But then, I was only a college kid about to start my junior year. Now, I’m a teammate.
Fucking crazy.
“I hope you don’t mind that I crashed the party,” Bailey jokes.
“I hopeyoudon’t mind me being the weak link today,” I say without thinking.
Shit, I need to stop doing that. Putting myself down as a default reaction. It’s not helping anything.
“You’re right where you need to be, Rawley,” Johnson reassures me.
“Truly. I was clueless as fuck until halfway into my first season,” Bailey adds.
“Thanks,” I say, not sure what else to reply. “But, yeah, it’s awesome for you to be here. I’m sure I’ll have a million questions.”
“Bring ’em on.” Bailey turns to Johnson. “What’s the plan today, QB1?”
“Rawley, why don’t you guide us, actually? What plays are not sticking yet? We can focus on those.”
They both level their eyes in my direction, waiting for me to take the reins. A perennial Pro Bowler in Bailey, and our starting quarterback of four years, Johnson.
It’s unreal, and a little startling, to have these two guys so nonchalant about handing the buck to me.
Football may be a source of confidence for me, but they are the best of the best.
And fully grown men, not the kids I’ve been playing with since my flag football days.
“Okay, sure.” Wanting to meet Johnson’s call, I mentally click through the most important plays that I’ve yet to nail down. “Why don’t we start with…” And I go through an initial list of five.
Fifteen minutes later, we start working through the third play I’ve selected. Looking over the diagram in the playbook first, I close my eyes and recite the play call name while also “seeing” my part in the play.
When I open my eyes, I see Johnson watching me.
“You visualizing the play?”
“Yeah, it helps me hold on to the info.”
“Totally, it’s actually a great way to learn. I do something similar; I like to draw everything out.”
“Like literally draw it?”
“Yeah, it’s my version of what you’re doing. Landon and Grace can attest to all the scraps of paper I leave around during this time of the season.” He chuckles lightly.
“It’s good to know I’m not weird.”
He looks at me thoughtfully. “If you’re weird, so am I. But whatever it takes, right?”
“Right.”
He keeps studying me. “You know you’re doing great, don’t you? I hope you see that for yourself.”
Too often, I still don’t feel that way, but I appreciate his words of affirmation.
“Thanks, Johnson, that means a lot. Seriously.”
He nods. “Well, let’s keep this train moving. Practice the one you just picked.”
We go over fourteen plays total, all of which I haven’t mastered yet.
