A true high school football story is never welcoming. It does not appreciate you, accept you for being different, suggest models of genuine camaraderie, and does not give you the freedom of doing whatever you want without being judged or criticized. If a football story seems accepting, do not believe it. If at the end of a football story, you feel appreciated for being different, or if you feel that you fit in your environment, then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie. There is no rectitude for the new kid whatsoever. There is no hope for the new kid. As a first rule of thumb, therefore, you can tell a true football story if youre being ignored and unwanted.
Its difficult to separate what happened from what seemed to happen. It was the first day of pre-season football and the new sophomore was ready to make a statement at his school. He didnt want to be just another player on the team; he wants respect. As he confidently walks into the locker room for the first time, he receives looks of confusion and somewhat disapproval from his new teammates. It was as if he could telepathically read their baffled thoughts, Who is this guy?, Why is he here? Does he even go to this school?. He shrugs the looks of uncertainty off and heads towards the vacan
t lockers that are remotely distant from the other players lockers. ThatΒs when the intrigued senior captain notices the alien face sitting all by himself. They both make piercing eye contact before the senior approaches him, masking a perplexed look. Im Bryan Johnson, starting captain. The intimidated sophomore nods back, unable to produce words in his mouth. So why are you here, are you trying to take my spot?, remarks the senior in a mocking manner. The sophomore pauses for a few seconds and eyes him in an uneasy fashion, uncertain of how to respond to the peculiar question. I never said I was, Im just here to play football, mutters the sophomore. So why did you transfer here? You couldve gone to some other school like Episcopal or St. Johns. The sophomores mind went blank. Hes bewildered by the fact that its only his first day at Kinkaid and people seem to repulse his presence. As practice goes on, hes unable to focus and continuously messes up during the drills. Missed tackles, dropped catches, and poor decisions are the products of his unfocused mind. The sophomore tries initiating conversations with his new teammates and making connections but receives bored faces and bland one-word responses instead. He hates the people. He hates Kinkaid. He hates football.