asked back.
"We
forgot the kicking tees." Sam was a
senior. He had been the student manger
since sixth grade. He enjoyed the small
aspects of the job, setting up the athletic tapes in small pyramids in the
training room, watching film with coach and marking down the notes as Coach
Riner asked. He took pride in the things
that made the football team run smooth behind the scene. The last two years had been the best so far. Coach Riner appreciated the small
things. He would bring Sam a Code Red
Mountain Dew for film sessions. Coach
Riner always told him thank you. Sam
felt horrible, then felt even worse as Coach's right hand started to rub and
pinch the top bridge of his nose. That
meant he was trying to control his frustration.
"What should I do?"
Coach Riner
couldn't even think. The bus was late
because of a mix up. They had a horrible
week of practice after the debacle at Andrew High to go to 0 and 2. And to top it off the Patriots had ended
their season last year.
"I'll
get it solved." Coach Riner said.
Sam was
discouraged. He left to get the water
bottles ready.
Coach Riner
walked across the field. The teams were
running through their position drills. "Kevin, catch and
secure." Coach demonstrated with
his hands. Hands out to catch an imaginary ball, then moved his right hand to
his chest to secure the imaginary ball. Kevin nodded his head and secured the
ball high and tight as he ran back to the receiver line. Coach Riner continued across the field to
find Coach Johnson.
They shake
hands and make small talk. The Patriots were 1-1. Coach Johnson had been at the school for
eight years. The team had been to the
play-offs off and on four times. Last
year both teams ended their season 4-5, but the Patriots end the season with a
win and the Tigers a lost. The Patriots
reflected the same attitude of their coach, a mix of simple respect with condescending
edge. Coach Johnson smiled in such a way
when Coach Riner asked if they had an extra 3-point tee they could use during
the game.
Coach Riner
thanked him and returned to the Tigers sideline. He handed the tee, with one of the ends
secured by athletic tape, to Sam. "Please, return this to them when the
game is over."
"OK,
sorry coach."
"Don't
let it happen again." Coach Riner said as he patted Sam on the head.
"I
won't." am returned to setting up the equipment on the bench. Sam had a system, one bench for
injuries. This bench had all the med
kits, with a few things out and ready, like tape and tape scissors. One bench
for "meetings," single player or team. Clipboards and markers and the small water
bottle container. The third bench was
his "game" bench. This bench
had the coolers, a box with snack bags filled with dried fruit and granola, a
bag with mints for Coach Glean, and Sam's bottle of Code Red. It also held the ball bag, tees, and the
equipment box to handle those small moments, like a busted chinstrap. Sam was
working on the first bench.
Coach Riner
rubbed the bridge of his nose, and moved to rubbing his forehead right above
his brow. He thought to himself, we have
to win this game; we have to win this game.
Four minutes to kick-off.
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