Temptations (Part 1)
After my meeting with Coach Marrone, I went back to the dorm room I was assigned. A long way down the second floor's hallway led me to my "home" for my freshman year. I knocked on the door and after a few seconds, I was greeted by a large, dark hand reached out towards me.
"So you're the stud freshman everyone's talking about?"
"Haha, I guess so. Ethan Woy, wide receiver."
"Nice to meet ya kid. Name's Delone Carter, senior tailback and offensive captain."
Delone Carter was one of the nation's highest rated recruits back in 2005, when he ran for 2788 yards and 49 touchdowns at Copley High School. As a freshman he led Syracuse in rushing with 713 yards, but after a hip injury as a sophomore, he missed large amounts of time the past two years. Last year he only played in four games, rushing for a mediocre 137 yards. Now as a senior and finally healthy, he was named the starting runningback in spring practice and an offensive captain as well.
"So how does Marrone run practice?"
"Spring practices were a bitch. Your body's gonna be sore as fuck and you won't want to get out of bed the next morning. Fucking two-a-days man...I hate 'em."
"Haha, same here. Our one at Everett wasn't too bad, but I hate practice already. What makes coaches think I'll like it twice a day?"
"Very true. Good thing you came up early though."
"And why's that?"
"Parties...parties. You party in high school?"
"Oh yeah."
"You need to see how a Syracuse party throws down. In fact, there's one going on tomorrow night...huge shit. You down?"
I thought about Melyssa still at home for another month, but I needed to feel acceptance with my teammates and roommate.
"Definitely."
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The next day, myself, Delone and Mike all went to the Carrier Dome for the shooting of that commerical. I found it kind of amusing how I haven't even stepped onto the field for the Orange, but yet they were already putting me in local advertisements and such.
When I got there, all the cameras were all set up and there was a navy blue jersey waiting on a table. I walked over to it, knowing it was mine. Putting that number 15 jersey on for the first time in my career, I felt anxious to start the season already. As I started to talk to Delone and Mike, the director called for us to talk to him.
"So here's our offense this season, huh?"
"Haha, yes sir."
"Oh, and you must be Ethan Woy. Pleasure to meet you kid, the name's Greg Richards. Not often that an incoming freshman is the talk of the campus."
"Nice to meet you Greg. I don't know why they would be talking about me though, I haven't played a game yet."
"Expectations. There's a lot on you kid. Even though Delone and Mike here will graduate after this season and hopefully move onto the NFL, our offense will be fine ran through you. You're basically the 'franchise' as some writers like to say."
While I was talking with Greg, Delone and Mike were checking out the girl behind the camera.
"Damn, who's the shawty?"
"No clue brah. Looking good...for white meat, haha."
"Haha, no doubt. Gotta get her at that party tonight."
"Let's let the freshman take care of that. See if he's got any game."
"Yeah, good idea."
Greg eventually got the commerical rolling. After the third take, we got it down pat. Delone was first to speak.
"Tradition. Founding a football team in 1889, we, the Orange have won a total of 673 games, 12 bowl wins, and a national title in 1959. We have had 42 consensus All-Americans, including Hall of Famers such as Larry Csonka, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Jim Brown and Don McPherson and NFL stars such as Marvin Harrison, Donovan McNabb and Dwight Freeney."
He tossed the ball to Mike Williams to cue his take.
"Fans. The Carrier Dome is one of the loudest stadiums on game-day in the NCAA. A sea of orange surronds the opposing team, making life difficult everytime someone makes the trip up here. 31 years as our home field and still going strong."
Finally Mike threw the ball to me to cue my take.
"Future. With new coach Doug Marrone in, spirits are high. We signed a top 25 recruiting class and the hype behind the future of this program has student season ticket sales going through the roof. First the Big East, then the NCAA. We're back Syracuse, you better believe it."
Then I tossed the ball back to Mike. Moving in closer together, we each had a hand of the football and exclaimed...
"Tradition. Fans. Future. This is Syracuse football."
"And that's a wrap! Great work guys, spot-on with your lines."
"Thanks Greg. Hey Ethan."
"Yeah?"
"See the dime behind the camera?"
I looked over to see a very attractive blonde standing behind the piece of recording equipment. Something about her seemed familiar though.
"Damn, she's fine."
"Yeah. Go invite her that party tonight."
"Alright."
I made my way over to her, as she was tearing down the camera stand.
"He...wait. Don't I know you from somewhere?"
"Yeah you do. Think real hard."
"Give me a hint."
"Umm...okay. Hooters."
Ding, ding, ding. It all made sense now.
"Britt?"
"Surprised?"
"Yeah...how does a girl from the Hooters in Altoona end up at Syracuse?"
"I graduated from Altoona in 2008 and now I go here. The Hooters job...only summer. I major in Photography."
"Wow, well at least I know someone from here...sorta, haha. Hey listen, there's a party going down tonight...you interested?"
"Haha, silly freshman. Of course I know about it, and of course I'm going. You have no clue how we party at Syracuse."
"So I've heard. Guess I'll see you there then."
"Find me."
She winked at me and turned to walk away. I stood there for a few seconds, admiring that walk of her's; so beautiful. Her confidence, that intriguing smile, and that sexy body; it's going to be hard to keep my mind off of Melyssa. I never wanted to get myself caught up in anything that I regret, but the temptations of getting with Britt could be hard to resist...