Chapter 16

Monday, August 2, 1976

Six AM came way too early. I got up, RJ was using the shower, so I got ready for practice, I figured I would shower at school after practice. After all, I would be sweating like a pig most of the day. I told RJ to hurry up. We need to be leaving soon.

RJ came running out of the house and got in the car. It was his first ride in the T-Bird, he apparently was not all that impressed by it. He said, “My parents told me about your settlement. You could have bought any car you want. Why did you buy this old thing? You could have bought a Ferrari, or a Porsche, or even a Corvette. This is an old beater.”

“This has always been my dream car. I love the ‘56 T-Bird. It’s an incredible ride. Besides, if I bought any of those cars you mentioned, I would constantly be worried about theft or an accident or something happening to it. This is a 20-year-old car. If I take care of it and treat it right, the value will only go up. It’s an American Classic. Why I bet in 40 or 50 years, this car will be worth ten times what I paid for it.” I said with a smile, and I left it at that.

We pulled into the student parking lot, and I needed to get a parking sticker. I figured I do it before practice started. That way, I wouldn’t worry about a fine or worse a tow bill. I walked into the office and asked for a parking pass. I filled out the form and then was shocked when the secretary asked for five dollars. I was informed that it was a new fee starting this fall, all students parking a car were required to pay the price. I was not happy about it but had no choice but to pay the lousy five-dollar parking fee. That was going to be my lunch money for after practice. Now I would have to drive home after training for lunch.

I didn’t have any other money on me. And unlike the future, debit cards and credit cards were not commonplace. I left my checkbook at home. I knew I could pay the athletic fee on the first day of school, which would be the week before Labor Day.

I made my way down to the locker room and saw Coach Wilson walking towards the door. I ran past him, knowing that anyone coming in after him would be running extra laps, and I didn’t need that today. I slid past him and found a spot on one of the benches, not paying attention to where I sat. The Coach walked in. We all stopped talking and stood up at once.

“Good morning, girls,” Coach always called us girls before we started the season.

“Good morning, Coach.”

“Good, you’re all awake. I have an announcement to make. As many of you may know, this will be my last season as your head Coach. I am retiring at the end of the school year, and I am okay with it. I only want one thing before I ride off into the sunset. I WANT A CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY. Do I make myself clear? We are going to play this game at the highest level of intensity we can, all season. Then you are going to get me a championship trophy by winning the Michigan State High School Football Championship.”

Pandemonium broke out. We started chanting cham-pi-ons until it got almost too loud to think. Finally, the Coach told us to shut it. We all stopped at once.

Coach started to speak again, “Now I am going to introduce your new assistant head Coach and your defensive and special teams’ Coaches.” The three men stepped into view. “On my right, your left is Coach Larson. He is going to be my new assistant head coach. Some of you will recognize him as my defensive team Coach for many years. I am going to be mentoring him to be my replacement next season. So, he will be running the offense this year under my watchful eye. Front and center are Coach Thiess. He will be our Special Teams Coach. Please give him a Big Trailblazers Welcome to Central High School.”

Of course, we all cheered, and I think I saw a bit of a smile on his face. It quickly turned into an icy stare. I knew he fit right in with Coach Wilson’s way of doing things.

“And returning to us this season is Coach Ayers, our Defensive Team Coach, who I am happy to say has a new system he wants to implement. It will involve a lot of studying and practice to get it right. It will require a new attitude toward blitzing and stunting. It will give us a better defensive advantage for take-aways and sacks. I will let him discuss it with the defense. Speaking of which, Johnson, are you switching over to play linebacker? I thought you wanted to be the Starting Quarterback this year.”

I looked up and around, and then noticed I was sitting with all defensive players. I had a sheepish look on my face as I moved over to where the offensive team was sitting. “Hey, I just wanted to see how the other half lived for a moment. But no, I’ll be wanting that QB spot this season.”

“Ok. Coach Larson take ‘em out to the field and warm ‘em up.”

We filed out of the locker room, and I got called out by the Coach. “Johnson, My office now!”

I made a U-Turn and walked into Coach Wilson’s Office.

“Have a seat, son. I want to say I was impressed by your commitment to getting into shape during the offseason. Especially with everything you’ve been through this summer. I wish I could just name you the Starter, but I can’t do that. It would only make matters worse, especially after a mediocre season last year. Your skills improved by the end of the season, but you were still hit or miss in a few areas. The biggest ones were Leadership and teamwork. Your work ethic has to prove you are the right guy for the job. I don’t want the guys thinking I gave you preferential treatment due to your parents’ death. I need you to go out there and make this your team. That way, they will choose for me. Can you do that? Can you bring this team and build it up with a state championship as its goal? I think you can, but you need to show them I’m right.”

“I can do that, Coach. I will do that. I am ready to lead this team. I want the championship, just as much as you do, sir.”

“Good. Then go out there and get to it.”

I ran out to the field and took my place with the offensive unit. I started to do the warm-up exercises with the guys. I was glad for some of the enhanced abilities that I had received from the Guardians. I was able to get through the calisthenics and the run portion of practice without feeling like I was dying. I think some of that had to do with getting out and running. I was one of the few still standing after the run. I started to stretch and do my cool-down routine. I encouraged the rest of the guys to do the same. I explained it would help keep their muscles from cramping and help reduce muscle strain and sprains.

Coach Larson called for all those interested in trying out for offense to form a circle nearby him. Meanwhile, Coach Ayers called out for the defense to do the same thing on the opposite side of the field.

The circle was getting loud, and guys were letting off a little steam by some good nature teasing and razzing of each other. I knew I had to step up, but I didn’t want to step on the Coach’s toes. Then I remembered I was supposed to be a leader. “Hey guys, let’s settle down; Coach wants to give us some important information.” I received a few glares and unkind looks and words, but they stopped wasting time and started to pay attention to Coach Larson.

“I want to introduce you to your playbook. It will be a much different looking offense than last seasons. You’ll notice a lot more pass plays, and some new running plays designed to draw the defense into a trap of over-committing their players. We will also introduce some key situational plays, as well as trick plays and short-yardage type of stuff. Coach Wilson and I have tried to overhaul an offense that has become completely predictable. I’ve wanted an opportunity to use some of my ideas for many years. I have improved and honed these ideas. This playbook is a culmination of that experience.”

I looked through it and saw that this was going to be a run-and-gun-type offense. I knew that this system is noted for high-scoring and yardage-grabbing plays. I also knew that this was important during the ‘90s, ultimately, even though college championships were won with the offensive scheme, it didn’t fare well in the Pros. But we weren’t playing pro ball. We were in high school. I know that we could be successful in this scheme.

“Now I want you all to go home tonight and read through this playbook and absorb the plays and memorize them. The key to our success is your committing this book to memory. It leans heavily on Wide receivers who are speed demons and bigger running backs who can block and, when called on, can run hard and fast. The biggest responsibility, as in any scheme, is the quarterback. He must be intelligent, quick, and agile. He has to be able to see the whole field, his receivers, and the defense, and he has to see the path between the defense and the receiver to score. It sounds simple, but It’s not so simple. It is a fast-paced offense. I have named it the Run-and-Gun; it will allow us to pick up big yards and high scores while using one other component, a no-huddle offense. I plan to run a no-huddle offense for as long as it works for each game of the season. It will wear out our opponent’s defense and make their offenses make mistakes, which we will be able to capitalize on.”