Chapter 29

We met for breakfast. Alice was without Marilyn. Bob hadn’t shown either. Alice told me that Marilyn had gone to meet Bob at the athletic dorm dining hall. That made me feel good because it suggested that things were working out between them.

Kate joined us for breakfast. She had a dreamy look. She said, “Thank you for thinking of me with Tom. We have a real connection. If our schedules matched better, he would be here or I would be there. We will eat lunch together in the athletic dorm dining hall. I will attend his practice. May I sit with you, Alice?”

“Of course. That’s all good. We were hopeful that you two would hit it off together.”

“We’re working it out. Our heights make it worthwhile but we also have an emotional connection that is good.” We ate some more. She added, “My parents are coming in for the weekend. Tom will get tickets for us. I will call my mother this evening and tell her. She will be curious. Both of them have worried at times that I would never find someone physically compatible. Tom is that and much more.” She smiled.

Alice nodded. “I will be glad for you to join me at practice. My folks are coming Friday but will leave shortly after the game. Dad’s a lay preacher and has to fill a pulpit Sunday.”

“Alice, I’m guessing that you and Jerry attend church?” Alice nodded. “I would like to go with you. That means Tom will go also.”

I said, “We may have to figure out transportation but we’ll work it out.”

It was practice time. We dressed out and went on the field. We were preparing for the opposing team for Saturday. This would be another home game followed by two away. Coach Wilkins looked at me. “Short, the ladies spectating have increased. Why do I think you might have something to do with this?”

“I guess my lady, Alice, and I did help get some folks together.” I grinned.

“Okay, let’s get to it. You’ll hear this from the other coaches. This team passes almost totally or their quarterback runs. He is a real threat on the ground or through the air. We want to pressure him on passing and stop him when he runs. They lost their last game in an offensive battle. We don’t want that to happen because our offense is just starting to work. Somehow, we want to keep this game low scoring, if possible.”

The defensive backs coach joined us. Coach Wilkins said, “We will work together more than usual the remainder of this week. Short, there is a weak safety that you need to work with closely. He’s heavy enough to help us at linebacker while having the speed to be a safety. We’re going to try some mixed ideas for our defensive backfield.”

Coach Mosley said, “Correct. Adams, do you know Short?”

“Not really, Coach. The word is he’s a good guy. You did well last week, Short.”

I shook hands with him. “I’m Jerry Short. Good to meet you.”

“I’m Trevor Adams. Good to meet you. You have the gorgeous girl friend?”

I smiled. “I think she is. She does have friends.”

Coach Wilkins said, “Okay, guys. We expect a lot of passing. The quarterback for the Trojans has displayed a tendency to throw to his right eighty per cent of the time. We will practice routes trying to mimic what he does. He is also their leading rusher. Being patient will be important because, if you leave him a hole, he will take off. He is a fast runner.”

Coach Mosley said, “What we have in mind is to play a modified three linebacker set. Short will primarily be the outside while, Adams, you will be the middle. We will also call some where Short will be a weak safety. You guys will have to be alert and notice the calls coming in for you. I think we can stop them if we do this right.”

At that moment, the Defensive Coordinator, Coach Johnson, joined us. “Another thing I saw in the films and in talking to the coach of the last team they played is that this quarterback gets frustrated easily and then makes big mistakes. If they take him out, their passing game is gone and the run is not strong at all. I think we can stop them.” He nodded at the group of us and left.

We walked through different sets and assignments for Saturday’s game. Once we were satisfied that we had the new plays and sets understood, we worked with the line as they understood the need to keep the running lanes clogged up. We then did some light scrimmage.

That was it for the day and we hit the showers. When I came out with Bob and Tom, I saw Alice. Well, Marilyn and Kate were there, too, but Alice always is the one I see first. We gave each other a light kiss. She said, “Take me, to supper.” She grinned.

I smiled, “Here or the cafeteria?”

“We can eat here. Bob should eat here once in a while. So should Tom.” She grinned. Hand in hand, we headed for the athletic dorm dining hall. The other two couples followed us along with more members of the football team.

One of our offensive linemen walked beside Alice. He had worshipful eyes as he looked at her. Alice asked, “What’s your name?”

“I’m Steve Owens. I play tackle on offense. Do you get girls for the football players?”

Inwardly, I grinned but kept my mouth shut. Alice wasn’t very happy. “No. Some of the football players told Jerry that they wanted to meet some nice girls. I had a few friends who were interested in meeting a nice guy. Jerry and I made the introductions. However, we don’t ‘get’ girls for anyone. I resent the implication.”

Steve blushed. “I said that wrong. I apologize. I would like to meet a nice girl. I noticed that you and another girl came in with guys on the team. Jerry is known for his fumble recovery almost touchdown. I’m not going to get the spotlight unless I make a mistake.” He grinned ruefully. “I don’t always express myself well but would like to meet a nice girl. The Episcopal church where I’m going mixes the high school and college group. There’s only four of us and the only girl is just starting in high school. It’s a problem.”

“Okay. Apology accepted. Steve, you aren’t dumb. Just think before you talk.” She gave my hand a squeeze. “Jerry and I will eventually marry. We’re working through the details. Other than nice, what sort of girl would you like to meet?”

“I’m a big guy. In high school, it was always the ‘Mutt and Jeff’ show. It wasn’t fun for me or the girl but there just weren’t any tall girls in the school. I’m a biology major for what that’s worth. If she were in that major or something close, I could have a study partner which would be good.”

Alice said, “I will talk to the girls in the dorm and see who might be interested in meeting you. Be patient because it not like I’m out searching for partners for guys or girls. There is no collection of candidates.”

Over the next few days, I got to know Steve. He’s smart just socially inept. It would take a bit of patience to find a girl with patience enough to see the nice guy under his somewhat challenging exterior. Alice had looked around. She had rejected two who wanted to meet football guys as gold diggers. I thought they were in the wrong school. Our college wasn’t likely to have pro football candidates.