A Continuing Novel by Dr. Greg Shepard
A Continuing Story by Greg Shepard From that moment, the gym was quiet—very quiet.
Buddy Harris was thinking how different the pre-game preparation was this year. Buddy had always loved football; the game had always been important. However, Quest For Greatness is based on true stories. Coach Travis Drake is the new football Coach at Hamilton he hadn't always shown it. He kept it inside. Maybe a lot of guys did the same, but this year was different. Buddy High School. With energy, enthusiasm, charisma and thought about how much everyone had improved, hard work, positive changes have been taking place. The other major character Rick Steadman, who is a senior at Hamilton, has just been devastated by tragedy.
His father and two sisters have just died in a fire that destroyed their home. Only his little brother Billy survived. including himself. Yes, the hard work had been worth it.
Although Buddy had started last year, he knew his body had vastly improved. He was a sloppy 220 pounds last season but now he was a solid 245 pounds. The competition between him and Lem had pushed Buddy to a 525 Squat, a 365 Bench, a 285 Clean, and a 600 Coach Drake with a lot of caring has helped Rick pound Dead Lift. Buddy smiled to himself about how his overcome his problems and this tragedy. Billy and speed had improved from a 5.4 to a respectable 5.0 forty.
Rick are now part of Coach Drake’s family. Coach Drake and his staff have worked hard in the off-season Even Buddy’s parents were excited about football; nevertheless, his mother was still afraid her Buddy would and summer helping each player realize his potential get hurt. Buddy pondered the changes brought by Coach physically, mentally and spiritually.
Drake and the help he had received from the coaches.
The results have been dramatic. It’s now time to get iton.
Finally he thought, “I know my assignments backwards and forwards. Boy, am I ready. I just want to be on that field right now.” Coach Miller was looking around and feeling a swelling sense of pride at being associated with this team.
Football had been a lot more work this year, but it had It was Friday after school, and the players began coming into the cafeteria. Coach Drake wanted the team been fun and meaningful. “Hey,” he laughed to himself, “my line is going to together until the game. He felt it was better than letting surprise everybody.” His line was vastly superior to last the players loose on their own. A spaghetti dinner with garlic bread and ice water was waiting for the team, year’s. The interior starting five averaged 211 pounds. They were also stronger, quicker and more aggressive.
Their progress had been unbelievable. He remembered carbohydrate dinner with water would give them greater thinking that the new coach would be in for trouble. Now, energy and cut down dehydration. after a few short months, he thought the Hamilton Lions Coach Miller got some short films, mostly of the “Three Stooges.” The coaches felt the team was too tense, had the ability to beat anybody. Wes Jackson was pounding his fist over and over. and they hoped this would loosen them upa Secretly, he admitted to being proud of getting his grades it was 4:45—time to go to the gym. Coach Drake of time to set guidelines.
He liked Coach Drake and Coach instructed the players to dress down in game pants, socks Myers a lot. They were the only ones who seemed to really care about him. Wes didn’t even mind all the extra laps little. It seemed to work and it helped pass the time away. Finally, and jerseys and then report to the basketball court to stretch out and relax. up. Since his parents split up, his mother hadn’t had a lot “Here we are, men,” said Travis as he addressed the he'd done. Coach Drake had a rule of no swearing on the field. Coach didn’t want a 15-yard penalty during a game, team. “We have a few minutes before we begin taping. so he wanted to develop good habits in practice.
If you swore, it would cost you a lap after practice. Wes lot together. You've worked harder than any team I’ve coached. You will do very well remembered that Coach Drake would always run with tonight. I can feel it. What I want you to do now, coaches him and never talk about swearing as they ran. Wes included, is to be absolutely quiet for fifteen minutes. I want you to think about how far we as a team and you as an individual have come since last December. Remember what you were like then, and compare that to what you are now. Think about those people who are important to you, and then go over all your game assignments.” 26 thought, “We'd talk the whole time about me.
It drew us closer together.” Anyway, he kept dreaming about sacking the quarterback. He hadn't stopped pounding his fist.
Coach Myers was just itching with anticipation. After all, it had been ten years since he’d been involved in this QUEST FOR GREATNESS continued from page 26 great American game. He felt like a little kid again. John taken them in and had given more love than he thought looked at all his defensive starters and smiled. he liked possible. Maybe he'd be a football coach someday. their spirit and determination. John felt that he'd be proud Physically, Rick never felt better. He loved being 198 to have any of them as a son. If his gut feeling was right, pounds and running 4.55.
Rick felt confident that he could the Hamilton Lions were going to rip Stevens High handle the pressure that comes with carrying the ball School. As he gazed around the room, his eyes met Lem’s. twenty times, which was the game plan. If practice was John squared his jaw and nodded his head. The defense any indication, it would take more than one guy to bring was ready. him down. “If I ever get it open, I'll turn on the juice and Tj Carter nervously squeezed the game ball. He stared go for it,” dreamed Rick. Then his thoughts turned to atit. His father had talked about passing for 200 yards and Becky.
She had really been a good influence on his life and had warned him about his TD pass and interception ratio. a great comfort after the fire. They had even talked about He had worked hard and made a lot of progress. TJ marriage. Finally and wistfully, his thoughts penetrated thought about the many extra hours he had spent deep inside. Would his father, Bobby and Sharon be aware throwing all the pass patterns to his receivers. In spite of of his game tonight? Rick resolved to play like they were all his work, he knew Coach Drake would emphasize the watching. He hung his head so the tears wouldn’t show, running game.
He had tried to tell his father that, but all and he said a silent prayer: “God, I miss them. Take care of his father would say was, “He'd take care of things.” As them, please.” far as the plays, he could run them in his sleep. T]’s final thought was, “I just hope I don’t screw things up.”
Coach Drake looked at each player and coach individually. He was awfully proud of each of them. Soon Coach Jerry Littlewood flipped a football over and they'd be putting on their full uniforms. He'd be taking off over with his right hand. He gave Travis a great deal of his red suit and putting on his coaching outfit. Then, credit. He had really pulled things together. Who knows, if they'd collect their reward for all the hard work.
Hamilton had a great year, maybe Jerry Littlewood would One thing Travis couldn’t understand was the get a good shot at a head job someplace else. “One thing’s headline written by Bob Brentwood. “Will Hamilton's Big for sure,” he mused, “I'll be a lot better prepared.” Jerry’s Bubble Break Friday?” What an idiot. he just hoped it receivers were ready. He felt confident in the kicking wouldn’t affect the kids. “I mean, give me a break,” game. Jerry felt he’d learned a lot about the kicking phase thought Travis, “Will Hamilton’s Big Bubble Break of the game. He'd always thought offense in the past. Jerry Friday.” Some people thought Travis was building the also thought about his parents.
He had made sure they team up for a big letdown. He quickly put it out of his always got good seats. They hadn’t missed a Lion’s game mind. in fifteen years.
He marvelled at the progress of so many individuals.
Tyrone wasn’t sure how to act or think. Basketball had Their progress had really drawn them together. He felt always been his game. People had been forever telling him closer to this team than any other. Travis’ thoughts about pro basketball. However, he hadn’t grown any taller focused on Rick and Billy. They had been through so since the eighth grade. Tyrone loved basketball, but Coach much pain. They’d made Travis appreciate his life and Drake had got him interested in football. Tyrone felt he family much more, and they had added a richness to the could do both sports. And just maybe, football could entire family.
Billy was acting like he was one of the big become bigger than basketball in his life. He liked the boys. He took his manager’s job seriously and was always team’s spirit, and it was a lot more fun than he originally pestering Travis for a uniform. Travis couldn’t help but thought it would be. The game had come fairly easy. love him, and he would even let him participate in some Tyrone understood man-to-man and zone defenses. of the non-contact drills. He quickly looked at his Intercepting was a lot like rebounding, but you could get clipboard, which contained all the plays and the game away with more contact. He chuckled to himself. He sure plan.
Stevens had won a hard-fought battle last year, 14-7. liked being the “Hitter,” rather than the “Hittee.” For After watching the game film, Travis felt he could run some strange reason, he wasn’t as nervous as he thought effectively against Stevens, “We know more about them he'd be. than they know about us.”
Coach McMasters could hardly sit still. In fact, it was impossible. He got up for a drink every two minutes. Brian couldn’t think about anything. He used to throw up Suddenly, it was time to begin taping ankles. Suddenly, it was time to stretch and to warm-up the specialty people. before every game he played. For the first time as a coach, Suddenly, it was time for the team prayer and the he was about to do the same thing. Brian left the gym to find a suitable place. national anthem. An electric excitement filled the air and Rick Steadman leaned his head back against the full crowd was on hand for the first game of the bleachers. He thought about how his life had changed season.
Bernie Alderwood had outdone himself. The field dramatically. Rick looked over at Billy, who had been was beautiful and in perfect condition. Hamilton won the made an honorary manager. What a great kid he was. toss and elected to receive. The sixty-man Lion team was “You and me, kid,” he whispered. The Drake family had QUEST FOR GREATNESS continued from page 51 screaming in one big huddle on their sideline, “Psych, some snaps. The defense charged onto the field. Tim Psych, Psych, Psych!!”
Adams got everyone in the huddle and called the defense, Suddenly, it was show-time!
“62 Rip, 62 Rip, Ready— Attack!” The defense yelled Emile was back to receive the kick, but there was no return as it went into the end zone. The Hamilton Lion offense was to begin their new era on the “Attack” in unison with Tim and clapped their hands. together at the same time.
Stevens’ offense came up to the line of scrimmage. team was poised in the huddle. Everyone in the stadium Anthony and Lem roared, “Strong left! Strong left!” The was still standing in eager anticipation of seeing the new defense eyed the ball and were poised for a violent charge offense. at its slightest quiver. The ball began to move. Instantly, TJ knew the predetermined play was still in effect. eight Hamilton Lions savagely charged forward. It was “Pro-Right, twenty-six on one, Pro-Right, twenty-six on over quickly. A loss of one yard! The sideline of one. Ready, break!” came the call from TJ.
Rick lined up in Hamilton’s players and coaches were jumping up and his tailback position and prepared to blast off tackle. down as though a touchdown had been scored. Next, Porter and Simpson readied themselves for a great Stevens tried a sweep to the right. It, too, was stopped for double-team block. The fullback, Pruitt, glanced at the a two-yard loss by a swarm of Hamilton Lions. On third defensive end. Pruitt’s job was to block him to the outside. and thirteen, Stevens tried the obvious, a pass. Buddy As T] came to Henderson for the snap, he barked out jammed his man to the outside, creating a huge opening the signals, “Down, Blue 49, Blue 49, set, Hut one.” for his linebacker.
Anthony blitzed by untouched and like Everyone bolted from his stance as the ball was snapped. a huge amoeba, for a sack that engulfed the Stevens QB.
Something happened with the exchange, as the ball The team went wild, both on the sideline and on the field. spurted to the ground. The noseguard from Stevens alertly The band began to play. The Hamilton fans stood and pounced on the fumble. Suddenly, Stevens had the ball. cheered. Stevens tried a 47 yard field goal, but the ball was “Defense! Defense!” boomed Coach Myers. “Timeout! short and wide to the right.
Timeout! Timeout!” ordered Travis. He wanted the time out to settle everyone down and to give Coach Myers a chance to organize the defense.
The offense was given a second chance. The same play was called quarterback. TJ deftly handed the ball to Rick who slashed “Way to go, coach,” screamed someone in the stands. off-tackle for eight yards. The Hamilton offense roared Usually Coach Drake paid little attention to what was said down the field completely dominating the line of by spectators, but this voice he thought he recognized. scrimmage. Rick ripped for most of the yardage, while Strangely, it sounded like Sam Carter's.
Pruitt kept them honest with runs of four and six yards. TJ Aslight, barely perceptible smile came over Jim made a nice play-action pass to Jeff, his tight-end, for Donaldson, who was sitting next to Dr. Kowalski. twelve yards. On second and goal from the three, Rick swept to the right and rushed untouched into the end the superintendent. poop!” exclaimed Fred Maddox. Bernie Alderwood replied to zone.
Fred, “The defense is supposed to be good. Now we'll see It’s amazing what a TD can do to people, but this TD for ourselves.” The fumble certainly took some of the was special. This was a different team than Hamilton had wind out of the crowd’s exuberance. The cheerleaders ever seen. It wasn’t hard to sense. The domination was began chanting, “Dee-fense! Dee-fense! Dee-fense!.” self-evident. Maybe a winning season could be theirs. The Quickly the crown responded, but it was tense and it kick was good, and the score was Hamilton 7 - Stevens 0. lacked the earlier excitement. Coach Myers was giving his defense instructions and preparing an all-out attack. He looked at Lem and pointed.
Lem was almost frothing at the mouth, and that pointed finger really set him off. Lem began his chant, which Lem said was actually Tongan. The rest of the defense followed his lead. “Ka Mate, Ka Mate, Ka Ora Ka Ora. Ka Mate, Ka Mate, Ka Ora Ka Ora. Tenei te Tangat, Puhura Huru. Ha Ha, Itiki Mai, Whaaka Whiti Teraupa ne Kaupamei, White Tera Hi!”
TJ had run off the field and went directly to Travis. TJ “QUEST FOR GREATNESS” blurted out an apology, “I-I’m sorry, Coach.” Travis put his arm on TJ's shoulder pad and with a slight laugh said, “You must be as nervous as I am.
Don’t worry about it.
Just go over and take some snaps from Pete. You'll be just fine. We'll get ‘em.” A very relieved QB went over to his center to take 52 *Honor Offensive Linemen with a beautiful, They don’t pass the ball... personalized recognition award created exclusively for the “Forgotten Five”
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From BFS Magazine — Summer 1990. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).
