“That’s it! Get to the ballcarrier!”
Wasrabi Gleel’s booming voice thundered over the practice field at Windsor High School. The team had been doing well, winning their first playoff game in the Varsity DIII conference in Vermont, but when the team’s head coach Bob Hingston heard that Gleel would be in town visiting his family in between ISFL games, he came up with an idea to increase the morale and motivation of his young squad, which had taken a hit due to his sudden retirement at the age of 64.
“So what do you think of the team, Gleel?” Bob asked.
“They’re big for highschoolers. How tall is that tackle?”
“Randall O’Shea? He’s 6’4, 280. He’s already got scouts knocking down his door. He’s been on the team since he was a freshman. He was already 6’1 at 15.”
“Damn, I hope I won't have to go up against that kid someday.” Gleel joked.
“Listen, I appreciate you doing this. When the team found out about my retirement they were pretty distraught. I’ve coached a lot of these kids fathers, and some of their grandfathers even. We have a new coach coming up from Providence, Rhode Island to take the reins, but as I told you he won't be able to make it before this weekend's game. This is a must win for the Yellow Jackets.”
“I understand, Coach. Anything to help the squad.”
-------------------
“Timeout!” Coach Gleel made a T-sign with his hands and called over the offense. They were running out of time, but thankfully they had gotten the ball back with just under a minute left on the clock, down by six points. Gleel knew the team needed a hit of inspiration.
“Listen, young men, listen: They can’t keep up with us! This is a sixty minute game, and guess what? We’re on the last minute. This comes down who wants it more! Why’d we come out here today if not to give it our all? I know y’all are tired but turn around and look at your teammates next to you: What would you give for them? 70%? 80% of your best? What about your parents and friends in the stands? They came on out here, what will you give them? I’ll tell you, if you’re here right now, you gotta dig deep and give nothing less than 100% of what you have to seize this moment. You win here, and you’ll remember this night the rest of your lives, I promise you that. Let’s get on out there and seal this victory, not for ourselves, but for one another, and for our loved ones watching. Family on three: One, two, three, FAMILY!” Gleel shouted as the offense echoed the final words.
The speech must have worked, because suddenly the Yellow Jackets were moving the chains and getting out of bounds. The QB lofted a beautiful pass over the head of the OLB to the slanting WR, who was able to break a tackle and make a dive for the endzone. Touchdown, Yellow Jackets!
The cheers were uproarious. With only five seconds on the clock, the game was all but over.
. . . Until . . .
The kicker booted the ball downfield to the opponents ten yard line where it was caught by the starting RB for the Springfield Cosmos. He darted and weaved past and through the first level of the Jackets special teamers, then turned himself to the sideline and kicked it into another gear. He sprinted down the sideline as the kicker dove to push him out of bounds, but the RB tip-toed a few paces before regaining his balance. He returned the kick for a TD as time expired. Game over, Yellow Jackets.
On the flight back to Chicago, Gleel received an email from Coach Hingston. It thanked him for his time and effort spent with the team, and praised his coaching in spite of the rough loss. Coach Hingston inquired if there would be a possibility of another coaching stint for Gleel in Windsor next season. When Gleel read this, he smiled softly before typing a laconic response.
“The Curse and I will stay in Chicago.”
(690 words)
Wasrabi Gleel’s booming voice thundered over the practice field at Windsor High School. The team had been doing well, winning their first playoff game in the Varsity DIII conference in Vermont, but when the team’s head coach Bob Hingston heard that Gleel would be in town visiting his family in between ISFL games, he came up with an idea to increase the morale and motivation of his young squad, which had taken a hit due to his sudden retirement at the age of 64.
“So what do you think of the team, Gleel?” Bob asked.
“They’re big for highschoolers. How tall is that tackle?”
“Randall O’Shea? He’s 6’4, 280. He’s already got scouts knocking down his door. He’s been on the team since he was a freshman. He was already 6’1 at 15.”
“Damn, I hope I won't have to go up against that kid someday.” Gleel joked.
“Listen, I appreciate you doing this. When the team found out about my retirement they were pretty distraught. I’ve coached a lot of these kids fathers, and some of their grandfathers even. We have a new coach coming up from Providence, Rhode Island to take the reins, but as I told you he won't be able to make it before this weekend's game. This is a must win for the Yellow Jackets.”
“I understand, Coach. Anything to help the squad.”
-------------------
“Timeout!” Coach Gleel made a T-sign with his hands and called over the offense. They were running out of time, but thankfully they had gotten the ball back with just under a minute left on the clock, down by six points. Gleel knew the team needed a hit of inspiration.
“Listen, young men, listen: They can’t keep up with us! This is a sixty minute game, and guess what? We’re on the last minute. This comes down who wants it more! Why’d we come out here today if not to give it our all? I know y’all are tired but turn around and look at your teammates next to you: What would you give for them? 70%? 80% of your best? What about your parents and friends in the stands? They came on out here, what will you give them? I’ll tell you, if you’re here right now, you gotta dig deep and give nothing less than 100% of what you have to seize this moment. You win here, and you’ll remember this night the rest of your lives, I promise you that. Let’s get on out there and seal this victory, not for ourselves, but for one another, and for our loved ones watching. Family on three: One, two, three, FAMILY!” Gleel shouted as the offense echoed the final words.
The speech must have worked, because suddenly the Yellow Jackets were moving the chains and getting out of bounds. The QB lofted a beautiful pass over the head of the OLB to the slanting WR, who was able to break a tackle and make a dive for the endzone. Touchdown, Yellow Jackets!
The cheers were uproarious. With only five seconds on the clock, the game was all but over.
. . . Until . . .
The kicker booted the ball downfield to the opponents ten yard line where it was caught by the starting RB for the Springfield Cosmos. He darted and weaved past and through the first level of the Jackets special teamers, then turned himself to the sideline and kicked it into another gear. He sprinted down the sideline as the kicker dove to push him out of bounds, but the RB tip-toed a few paces before regaining his balance. He returned the kick for a TD as time expired. Game over, Yellow Jackets.
On the flight back to Chicago, Gleel received an email from Coach Hingston. It thanked him for his time and effort spent with the team, and praised his coaching in spite of the rough loss. Coach Hingston inquired if there would be a possibility of another coaching stint for Gleel in Windsor next season. When Gleel read this, he smiled softly before typing a laconic response.
“The Curse and I will stay in Chicago.”
(690 words)