Hero
The bus ride to Storrs felt so long. I had so much thoughts running through my mind that I couldn't sleep a wink. I was sitting by myself, staring out at the landscape when I felt someone sit down beside me.
"How are you Ethan?"
"I'm good Coach. What's up?"
"I'd like to talk about next year already."
Was I even going to be here next year? I didn't even know that.
"Coach, aren't you worried about beating UConn more?"
"Haha, yes but I wanted to bring something to your attention."
"I'm listening."
"How would you like it if we switched to a spread attack next season?"
Michael Crabtree, say what? I could literally feel the drool running off my lip.
"Coach, I'd love that. Why are you thinking about doing that though?"
"Ethan, did you see who we have coming back next year? We have slim talent at runningback but some nice players behind you at receiver. If Ryan can have a good camp, I really believe we can be successful if we run such an offense. Plus, you could shatter Michael Crabtree's stats and lead us to a bowl game."
He was right. Behind Delone, we had no one at the runningback spot, but behind myself and Mike, we had a nice amount of talent. A spread attack would only make sense.
"Yeah Coach, I'd be down with that."
Some more small talk ensued before Coach went back up to the front to talk with his coaching staff. I put in my earbuds and turned on my iPod, listening to some Nas as we made our way to Storrs - the site of the showdown between the two worst teams in the Big East.
"Chain gleaming, switching lanes, two-seating,
Hate him or love him, for the same reason.
Can't leave it, the games needs him,
Plus the people need someone to believe in.
So in God's Son we trust,
'Cause they know I'm gonna give 'em what they want.
They looking for a hero.
I guess that makes me a hero."
...
"Who we are!?"
"SU!"
"And what we do!?"
"Stomp on you!"
"I'd said, what we do!?"
"Stomp on you!"
"Break it down now! One, two, three..."
"SU Will rock you!"
The cheer wasn't as loud as it was that first game, but nonetheless it got the team fired up. I, however, was already ready for next year - whether that would be in a Syracuse uniform or at another campus. I made my way with Delone to the middle of the field where we would stand face to face with Connecticut captains Andre Dixon and Brad Kanuch.
We won the toss and elected to receive. After the return, we took over from the 25 and went to work. Greg hit me twice - both for first downs - and then Delone carried it the rest of the time. Punching it in from the five yard line, we celebrated an early touchdown over our rival.
However, UConn rode their horse Andre Dixon down the field to counter our score. It was tied up at seven as the first quarter came to a close and I knew we would be in a dogfight once last time. Both teams continued to respond to each other's scoring, as it was 17-17 with three minutes left in the fourth quarter.
I was kneeling down on the sidelines, helmet in my hand, wanting one more drive. The Huskies offense continued to drive down the field and with one and a half minutes left in the game, the defense held up and forced the Huskies into a field goal.
"Kick return team! Field it cleanly, make your blocks and get us good field position!"
And that's exactly what we didn't do. Kevyn Scott fumbled the catch and only got to the 15 yard line. I jogged my way over onto the field before I was pulled back by Coach.
"Listen. I told Greg to look your way this final drive. Yes, this year is lost, but right here is where you make a statement. Next year is your year. Show the nation why you should be an All-American. Show the nation why you could win the Heisman next year. This isn't our time...this is yours."
And before I could say anything, he made his way back to the offensive coordinator. I was shocked he'd say something like that, honestly, but it made me feel more confident than I've ever felt before in my collegiate career.
Greg called the cadence and went to work. First he hit me for a 24 yard gain, then threw a screen to Delone for 16. 40 yards down in two plays was proceeded by a scramble by the former Duke point guard for 13. Then the offense was stopped in its tracks. The next two plays, Greg threw an incompletion and was sacked. As Paulus went down, I ran to the official to signal timeout.
As I looked into everyone's eyes in the huddle, I noticed the emotional pain building from another potential loss. Despite not being very talented, I knew that they loved this game...and so did I. It would be hard to leave these guys after the season, if I chose to.
"Down, set, hut!"
...
"Here's the ball game. Paulus looks right, looks for Woy..."
...
"Come on, beat the coverage..."
...
"...he fires..."
...
"...catch it..."
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"Trips left, Woy split out to the right. Looks like double coverage on him...and here's the snap! Paulus stares down Woy, and fires. It's in his hands...and oh no! The hit caused Woy to drop it, another tough loss for Syracuse. The final score from the Carrier Dome is West Virginia 13, Syracuse 7."
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"...and it's caught! Woy is past the defense, and it'll be the game-winning touchdown! SYRACUSE WINS IT!"
I ripped off my helmet and threw it in the air as the entire team ran towards me. This felt different from the game-winning touchdown in the state championship, because it feels like a bigger weight has been lifted. I felt more like a hero in this case, as I left the stadium on my teammates's shoulders.
Leaving Syracuse will be hard, if I decide to do so...
8 catches, 120 yards, 1 TD