When Love Comes Crashing

HS: Senior Year '96 - '97

"Hey, Jimmy, over here Jimmy." A news reporter stood up. "Have you decided on were you going to play football next year?" Jimmy thought hard, his head hurting from the previous hard hits and cameras flashing in his face. "No, I haven't decided. Next question." Jimmy looked around the conference room finding some different to call. He noticed this young girl, roughly the same as he was, thin with a mature look. She was wearing a black slim dress with her silky blonde hair tied in pony tail. Jimmy seemed like he knew his girl but he couldn't remember where. He decided called her. "You Miss." He said. The girl stood up with a small notebook in "Hi Jimmy, I'm Sophie from the Madisonville High School Gazette. The game came down to the final play. During that moment, what was going on through your head?" She questioned. "Well I knew I needed to step up," Jimmy answered. "Our defense is strong, but I noticed the middle linebackers getting blown off the ball the whole game. So I went from the original play and did my own thing. I went through the A gap instead of going through the assigned B gap. That there off the guard and tackle, so I broke through with no problem. After that I realized I didn't have time to hit the quarterback before he threw it. So I jumped up to block the pass. Next thing I knew, the ball was in my hands and I was in the end zone." Sophie sat down and started writing in her notebook. Coach walked up behind Jimmy and whispered in Jimmy's ear. "We have time for one more question." He proceeded to walk off.

Another reporter stood up. This time is was a man, middle aged, in a red t-shirt with the schools name on it. "Hey Jimmy, your dad is a washed-up football player out of Nebraska in '71 correct? He would've gone pro if it wasn't for his stupid mistake. What is your opinion on that?" Jimmy looked at the man and stood up. He felt his face get hot. "Hey look, what my dad did in his past is beyond me. But I want you to know one thing Mr., I respect my dad. He brought me up to be a better man and a better football player than he ever was." Jimmy stated as he proceeded to walked off the stage.

Arriving at the locker room Jimmy looked up. He saw his dad's sign "The Locker Room of the 1966 State Champs." Jimmy took a deep breath and walked in the door. His teammates, still in full uniform, crowded around him and celebrated the victory.

Jimmy, like always, was the last one out of the locker room. Coach was waiting for him outside his office. "Jimmy, can we talk in my office for a minute?" The coach had an enthusiastic tone of his voice. Jimmy took a seat "Yes, sir?" His coach took a deep breath. "Son, that was one hell of a performance you put out there today." Jimmy began to smile. "There were a lot of people out there and you really put on a show for them. You certainly did impress one fan out in the stands." His coach said as he pulled a letter out of his desk. Jimmy studied the letter. It had the name James King on the envelope. "What's this coach?" Jimmy asked. "Just open it." Jimmy tore open the envelope and started reading.

Dear Mr. King, I would like to start off by personally introducing myself. I'm Tom Osborne. The head coach at the University of Nebraska. We've been watching you play these past 2 season. The coaching staff here and Nebraska would like to personally invite you to our school and our football program this following year. A little past information of me, I was the offensive coordinator back in 71 and I coached your dad. He was a great player here and we're hoping you'll be the same. To help your decision we would like to give you a full scholarship for the next four years. If you are interested I would like to see you October Third to meet you in person. Signed Coach Osborne.

"I can't believe it coach, how is this even possible? Jimmy put the note down in shock. "You better believe it son, because you're going to the University of Nebraska! You ain't no Madisonville Knight anymore, you're a Nebraska Cornhusker." Jimmy stood up and shook Coach's hand. "Now get out of here and go have some fun." Jimmy grabbed his stuff and left.