July 31, 2013
About 3 months had passed since the spring game held at Memorial Stadium, in which the orange team had defeated the white team by a minimum of only 1 point.
After that game, team practices had been set aside, with the coaching staff focusing these last few months on the physical conditioning of all the players, which in other words only meant one thing: "Long hours in the gym."
If Wyatt had thought before that the training had been torture, the last few months had been like ending up straight in hell, with longer and more intense sessions, exercising until his body could give no more.
Of course, this part of the training was mandatory, and none of the coaches or team assistants forced them to be there in the middle of summer, as some players took the opportunity to return home or rest.
But the vast majority chose to stay and undergo the training voluntarily, knowing that a good performance in these months could mean a spot in the starting lineup for the season that was less than a month away from starting.
The most focused in these trainings, besides Wyatt, were the substitutes, who strove day by day, willing to demonstrate their best version so that the coaches would take them into account for this season.
The reason behind this is also because at the end of April, some of the starters from last season left the team due to declaring themselves eligible for the draft or simply because they had finished university.
That was one of the disadvantages of being a coach of a university team, since they had to face roster changes every 3 or 4 years, in which they had to search for and re-train players to replace the old ones.
The most urgent position to cover was that of Wide-receiver, since DeAndre Hopkins was selected in this year's draft by the Houston Texans, which is why Dabo had to evaluate whether one of the present players would replace him or if it would be one of the new recruits who began to arrive this month.
What Dabo was looking for was an X-receiver (Split end); this type of receiver is usually located on the line of scrimmage, usually away from the tight end. With a strong physique, their job is to win one-on-one duels on long passes.
Sammy could easily play in that position, but due to his skills, he usually plays as a Z-receiver (Flanker), standing one step behind the line of scrimmage, taking advantage of his speed and versatility to avoid the jam at the line and run deep.
While thinking about that, Wyatt remained focused on lifting the dumbbells he had in both hands with controlled movements and contracting his abdomen, finishing his last set of the day before dropping both dumbbells and getting up from the gym bench where he was sitting.
"Whew," he sighed with exhaustion while wiping the sweat from his face with his towel and taking a long sip from the Gatorade bottle he had grabbed from the fridge inside the gym.
"I can't take it anymore," complained the voice of Sammy, who had also finished what would be the last set of exercises while finishing his own bottle of Gatorade in a single gulp. "Thank God today was the last day of this torture," Sammy said aloud, earning the agreement of several players who, like Sammy, were dead.
"Attention," the voice of Dabo Swinney was heard as he entered the gym, blowing the whistle he wore around his neck, making everyone present in the gym pay attention to him as they formed a circle around him. "I declare today's session and summer training over," the next phrase provoked applause and whistles from the players, knowing that their torture had finally come to an end.
"But," that simple word caused the players who seconds before were celebrating to stop. "In one week we return to regular practices, and that's when the freshmen will arrive," he continued explaining while giving a look to each of the players present. "So I don't want you to relax or feel complacency; after all, I don't think you want to lose your spot to a freshman, right?" those words struck deep into some of the substitute or rotation players who did not want to spend another year on the team's bench.
"Well, that's all; now everyone to the showers, you stink," Dabo said with a laugh as he left the gym along with the rest of the coaching staff, leaving the players alone as they gathered in groups.
Finishing the training, Wyatt packed all his things in his backpack and, carrying it on his shoulder, headed straight for the showers, ready to take a quick shower before returning to his dorm.
"Hey Wyatt, are you coming with us?" Sammy said, pointing toward Tajh, who nodded, inviting him to head out together since in recent months the relationship among the three had shifted from teammates to friends.
"Sure," Wyatt responded, approaching them toward the exit door of the complex, being immediately met by the South Carolina summer sun. "Man, I hate the heat," Tajh said, putting a hand over his eyes, annoyed by the sun's rays falling directly on his face.
"This is nothing," said Wyatt, who was used to the scorching Texas sun, which is why the summer here in South Carolina didn't affect him in the least. "I forgot you're quite the Texas cowboy," Tajh replied with a smile to Wyatt. "Or maybe you just can't stand the heat," Sammy joined the conversation, as being from Florida, the sun didn't affect him in the least either.
"Whatever," Tajh said. "And tell me Wyatt, ready to warm the bench this season?" was Tajh's next phrase, as he knew he still hadn't lost his position as the Tigers' starting QB.
"Wait and see," Wyatt replied with the same smile, knowing that Tajh was simply playing with him and didn't say it with any malice or second intentions. "I'm just saying you still have time to be a redshirt," Tajh replied with sincerity in his voice.
Being a Redshirt athlete in the context of the NCAA is a designated year in which a student-athlete withdraws from competition to extend their eligibility, which normally allows four seasons of play within a five-year period. Athletes can practice and receive scholarships, but they cannot play in games.
That meant Wyatt could have this whole year to train and mesh with the team, ready to be the starting quarterback once Tajh finished what would be his last season wearing the Tigers' jersey.
"Don't even dream about it," Wyatt replied, having full confidence in his abilities and that sooner or later the Quarterback position would be his, or at least that he could play half of the games this season without any problem.
While both argued among themselves, Sammy was focused on his phone while a silly smile settled on his face looking at the mobile screen. "Seriously, another one?" Tajh said, already knowing what that silly face on his friend's face meant.
"Come on man, you can't blame them for wanting some of this," Sammy said with a smirk while his hand passed over his entire body. "If you thought less with your lower part and more with your head, you could improve your level," Tajh repeated the same phrase Sammy had heard hundreds of times like a mantra, at which he simply rolled his eyes in a clear sign that he didn't care in the least.
"Come on man, have some fun," he said while putting his arms around the shoulders of his two friends. "If you want, I can introduce you to some female friends," he told them in a low voice while giving a conspiratorial wink to both.
"I'll pass," Tajh said while pushing away the hand Sammy had around his shoulder. "Me too," Wyatt replied, repeating the same action Tajh had done. "Come on guys, not everything is football," Sammy insisted, not willing to give up.
"Come on rookie, with that face it would be a waste not to take advantage of it," Sammy told him, trying to convince Wyatt to relax and enjoy his best years in university. "I must get the starting position on the team," Wyatt replied, rolling his eyes. "I must prevent him from taking the starting position from me," Tajh replied quickly before Sammy tried to convince him as well.
"You guys are no fun," Sammy said, dropping his shoulders in a clear sign of defeat. "I guess it's my duty to celebrate for the three of us," Sammy said dramatically before receiving a slap on the back of his head from Tajh, who had already had enough of his friend.
"Okay, okay, just me then," Sammy said, rubbing the back of his head where the blow had landed while making a gesture to the two of them and heading down another path toward the date he had scheduled.
"Is he always like this?" Wyatt asked, still wondering how someone like Tajh ended up having someone as carefree as Sammy as a friend. "To be honest, I ask myself the same question," Tajh replied, gazing at the place where Sammy had walked away as both arrived at the area where the campus residences and fraternities were located.
"Well, I'll stay here," Tajh told him, pointing to the Alpha Sigma Phi building, one of the most important and popular fraternities at the university. "I'll see you later then," Wyatt told him as he continued his way and arrived directly at his residential building, and reaching his floor, he was surprised to find the hallway full of boxes and his room door open.
Curious, Wyatt poked his head through the door, seeing inside his room a young man along with an older woman, who was probably his mother, organizing a pile of boxes and other things in the other half of the room.
Once the boy turned his face, Wyatt recognized him immediately. "Laquon," Wyatt called out, surprised to see his teammate from the Under Armour All-American, who turned upon hearing his name, his face revealing the same look of surprise upon seeing Wyatt.
"Wyatt," Laquon said, excited to see Wyatt again, immediately approaching him to give him a fraternal hug while patting him on the back. "What are you doing here man," Wyatt asked, surprised to see an old acquaintance in his room.
"Well, it seems like now we are roommates," Laquon answered him with a slight tone of relief in his voice, knowing he wouldn't share the room with a complete stranger. "Do you know him, honey?" asked the woman, who until that moment had stayed watching the scene between the two.
Subsequently, Laquon began to make the corresponding introductions, presenting his mother Tami to Wyatt and how the two had met in Florida on the day of the Under Armour exhibition game.
"So you are the boy my son talks about so much," Tami said, remembering how Laquon had told her about this boy who had thrown him some incredible passes in that game and had convinced him to go play at Clemson.
"Guilty," Wyatt said with a smile at that.
After that, a conversation followed while Wyatt helped Laquon and his mother unpack their things under the embarrassing anecdotes of Laquon's mother about his childhood, to Wyatt's delight and the latter's horror.
"Well, I think that's all," Tami said, brushing off her hands, finishing emptying the last box that was in the hallway. "It seems so," Laquon said, not knowing what else to say before being surrounded by his mother's arms in a goodbye hug, and minutes later waving goodbye, leaving the two young men alone in the room.
"I am officially dead," Wyatt said, throwing himself onto his bed. "So, how's the team?" Laquon asked him curiously, wanting to know how everything was at the university.
"I'll just say you're going to like it," Wyatt said with a sinister smile on his face, imagining Laquon suffering in practices like he had in recent months.
After that, Laquon continued asking him questions about the team, campus life, and classes, to which Wyatt responded with patience until it was time for dinner and the two left the residence heading for the dining hall.
Authors thought's
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