A Continuing Novel by Greg Shepard

QUEST FOR GREATNE S A Continuing Novel by Greg Shepard QUICK REVIEW Chapters 1-35 Quest For Grea tness is based on true stories. Coach Travis Drake is the new football Coach at Hamilton High SchooL With energy, enthusiasm, charisma and hard work, positive changes have been taking place. The other major character Rick Steadman, who is a senior at Hamilton, has been devastated by tragedy. His father and two sisters died in a fire that destroyed their home. Only his little brother Billy survived. Coach Drake with a lot of caring has helped Rick overcome his problems and this tragedy. Billy and Rick are now part of Coach Drake's family.

The Town, School, and team are going crazy over the unbelievable turn around. Hamilton is now playing Templeton High School for the State Championship, a team that beat them previously. It is halftime. Templeton is ahead 14-0. "Chapter 36 It's Our Half The locker room was dead quiet. Almost everyone was looking at Coach Drake, who sat facing the wall with his back to the team and coa ches. Emile was off by himself, fighting back tears. Emile felt responsible for the team being behind 14-0. Finally, Travis turned around. He had a curious smile. He walked over to Emile and said, "Emile, did you go all out the first half?" "Yes sir, but I screwed up badly."

Travis looked at everyone and declared, "Men, all I've ever asked is for you to go all out on every play. I've never asked you to win. I've never expected you to not make mistakes." Travis pulled Emile up and looked at him, "Emile, you're like my son . I could never get upset because you made a mistake if you were goin' all out. I love each of you. You're all like my family ." He gave Emile a big hug and whispered, "Don't worry about it, we'll kick their fannies the second half. "Now, here's what we're gonna do. We are gonna stick with our game plan, but we 'll just playa little tougher. I Down 14-0, How Would Coach DrakeRespond?

think the worst thing we can do is panic and start changing things around . Heck, all we gotta do is score once in the third quarter and shut them out. Then, score again the fourth quarter and go for two . We'll win 15-14 and be State Champs." That seemed to lift ev erybody's spirits. A roar came out of all the players. The en thus iasm and confidence were returning. The next statement by Travis was a shocker, "Bu t I'll tell you something, men . When I look at all we 've been through together, it really isn 't all that important if you win today." Travis paused briefl y before continuing, " The important things have already been done and learned.

You remember our first meeting when Rick did his 14 reps, which represented the State Championship. Well men, we are half through that 14th rep. You have worked tremendously hard to get to the 14th rep. You have spent all kinds of hours preparing to accomplish that worthy goal. It has been our 'Quest.' It has been our 'Quest for Greatness.' It has been a noble cause. You have developed leadership abilities . You have helped make Hamilton a great, great school. You have inspired teachers and other students to do the right thing for the right reasons. You have developed in the classroom and have achieved fine grades.

Many of you have established better relationships with your parents and families . It has been a joy to see and be a part of your progression . That's why I love each of you so much. "You see, you 've already won the most important "One Minute... You'll Get A Penalty For Being Late!" contest. You have gained a vict or y in mind and sp irit. You will take this victory and will conquer man y nobl e goa ls in the futur e. You will be su ccessfu l in your life's wo rk, and you'll be successful with your fu tur e families. You know how to se t go als and how to wo rk th rou gh ob st acles to attain them. "I know you 'll play your guts out this second half an that's enoug h for me .

So hold yo u r heads high . I wa nt you to play with class. Wh en you knock a Templeton player on his fanny, help him up . Tell him he 's pl ayin' a heck of a game and then knock ' im on his fanny again." Man y pl a yers had tears, so me we re say ing, " A ll right," but all we re fille d with pride a nd w ith a fierce determinati on to complete that "14th rep. " "Coach Myers," as ked Travis, "You go t an yth ing you want to say?" Big John Myers stood, but his voic e w as trembling, "1 love you kids, too. This year has been the best yea r of my life. I didn't know how much I mi ssed coa ching. Co ach Drake, our defense will shu t ' em out. You kid s on offense just get us fifteen."

Coa ch Littlewo od stood next, "I've never experienced an ything like this season in my life. You guys have mad e me proud on ce again to be a coac h. We can d o it! Just play together a nd we' ll w in this thin g." Everyo ne was stand ing, and aft er Coach Myer s' and Littl ewood's speeches, the noi se level wa s getting loud er an d loud er. Suddenly, a kn ock wa s he ard at the locker room door. A voice ye lled , "Two minutes! Two minutes!" Unpertu rbed, Travi s called upon Brian McMasters. "I' d like to thank Coach Drake w ho's helped make me a mu ch bett er coach. I've always wanted to w in badly, but I us ed to get really ne gative when w e lost.

I've learned from Coach Drake to really care about my player s - win or lo s e . Em il e, w e've g o t a tri ck o r tw o left to s h ow Templeton. We'll do it. I can feel it." Co ach Dr ake embraced Coach McMast er s a nd said, "Tha nks !" " O n e m inute! " T he voi ce boom ed , " Yo u' ll g e t a penalty for being late. "

QUEST FOR GREATNESS Continued from page 27 Ign or i n g th e war ning, Tr avi s ca l le d o u t, " C o a c h Miller." Tom resp onded, "1 don' t know wha t to say that hasn't a lrea d y been sa id . 1 fee l the sam e as eve ry on e else . 1 just k now o u r l in e m en are go ing to d om in at e th e lin e of scrim mage. It' s go ing to be our half ." "D o me! D ome' D orrie !" ca me th e fa m iliar frenzi ed cha n t. Travis held up hi s hands for qui et as he sto od on top of a locke r room bench. "Men, we coac hes a re goi ng out first. We' ll talk to th e refs. We'll p ro ba bly get a pe na lty for bein g late, but it won't matter.

We'll take th e ball a nd stuff it do w n th eir th roats anyway," roared Travis wi th a fist cle nched in the air . Afte r the coaches left, TJ spoke, "We ca n d o it. Seniors , th is is it. I love you guys." Everyon e put their rig h t hand toward the mid dl e of the circle. Rick quie tly but firml y addressed his team : " I cam e from not hin' . Every thi ng Coach Dra ke sa id is tru e. We a re wi n ne rs, a nd we've learned a lot. I' ll never forge t yo u gu ys." Th en Rick pointed at Lem and sta rted chanting, "Lern' Lern! Lem !" Eve ryone else qu ickly joined in th e cha n t an d bac ked away, lea ving Lem alone in the m id d le. For one final ti me , Lem began his Ton gan war cha nt.

It was wil d er th an ev er. Eve ryon e was go ing bonk er s . The H amilton Lio ns stamped ed ou t th e d oor. Dr. Kowa ls ki wo ndered, "Wha t's keep ing tho se guys? We' re ge tti ng a pe na lty." Pr in cipal Donaldso n sa id, "It's sure not very smart. In fact, it's kind of embarrassin g. You want me to go chec k on the m, sir? " Game Continued Next Issue OUEST FOR GREATNESS ............ "Wait Till Next Issue To See What Happens Or Get The Book Now"

THE BEST FOOTBALL BOOK EVER! Cost: Only $10.00 Quest For .Greatness Written By Greg Shepard Is A Special Novel For Football Coaches and Players. It Puts The Whole Secret Into A Real Life High School Situatuion. The Novel Is Based On True Stories From The Author's Clinic Travels and Own Experience.

·.···I T' S ID EAL Coaches can't put it down. Players see a new vision of what they can be. It's an ldealgift.It'san ideal way to grasp the vision: .

The Halftime Show Was Almost Over But Hamilton Was No Where To Be Seen.

From BFS Magazine — Summer 1992. Part of the BFS Magazine Archive (1980–2014).