The Bench Warmer (Book 1)

Chapter 9: Drills

There we were, all of us in the locker room, changing our clothes to get our pads on for football, all at the exact same time as well. It always made me feel a bit weird, as well as the fact that it made me feel a bit uncomfortable as to the fact that we were changing our clothes, and we were naked in front of a bunch of other guys, but it was what it was, as it was simply just for the game of football, and we were simply getting ready for practice, or, a scrimmage today. I knew how these worked at the exact same time as well, as it also felt like it was quite a bit smart as to the fact that the coach played it the way that he did, as it kind of felt like it was the only good thing that our coach seemed to do, to help the team, and help the players in it, as it seemed like he only cared about him self.
A lot of people agreed on that fact, but also a lot of them had said that he also only cared about me at the exact same time as well, as I was in fact the best player on our team, all at the exact same time too. I sighed just a bit to my self, all at the exact same time as well, as I was not all too sure as to just what else it was that I should do, or I should be doing right at this very moment in time any ways. I knew that it was not the case at all, even if that was what it was that every one suspected was the case on the team, even my friend, Ray, thought that it was the case, never the less. I felt like he only liked me, simply due to the fact that he knew that he would get fired if he did not have me, as he was in fact, a terrible play caller, and a terrible motivator for his players at the exact same time too.
He was for sure nothing like the middle school coach that I had back in Arizona, as I knew that, that coach was for sure a man to be reckoned with at the exact same time too. I blinked my eyes all at the exact same time as well, as it was besides the point right at this very moment in time too, as I rolled my eyes a bit as well. I banged my head against the lock, all at the exact same time too, as I knew that I had to wake my self up a bit. I was not all too sure as to just what it was that I was doing right now, as it felt like I was wasting my time right at this very moment in time as well. I gulped just a bit all at once, as I then got my eyes on the kid that was beside me, as I saw that it was a freshman, and also I had come to find out, that he was going to potentially be the new Quarterback for our team.
The kid seemed cool, at least, as far as I had come to find out from him up to this point, but at the exact same time as well, I knew that the game of football did not have any thing to do with how cool you were. It was a nice thing to have as a teammate in the locker room never the less, but at the exact same time as well, I knew that you could not be cool in the game of football, as you would get demolished, and you would get used if that was the case. I sighed a bit to my self, all at once, as I then all of the sudden, closed my locker shut all at the exact same time as well, a little bit harder than I had meant to do, as I saw that it seemed to scare the kid quite a bit, none the less, which I had not meant to do.
The dude seemed to be a bit of a wussy, if I was going to be honest with my self, as I kind of hoped that we had a better Quarterback than him coming in, just due to the fact that I felt like he was not going to be much use once he got on the field, just based off of what it was that I had seen from him so far. I rolled my eyes a bit towards the kid, as I then shook off all of those thoughts, all at the exact same time as well, as I began to sit down at a nearby bench in the locker room. I sat down on it, and I began to put my cleats on, all at the exact same time as well, as I cracked a bit of a smile on my face, as I was doing so, just due to the fact that I knew that I was quite a bit excited as to the fact that I knew that this was about to be a start of a new season, and a good season at that, never the less.
I shivered a bit to my self, all at the exact same time too, as soon as those thoughts seemed to come to my head, at the exact same time too, as I was quite a bit freaked out, if I was going to be for real with my self, right at this very moment in time. It felt like for a lot of different reasons, as I was worried about my scouting stock. I felt like I should go ahead and cash in from the scholarship to one of the Ivy League schools, but at the exact same time as well, I just was not all too sure if it was a good idea or not, when it came to the future that I had for football. I knew that my goal for college, was to try to play 3 years, but at the exact same time too, also try to get my scholarship during those seasons at the exact same time as well, that way, if any thing was to go bad, than I would always have a backup plan.
I shook my head how ever, as I shook off all of those thoughts from my head, all at once, as I then blinked my eyes a few times all of the sudden, as I got my focus back on to just what it was that was even going on, right at this very moment in time any ways, which of course, right now, was the fact that I saw that Ray was walking over to me, as I saw that he was all geared up, with his pads, shirt, and cleats on for that matter, as I realized that I still had not put on my cleats, which I knew that I needed to go ahead and do, as I knew that I was wasting a whole lot of time with being stuck on my thoughts right now. I sighed just a bit to my self, as I put on my cleats all at once, right as my friend, Ray, sat down beside me all at once, and he then nodded his head at me, at the exact same time too.
I blinked my eyes a few times, as I then tied up my cleats, and I turned my head over to him shortly after that. I stared at him with quite a bit of a blank look on my face right now, as I was not all too sure as to just what it was that was even going on right now, nor was I too sure as to just what it was that I should even do either, if I was going to be serious with my self. I sighed just a bit how ever, as I then got my eyes on just what it was that seemed to be a lot more important to me right now, which was the fact that Ray was waiting for me to nod back to him. I felt a bit bad, as to the fact that I had in fact not nodded back to him, as I could tell that he was all of the sudden worried for me right now.
I did not want him to think that it might have some thing to do with Kimberly at all, as that was simply not the case at all, as my mind right at this very moment in time, was simply focused on football, as that was how it always was for me, even when it came to some thing as simply as a practice, like today. Though I suppose, this was not just a simple practice, as I knew that there were going to be a lot of college scouts watching us. I sighed a bit to my self, all at the exact same time too, as I then got my focus on the fact that I knew I needed to nod back to Ray before it was too late, which I did in fact do as such a thing, all at the exact same time as well all of the sudden. I could tell that it did in fact make Ray feel quite a bit better, all at the exact same time as well, as he then all of the sudden, began to speak to me all at once, as I then too, began to start to listen as to just what it was that he even had to say to me in the very first place any ways.
"Shit man... I hope I can get on the map this year... Hell, maybe if I can get a few stars, than we can go to the same college... Wouldn't that be cool?" He said to me, as I saw that he had a big smile on his face, all at the exact same time as well. I looked at him with a bit of a blank look on my face for some time, at first, as if I had not heard as to a single word as to just what it was that he had even said in the very first place place any ways, but I had in fact heard as to just what it was that he had said. If I was going to be for real with my self, and I was going to be completely honest with my self, than I felt like it was not really all too realistic as to just what it was that he had said. He was a good player, as I could say with out a doubt, as well as the fact that I also knew that he was a good student. But I was not all too sure as to the fact that he could get in to a PAC 12 school, just simply due to him being a good player.
I sighed a bit to my self, as I felt like at the exact same time too, that I did not want to get his hopes down never the less though, as I stared at him for a bit more of some time, and I then had a bit of a smile crack up on my face, all at the exact same time as well, as I knew that I wanted to lighten up the mood just a bit, and I wanted to try to make him feel a little bit better about all of this. I knew that I had to be a good leader, and I had to boost him up a little bit, at the very least how ever. I was after all, a team captain on offense, and Ray was a Running Back, even if he was not the starter, if he worked hard enough, he very well may be a starter by the time the season was to actually start how ever. I nodded just a little bit to my self, all at the exact same time too, as I got my focus off of all of that, all at once, as I felt like it was besides the point right now.
I was not all too sure what to do, or just what it was that I was even doing in the very first place any ways, if I was going to be for real with my self right now. I felt like I should maybe reach in to my locker and grab my phone, to see if my girl had texted me, but at the exact same time too, I also knew that it was not normal for me to do such a thing like that, and she also knew that as well, so I felt like I should not even try, as I knew for one thing, she had most likely not texted me, due to that fact, even if she was excited as to the fact that we had just got engaged. I cracked a smile at the exact same time too, as I realized that as well. I knew that it had been a great day so far, and it was only going to stay that way too, as I knew that was the type of attitude that I needed to have right at this very moment in time as well.
I smiled just a bit to my self, as I looked away from my locker at the exact same time as well, glad that I no longer had my focus on all of that, as I let out a bit of a soft sigh to my self at the exact same time as well, and I then got my eyes back on to Ray, who I saw was talking to some of our other team mates right now. I could tell that they were not in the best of moods, as not all too many people on the team seemed to like Ray all too much, just simply due to the fact that they all had said in several texts, that he talked way too much, which was a fair point, but he was a good guy, and he had a kind heart, so I kind of felt like I did not have a choice but to like him in fact, as me and him were quite good friends. I sighed a bit to my self, as I then looked away from Ray, as I felt like I should let him have his fun time.
I got up from the bench that I was sitting at right now, as I looked over to the other side of the lockers none the less, as I saw that those were the defenders, and it was clear that they were talking to each other right at this very moment, and what it was that they were saying, seemed to be a lot more important than what it was that Ray had to say to the other players that were on our team right at this very moment in time, as I could see that they were all huddled up, as if they were having some sort of prayer. I knew that was not the case at all how ever, as I knew that they were simply thinking of plans as to just how it was that they were going to shut us down. I was not going to lie to my self either, as I knew that the defense had a lot better chemistry than we did, as the offense was simply just messing around right now.
Sadly enough for them how ever, I felt like it would not matter all too much for them, just due to the fact that I knew that high school sports were a lot higher scoring than pro and college sports even for that matter, as the defense was a lot harder to control when it came to high school. I knew that for a fact, just due to the fact that I some times had to play corner back, when we were playing a big rival, as I knew that those games wore me out, due the fact that I had to play every single down in the game. I was the kick and punt returner as well, never the less. I sighed just a bit to my self, as I got my focus off of all of those thoughts, all at the exact same time as well, as I felt like I needed to be a lot more serious with what it was that was going on right now.
I felt like I had to put the foot down for the team, especially if I did in fact want this to be a serious season for us, all at the exact same time as well. I then all of the sudden, all at the exact same time too, then turned my head over to every one, quite a bit quick, as I then stepped in front of the room, to get the attention of every one that was with us right at this very moment in time on me, all at the exact same time as well. I looked at every one, one by one, to make sure that they all were paying attention as to just what it was that was going on right now, and just what it was that I had to say too. All of them seemed to have quite a bit of a blank look on their face, as if they did not have a single clue as to just what it was that I was doing. I rolled my eyes a bit, as I let out quite a bit of a rough sigh to my self, all at the exact same time too.
Every one was staring at me right now, but it did not bother me at all, due to the fact that I knew that I was used to being a leader, as I was a team captain after all. I then all of the sudden nodded to all of them, to let them know that I was about to step up, and speak to them at the exact same time as well, as I wanted to make sure that they were paying their full attention, as to each and every word that I had to say in the very first place any ways. As I looked at them for a few moments longer, I then all of the sudden saw them slowly start to nod back to me, to let me know that they were ready to hear just what it was that I had to say to them. Now that I had seen them do as such a thing, I then all of the sudden, all at the exact same time as well, finally did in fact begin to start to speak to them, now that I knew that they were listening to what it was that I had to say to all of them, all at the exact same time as well, too.
"Every one! This is a very big season for us! I can see it now! We have the chance to get to state this year! Let's get ready for this year..." I began to say to all of them at first, as I saw a lot of blank looks on some of the faces of a lot of my teammates, as if they had in fact not heard a single word as to just what it was that I had to say in the very first place any ways. I groaned just a bit to my self, as I was quite a bit annoyed by it, if I was going to be completely serious too. It was clear that they were not taking this all too seriously. I was speaking up quite a bit loud at the exact same time as well, due to the fact that I was excited at the very least, as I knew that the defense could hear me, but I did not caste, as I was just too excited for this season that we had ahead of us right at this very moment in time. I rolled my eyes a bit to my self, all at the exact same time as well, as I then saw that at the very least, there were a few people that had smiles on their faces, as it was clear that they, at the very least, had heard as to just what it was that I had said in the very first place any ways. Knowing that there was in fact a few people listening to me, it made me feel a little bit better, as I felt like I had to finish off just what it was that I was going to say in the very first place any ways, as I then put my fist up to every one, and I began to speak up once again to them all. "Everyone! Surf on 3! 1... 2.. 3... Surf!"
I yelled it out loud, as it seemed like all of the sudden, once people started to realize what it was that was going on, due to the fact that I knew that I did this every year, they then began to start to shout with me, as every one began to cheer, all at the exact same time as well, as we all went in to the middle, and we bumped fist as a team. It was just what it was that we had needed, as I knew that it was some thing that we had needed to boost the team spirit, and the team chemistry. I did not care all too much about the defense, or what it was that they thought about just what it was that I had done at all, as I knew that I just had to get my focus on offense, as I knew that was what it was that I was good at, and that was what it was that I had to be excited for right now.
I sighed just a bit to my self, all at the exact same time as well, as the offense began to start to move away from the huddle, as I saw that a couple of the people were all of the sudden, starting to grab their helmets, all at the exact same time as well, as it was clear to me that they were ready to run out of the tunnel, and get over to the field, to get all of this started, never the less. I liked to confidence, as that for sure made me feel a lot better as to the chance that we had compared to last year. The Senior class that we had last year was not all too great, as we had most of our big assets here right now. It meant that so long as some of the freshman, and maybe even some of the Sophomores that had not got to play on Varsity last year, might have their chance to blow up big, as that was what it was that had happened for me last year, as that was after all, how it was that I had become a team captain.
I smiled just a bit to my self, as I knew that all of that was besides the point right now, as I knew that I had to have my focus on the fact that we were about to go out side, and we were going to get every thing started, as it was not normal for us to be this way, as we usually waited for our Assistant coach, coach Hife, who also was not a great coach either, come in, to tell us that we needed to get practice started, as a lot of people usually did not want to get a day like today started. This was our first day though, and this was a new year for us, as I felt like we had a lot of room to be excited for, as I felt like it might look good at the exact same time as well, if there was a bunch of players running out of the locker room, to get on to the football field, all at the exact same time as well.
I also knew that there was a lot of scouts out there, and I knew that the sooner that I was out on the field, than the better it was for me, as I knew that was not what it was that I had been thinking at first, and that was not really the reason that I wanted to go ahead and get out on the field, but it did in fact motivate me, all at the exact same time as well, as to the fact that I knew that I had to be on my A game for sure today. I nodded a bit to my self, as I then all of the sudden got my face mask set up right, so that my helmet did not fall off of my head, if I was in fact to get tackled. Once I got all of that done, I then all of the sudden, once again, saw that all of the eyes in the room, were on me right at this very moment in time. I was a little bit lost at first, until I then began to realize that it was clear that they wanted me to lead them down the tunnel.
I had clearly made an impact as a leader, and a team captain last year, even if there might be a few people that did not like me all too much, they still knew that I was a good leader, as no one wanted to do any thing until I was ready. I was ready though, as I then looked at every one, with a smile on my face, which I was sure was a bit hard to see, due to the fact that I knew that I had a face mask that was guarding my mouth right now. I rolled my eyes a bit to my self how ever, as I was not all too sure as to just what it was that I was even doing, right at this very moment in time, in the very first place any ways, as I then all of the sudden shook off all of those thoughts all at once, as I then knew just what it was that I had to do right now, as I then began to jog down the hall way, that way I did not fall due to the fact that I was wearing cleats.
As I did so, I heard the loud stomps of the rest of the offense, all at the exact same time too, as it was clear that they were following my lead right now, which did in fact make me feel quite a bit better, and quite a bit bigger as a leader, all at the exact same time too, as I then all of the sudden, opened the big doors that were in front of me, which led to the tunnel the led us to the smaller stadium, as I knew that it was not near College size, but it was still a decent sized stadium, as I knew that it was up there with San Diego State. I shook off all of those thoughts though, as I knew that it was besides the point, as I knew that I had to have my focus on just what it was that was about to go down right now for me, as I knew that it would decide a lot for my future none the less.
I breathed in quite a bit, as it was a bit hard to walk down this hall way, as it had quite a bit of a nasty stench to it, due to the fact that I knew that it was always covered in sweat after every single practice, and every single game for that matter. I sighed just a bit to my self though, as I knew that I would be fine, as it was not going to ruin me at all for that matter. I shook my head, as I then did my best to get my focus off of all of those thoughts all at the exact same time too, and I then spotted some one at the end of the tunnel, who it seemed like had just been walking over from the field. It was coach Hife, as I saw that he had a bit of a surprised look on his face at the exact same time too, as to just what it was that he saw was going on, right at this very moment in time as well, as he then began to yell to every one, all at the exact same time too.
He had quite a bit of a big smile on his face right at this very moment in time, due to the fact that he was happy to see that we were excited with just what it was that we we were doing right at this very moment in time. I saw him began to clap his hands all at the exact same time too, with the play book that he had in his hands, as to the fact as to just what it was that was going on. Every one, including me, began to stop our selves, as to just what it was that he was doing right now, and why it was that he had to say to us in the very first place any ways. I had a bit of a blank look on my face at the exact same time too, as I was not a big fan of this coach either, but I put those differences aside, as I then began to listen as to just what it was that he had to say to all of us in the very first place any ways.
"Great job every one! Let's go lets go! Coach wants you on the field doing drills!"