My junior year of high school I began playing football. I found myself starting at left defensive end. There were write-ups about me in the local newspaper and named All-State for our division of small farm towns my senior year.
My family broke up when I was 12 and we did not have much money. The only way I could go to college was on scholarship. I waited impatiently for the offers to roll in. However, the large and medium schools passed on me. The only scholarship was from the local small university just down the road from where I grew up.
The university placed the red shirt on me the first year since they were loaded with defensive linemen. The coach hoped I gain some weight and play interior and put me on special diet. I went from 6 foot-three and 240 pounds to 6 foot-three and half inch and 250 pounds. I became much stronger and faster during the off year.
My second year of college, first year of eligibility, I found myself at left defensive end again since I did not put on the weight the coaches hoped. There was a senior ahead of me and my job was to learn as much as I could from him. The first game of the season I got two plays. As the season progressed, I saw more playing time until the sixth game when we shared the duties 50/50.
Jim, the senior, stopped me after the game and announced I would be starting next week. “Don’t screw the pooch” or I would have to deal with him. His prediction came true and I started the next week as a redshirt freshman. Jim’s playing time went down from there.
In my second year I started every game and played most downs. Again, I saw my name and picture in the local newspaper. The accolades rolled in as the season progressed. Our first game is always against a larger university. Our university makes some money and they get a tune up to start their season. In twenty years, we have never won this game. Our defense took it to them and we won it for the first time 14-13.
The tenth game of the season, second to last, we had a pro-scout come to watch us. He was interested in our senior safety who was leading the nation in interceptions and our junior linebacker who lead our conference in tackles. We won the game and during our celebration, he asked the three of us to meet with him. I was quite surprised when he was interested in a red shirt Junior from a small school. He wanted to see the opposing team’s running back and that opportunity was lost since I shut down that half of the field.
Things could not have been better for me until the fourth quarter of the last game of the season. It was our archrivals and we were playing for first place in our conference. We were up by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, held them three and out again. They were set back 15 yards for the fullback clipping me in the open field.
I remember my knee feeling stiff as I left the field. I assured the trainer I was all right. The next play as I stood up the offensive tackle, I heard a loud snap as my right knee gave out. I collapsed like an old folding chair. Everything went into slow motion. I could see the tackle waving to our sideline to get me help. Then I noticed their wide receiver coming around on a reverse. Our linebacker and cornerback had perfect inside-out coverage on him and tackled him for a 10-yard loss.
The next thing I knew the trainer, doctor and coach were working on me. I could feel the scissors cutting my pants off. Then the trainer was blowing up the emergency air cast. There was more than enough adrenaline and endorphins pumping through me and I felt nothing at the time. They loaded me on the cart and I remember the young training assistant, a girl of five foot two and maybe 110 pounds trying to lift me up. I felt sorry for her having to lift my helpless 250 pounds.
They loaded me on a cart and drove off the field. I knew mom was in the stands and waved to her to let her know I was all right. The whole stadium erupted in cheers. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew it would be the last time I leave the field as a ball player. Our locker room was in the other direction. They loaded me into an ambulance and straight to the hospital.
It was near ten o’clock at night when they gave me some pain killer. Even with the drugs running through me, it still hurt. I saw several specialists over the next few days. Their best hope was to get me walking again. I could not watch our playoff game on TV for I was in surgery that afternoon.
My fifth surgery was the week leading up to the first game of the next season. The pro scout came back to see me and was disappointed to find out I was in the hospital. He actually came to me when surgery was over. I do not know if he was trying to make me feel better but he said I was the best athlete he ever saw at this level of football.
I finished my bachelor’s degree a year after my injury. I majored in business marketing. The head of the economics had a grant and offered me to stay and get my master’s degree. My university has a good business school and an equally good nursing school. The nursing college started physical therapy years before and the college continued pay for PT for me.
The college was now known as Health and Human Services and had its own building on the north side of campus. They added two wings that formed a Y leading to the street. The west side is a clinic for students and poor people of the little town. The east wing is physical therapy for students and everyone in town. Mostly it served older people recovering from knee and hip surgeries but occasionally the odd sports injury from organized high school to the Saturday afternoon sports enthusiast.
The special requirement needed to rehab my knee required me to there either early morning or late afternoon. Since the students were volunteering the time, it was evening. There was a teacher and one or two student for rehabbing my knee. The students got credit for lab work and graded on their performance.
Since high school, I have always gone to the bathroom before a workout and PT was a workout. However, there was a problem. At 5:00, the normal hours are over and there was a cleaning crew in the bathrooms. I did not want to upset them so I went looking for another. There is study lounge between the two wings. I think it used to be an office. It was always empty so I would stop there first before starting my PT.
It was three years after blowing out my knee and the new school year was starting. The teacher rarely showed up anymore since I gave better instructions than he did on the rehab of my knee. I can get around in most days without brace but there are occasions the knee will stiffen with a need for it.
The university has been modernizing all the bathrooms and including handicapped accessible. I came down the hall went by the four large windows and entered the old oak door. I found the bathroom wall removed and replaced with a plastic tarp. The toilet itself was in working order with paper available. In all years of coming here, I have never been interrupted, not even once.
That is until the day where my privacy was compromised. I was getting up when I heard the door open to the lounge, a girl in a wheel chair and her friend pushing her. Excuse me I stated. Both girls were oblivious to me. I yelled again at them and they looked at me. The one reached the door to leave and the wheelchair bound girl said “what” then left.
I went to my PT as usual and afterwards the one in the wheelchair was standing waiting for me. She introduced herself as Mary and apologies for not leaving straight away. The she asked if I was the football player. As she spoke, I could tell she was deaf and apologies for yelling at her earlier.
She said it was ok and again asked if I was a football player. I used to be before this, I responded while pointing at my knee. She quickly explained they were looking for a coach for her flag football team and asked if I was interested. Before I could answer, she added come meet the team. We agreed to meet on the practice field the next night. To this day, I do not recall saying yes I would do it.
Tuesday at 6:30, I met the rest of the team. They were all hearing impaired some completely deaf and some partly deaf. The school started a program 30 years ago catering to deaf people. They have special aid to help them through classes. I found out there are nearly 100 students attending this college with some sort of hearing impairment.
I quickly explained that I do not sign and they would have to read my lips in order for this to work. They agreed and the ones with partial hearing would get the attention of those who had no hearing when I wanted them.
My first order of business was to see what abilities were available to form a team. I know most flag football is about throwing and catching with very little running plays. Four could catch the ball without squinting which two of them actually pursued the ball. Mary had a good arm and was an accurate thrower and one was small and speedy. This left me with six girls for blocking and defense. I organized several drills to teach the basics of football.
At the close of our first night, the school appointed coach asking me why was I there. I tried to explain the invitation by the girls and the appointed coach raged at me about the inappropriateness of my actions. Mary the ringleader of the girls stood up for me stating she invited me. The next day Mary, the appointed coach and I met with the dean of Health and Human Services, Dr. Shirley McLain.
The appointed coach lodged a complaint about me to the dean. Mary spoke up and said she wanted a real football player to coach them. Mary and the other coach argued back and forth. I remember the coach saying she studied football extensively and understands the needs the hearing impaired. Mary explained she was deaf and not impaired, and this coach could not even throw the football.
The dean finally looked at me and asked if I was interested in coaching these girls. She explained the goal was to integrate this group of girls into normal college life so the dean organized this team. I had the night to think it over. I was interested because I could participate in the game I loved. My commented was, “Those who cannot play - teach.” The dean made me the new coach of this team.
I met with the Dean after the other two left. The dean warned me about complications of becoming romantically involved with the girls. Because it was intermural and it is not an official position, there is no rule against it, but still not a good idea. After I said it would not happen, she explained it would happen if I do not guard against it. The Dean said her office was open if I needed help.
We met for practice that night and Mary apologized for setting me up the way she did. I confirm with all the girls if they were in favor of me coaching and they all agreed. I mentioned to them on the field they were football players and I would treat them as such.
We broke out into the drills we started the night before. Denise, the one they called mighty mouse, asked when they were going to learn some plays. Denise is just shy of 5 feet and is quick as lighting. I pictured her as a running back. I told her they have to learn how to walk before they can run. Towards the end of practice, we ran through some plays.
Thursday night, third day as coach, I had them running their drills and they became lackadaisical and I yelled at them. The one signed the other that I should go easy on them since they were girls. I yelled back they were football players and the game is not for whiners. There was an uneasy apprehension the rest of the practice.
I came into a mutiny the forth practice. It seems some of them did not like me lying to them about knowing sign language. I explained to them I did not lie to them. My mother went deaf when I was ten, which lead to the breakup of my family. I had to learn how to communicate with my mom. I read lips and learned signing. My brother signs gracefully and it looks a ballet. When I sign, it looks like I have Tourette’s. I am not good at it, although I can read it. Therefore, I do not sign. I apologized for misleading them. We got back to practice.
We only spent half the night going through drills and the other half working a plays. Because of the drills, the plays worked beautifully. Denise ran the ball around the corner making some great moves. I hollered good job and I started to swat her butt, but the dean’s words came back to me. I stopped half way. This action seen by another player, immediately admonished me for stopping.
She retold me, “We are all football players on this field. There are no girls here and no whiners. If you slap butts in football which I know you do, you slap our butts too.” She waved Denise over who stuck her butt out waiting for me to finish what I started. I gave it a quick slap and said good job. My embarrassment was profound and they all got a good laugh at my expense.
The Dean was watching us that evening and I went to her when practice was over. I asked about the situation. She replied it was my rule. I mentioned the discussion we had about inappropriate behavior. We discussed the situation. As the Dean was leaving she said, “For the record I think you handled it well and as for deciding which rule you will follow, welcome to adulthood.”
Most of the girls were heading home for the weekend and our next practice was on Monday. That brought several parents out to meet the coach after Friday’s practice. Their main concern was the safety of their daughters. It was hard for me to say they would not get hurt with surgical scars on my knee looking like a roadmap of downtown Pittsburgh. They watch practice and left.
Over the weekend it dawned on me that we could use the deafness to our advantage. Our first game was the following Saturday at noon and we worked hard every evening. We spent the first 10 minutes going through drills and the last 50 minutes going through plays. I started signing plays into the offense and defense. They did laugh at me the first few times I signed but then they remembered my warning about my signing capabilities. The signing work well our first game. I signaled in the play and Mary could change the play without anyone knowing what we were doing.
Karen, a defensive lineman, had her parents at the game. It was during the second half she got her jersey torn exposing most of her top. Our jerseys are the same colored T-shirts with our team name. She ran off the field and the other girls surrounded her as she put on a new jersey. The refs started calling holding penalties after that.
We won the game 42 to 35. Karen’s mother stopped me after the game and thanked me for the confidence I gave her daughter. She explained the year before Karen would have cried if something like that happened to her in public. Thinking back on it, I instilled a sense of purpose that exposed her confidence.
There were six teams and the season was five games long. The college decided to have a championship game at the end with the winners getting a plastic trophy and a certificate. We won all five of our games one by forfeit since the one team disbanded and the rest by wide margins.
We played the first team in the championship. We won the game 49 to 14. We had three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Karen, a defensive tackle, got a touchdown when she dropped back into coverage on a stunt, intercepted the ball and ran it back for a touchdown. The players voted Mary as MVP if this successful season. All the girls appeared bruised and slightly battered and none of that matters when you are holding a trophy for best team.
Denise’s aunt owns a home in the town. She said we could use it for a night of celebration. It was quite warm for mid-October the pool was open and the fire pit was burning. The last of the parents who came to the game left about 6:00 and we made our way over to the party around dusk.
During the sideline celebration Sue, a defensive back with 5 picks on the season, jump through the air at me. I caught her in mid-air and felt a pop in my knee. I almost dropped her. The funny thing is it was my good knee. It was a mild strain and I was okay in a couple days, but that night I was in little discomfort.
There was immediate talk about next year and how I could lead the team winning another trophy. I lamented the season was over and I told them how much I enjoyed coaching them. It was great to be involved in football even as a coach. Coaching them was my greatest football achievement.
However, I interned over the summer at a local manufacturing plant and they offered me a full time position starting in January when I have my MBA. It is a great opportunity and I have to take it. I will not be back next year. The intermural rules state all players and coaches must be current students to participate.
After my speech and with my knee hurting more than before, I moved to a chaise recliner for the night. The team huddled by themselves, which made me slightly nervous. When they broke the huddle, they wanted me to keep the trophy. I know football is not for whiners, but it choked me up inside as they presented me the magnificent plastic trophy of their success.
Mary sat down next to me as the rest of the team started dancing to the music, laughing and enjoying the evening. The party was about 45 minutes old when the most unexpected thing happened. If I took all twelve girls, lined them up, and asked the whole world to judge them by appearance as to the culprit, only her family and friends would say it was she. Denise is short and sweet and looking as a 14 year old when she is actually 22-year-old senior. She came out of nowhere, butt naked, and did a silly dance of flapping her arms and swaying her hips while singing how she was a girl and I was not the coach anymore and could not stop her.
I was sitting outside the fire pit and she was on the far side and away so there was no light shining on her. The lights of the pool were behind her and all I saw was a silhouette. She turned around, dove into the pool and swam to far side. She scampered into the pool house. She barely (pun intended) made it into the pool house when some boys showed up. I remember seeing them at the games. They started on the far sidelines but by the end of the season, they were on our side. They asked if they could join the party. Karen and others knew them and invited them to stay.
Meanwhile, Mary sat next to me. I heard ask since I was not the coach anymore if I would ask her out. I turned to her and said I am still coach until the team party is over. As I said this, a scowl came across her face. I smiled and said, “I will ask you tomorrow.” Mary remained by side. She took care of me with my knee hurting. It probably would have been better to keep moving and not let it tighten up, but she would not let me and I was enjoying the attention.
As 11:00 came around and the fire was dying, the party started to break up. The 75° day gave way to a 50° night and with me just sitting there, it was getting cold. I announced my intentions of leaving. Mary said the party was officially over as she walked me out to my car. I agreed. Before I could open the car door, she kissed me and said I was no longer the coach and I could not stop her.
I called her the next day and asked her out the following Friday. The Monday after the season ended, I went to see the Dr. McLain who approved of me coaching. I only wanted to thank her for letting me coach but it turn into a long discussion. I asked her why she picked me. She noticed every time I spoke I instinctively turn so Mary could see me talk. She asked me who was deaf in my family and I told her about my mother.
That season was a year and a half ago and Mary and I are getting married tomorrow. I had given up on a meaningful relationship my sophomore year because of all the girls who wanted to date a football star. They did not care about me and just wanted to be seen with a BMOC. (Big Man On Campus) It was very disheartening not knowing if a girl is paying attention to you or wearing you like an expensive bracelet to show off to her friends.
It turns out Mary remembered me from her freshman year and all the stories written about me. That is why she approached me that day after PT. My football status drove her to me as a coach. She says it was my demeanor as coach, which made her fall in love with me. She hooked me the moment I saw her standing in front of me wearing red shorts and t-shirt with dirt covering her head to toe. I could not say no that evening and I will be saying, “I do” tomorrow. I have many fond memories of playing football. Yet my favorite trophy is a little plastic one given to me by 12 girls who earned it.
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