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Chapter 1: Sanctuary
August 23, 2024
happiness (n.) - state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
Everyone has a sanctuary where they can find happiness or get away from their problems. For most people that place is usually their room, vehicle or that little hide-out in the backyard you had when you were a kid. That area is the most relaxing place in the world and once you found it, you've found something special.
My sanctuary consists of a 120-yard grass field, two goal posts and two large sections of grandstands. Every Friday night, those grandstands will fill up with anxious spectators, the field will see 22 men do battle and I will finally find a happiness or a calming peace in my life when I stand as one of those men, awaiting the snap from my center.
Some might say that living in the shadow of an all-time great puts a lot of pressure on you. There are those who relish the pressure, while there are others who fold under it. Me? I love it. I love being the son of Ethan Woy. I love being compared to my father - even though we play different positions - and the publicity that comes with it.
The community loves the fact I'm the son of arguably the greatest player in college football history. I can go to a local McDonald's and get my value meal for free. Need a ticket to the big concert held at LP Field? I can get them for next to nothing if I asked. Hell, the last time I went to a car dealership, the salesman wanted to sell me a brand new 2024 Ford Mustang for a fourth of its regular price. I had to decline that last offer though; I'm only 14.
But all of that is besides the point; let's get back to my sanctuary.
Davidson Academy has an excellent football tradition, winning three state titles in the last five years and 10 championships over the last 15 years. Most of their squads were senior-laden and once the current class would depart, they'd reload with the next class and continue their success. It's been 34 years since a freshman made the varsity squad; that is, until now.
...
"I'm on the pursuit of happiness and I know, everything that shine ain't always gonna be gold, I'll be fine once I get it, I'll be good..."
Those words played through my iPod headphones and always calmed me before a game. When I found out about music, my father pushed me aside from the new stuff on the radio and gave me some of his favorites from back in his college days. Now while everyone's listening to MJ the Milkman and Lil' Kane, I've got classics from the late 2000's and early 2010's that I can hang onto.
"You listening to that Kid Cootie shit again?" Seth asked after overhearing the familiar beat from my ear-buds.
Seth Harris was a sophomore receiver who made varsity, but like me, wouldn't see much playing time. Being basically the two youngest players on the varsity roster and having the quarterback/receiver cliche connection working for us, we became best friends.
"Cudi...it's Cudi man," I corrected him, shaking my head. "How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Chill," he chuckled. "That shit just sounds so bad compared to the stuff out now."
"Really?" I shot back. "At least my shit doesn't sound so...so Gucci Mane or Waka Flocka."
"Who the hell are they?"
I burst out in laughter and patted him on the shoulder. "You wouldn't want to know."
"Whatever," he scoffed. "You ready to do some work against the second-stringers?"
"Ah you already know cuz," I answered with a smirk. "Coach better call some pass plays in garbage time so we can get our yards."
"Yeah definitely. You going to Greg's after this?"
Greg Yanders was a junior offensive tackle whose older brother was the usual party host the last few years. His family's warehouse back in the country was the perfect spot for post-game 'celebrations' and weekend 'get togethers' and it was pretty much guaranteed that he was having something after we won.
"I guess so," I hesitantly answered. The truth was that I didn't really want to go out, but I also didn't want to be anti-social and leave my friend hanging. "Should I tell my dad that I'm staying the night at your place?"
"Yeah, that'll be cool. I'll get Eric to pick us up at my house."
...
"Josh Thomas looks to his left, scrambles away from the pressure, sees Myron Williams open and heaves it in his direction...it's caught and they aren't catching him! Touchdown Bears! Thomas made something out of nothing and is rewarded with another touchdown pass!"
Everyone that was wearing burgundy and white, which was essentially 95% of the crowd, cheered and gave the first-team offense a standing ovation as they racked up their sixth touchdown of the game. At 45-0, the game was a blowout victory like most predicted, but the main attraction was about to enter the game.
"Woy!" Coach James yelled to the bench area where I was standing. I sprinted quickly to him and awaited the signal to enter the game. A simple hand gesture was that signal and after some of the fans started to make their way to the gates, they turned around and scrambled back to their seats as I jogged onto the field for my first varsity action.
With the second-string offense around me, I looked over to Coach Harris - our offensive coordinator - who put five fingers in the air. Checking the play sheet on my arm, I was sort of disappointed when I saw it was a simple run play.
"Ace 22 Blast on two. Ready? Break!"
Looking out to thousands of fans - fans that I would make a permanent mark in their lives for the next four years - I grinned and took my place under center.
"Red 35, Red 35," I barked out, scanning the defense as if I were going to run a pass play. "Set...hut, hut!"
The snap was clean and took one step before turning around to hand the ball off. Julius Evert, a junior fullback, received the exchange perfectly and threw his body into the pile ahead, gaining three or four yards. I looked up at the clock as it read 1:13 and figured we'd continue to run the ball and eat more time.
Coach Harris raised both of his hands and put up seven fingers, which brought a smile to my face as I looked down at my play sheet. Finally I would get to showcase my arm.
"Ace 34 Y Oakland on one. Ready? Break!"
Receiving another clean snap, I went into a five-step drop and read their zone defense. As Seth dug his cleat into the ground and turned his head to the outside, I fired a bullet 15 yards downfield which hit him right in the hands. He corralled it and was tripped from behind, but not after gaining another five yards.
Two more running plays sealed the deal and as the horn sounded the end of the game, I looked over to the cheerleaders and caught some of the sophomore ones glancing at me and giggling. Turning my head to Seth behind me, he shook his head yes and muttered, "They'll be there tonight." Suddenly, I didn't feel so hesitant about going to this party.
My first impression on the Davidson Academy faithful was a success; could my first impression on the older cheerleaders be one as well?
I'm back to claim my throne on the best site the interwebz can provide. This is my NCAA '11 Road to Glory story, and if you followed my NCAA '10 one - Catching Controversy | The Legend of Ethan Woy - you know you'll be getting a story that will have an ending (eventually, lol), that consists of football, sex, and other legal/illgeal things that will have your head spinning. Expect lots of twists and turns, cliffhangers and some updates that will come days after I promised them.
I already have some updates done, so I'll begin by posting 1-2 a day till I get where I am currently in the story. If you're lost, click one of the banners below to catch up on a lot of reading in the first part of this story, otherwise sit back and enjoy the ride.
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