After he left, I made sure my phone was no longer streaming. Coach Hope found me and invited Ty to join Coach Mason and Coach Rector to talk to the press. Coach Hope stood off to the side as we stepped outside the locker room. I missed being at home, where we had a dedicated room for talking to the press.
“Why didn’t you play the first half?” Jeff asked as the first question.
I think Coach Mason saved us because I didn’t plan to cover anyone’s butt.
“This is an internal team matter. Just so you know, I’ve been doing this for a long time, so I can read your minds,” Coach said with a half-smile. “Before you jump to any conclusions, this was not punishment of some kind. This was a reward for players who have busted their butts and did everything we asked of them. Everyone knew this before the start of the game.”
Of course, that wasn’t the last question about it. Several of the reporters had seen what happened at halftime on the streaming video. When I was asked about it, I said I’d been assured it would be dealt with. Then I fell into my ‘aw shucks, I’m just a team player, happy to get the opportunity to play, and God’s hand was in all of it’ routine.
I made no effort to defend the decision. I figured Coach Hope had created this mess; he could figure out what to do about it.
◊◊◊
Chapter 8 – Hotness Sunday September 11
I was getting ready to go running when my cell rang. When I looked at the caller ID, I saw it was an 859 area code. I tried to remember where that was.
“This is David,” I answered.
“David, Coach Styles,” said the head coach for the University of Kentucky.
“Morning, Coach, how can I help you?”
“I saw you left us off your visit list. I know you’ve been on campus a couple of times. What I’d really like to do is schedule an in-home visit before you get much further into your recruiting process. I think I can help you narrow the field and make this process as easy as possible.”
“By committing to the University of Kentucky,” I finished his thought.
“I knew you were smart,” he said and chuckled.
“When did you want to do this?” I asked.
“I talked to the woman answering your phone, Megan, and she said something about you being banned from your dojo until Tuesday. Would tomorrow night work?”
I would have to talk to Megan about sharing too much information with recruiters. I knew that she hadn’t given him my number; he’d stolen it when we met at Wesleyan a year and a half ago. This was the first time he’d used it. I was glad I hadn’t had to block his number.
Kentucky had been the first school to offer me, and Coach Styles had always been honest. He’d offered to help me through this process, so I decided to accept the visit.
“I’ve only done this for baseball. What do I need to know about a football in-home visit?”
“I want the decision-makers to attend. That usually means your parents and any trusted advisers you have. I’d like them to get to know key members of my staff and me. From my perspective, it’s important that they know who they would be entrusting their son to for four years. And I want them to know everything the University of Kentucky can offer you,” he said.
“Is it okay if I invite my girlfriend and her family?” I asked.
“I’m comfortable with you inviting anyone who you decide needs to be there.”
“What about Wolf Tams and Tim Foresee?”
“I planned to call them next. I also want to talk to Ty Wilson while I’m in town.”
“Okay. Call Megan, and she’ll coordinate everything. I look forward to seeing you,” I said.
After I hung up, I called Brook, and her phone went to voicemail, so I called the house line.
“Hello,” a sleepy Ava answered.
“Hey, it’s David. I need to talk to Brook,” I said.
“What time is it?”
I looked at the clock.
“7:30.”
“And what day is it?”
“Sunday.”
“And you expect my daughter’s out of bed?” she asked with amusement.
“Maybe you could have her call me when she gets up,” I suggested.
“Oh, no. Let me go get her,” Ava said.
I heard her knock on Brook’s door, and Brook say something rude.
“Who died?” Brook asked when she answered.
“Hey, that was my line,” I teased.
I’d said it more than once while I was in LA and Brook forgot about the time difference.
“Bite me, Big Daddy. What’s up?” she asked, sounding more awake.
I explained the recruiting visit and wanted to know if she and her parents wanted to come.
“I’ve been curious about this whole process, so count me in. In addition, I’d suggest that you invite Cassidy, Tracy, and Pam.”
“Doesn’t Pam plan to go back to California for college?”
“She does, but she is your Baby Mama. Don’t you think she wants to at least hear what’s going on with you?” Brook asked, making way too much sense.
“This is turning into a circus,” I moaned.
“Are you serious about Kentucky?” she asked.
“Probably not, but I don’t want to burn any bridges, either.”
“Here’s how I would look at it. Use this one as a practice run. Have whoever you imagine would want to be part of the process come to this one, so they get an idea of how this all works. Then, when you meet with the ones you’re genuinely interested in, just have the key players there.
“Plus, are you crazy? Your recruiting will be a circus whether you want it to be or not,” Brook predicted. “Use this to help manage it.”
Everyone had been badgering me about where I planned to go. I sure hoped Coach Styles had a sense of humor. I suspected that this might be a unique in-home.
“Okay. I can see where this might calm some folks down,” I said, thinking of Tracy in particular. “Are you guys coming to brunch today?”
“Yes. On that note, I’m going back to sleep. Next time you wake me up on a Sunday morning at this time, there had better be a payoff, if you know what I mean.”
“I might have to come up with a new nickname for you. ‘Hotness’ might not be enough to describe you,” I said, dropping down into my sexy voice.
“It was just a thought.”
“I like how you think. We need to figure out how to dump Cassidy and Don. I love her to death, but I want to spend time with you,” I said, referring to our double date last night.
I’d tried to talk Wolf and Tim into taking Cassidy and Don on a double date. They’d both laughed in my face.
“You should get your brother to do it,” Brook suggested.
“I’m sure I could get my mom to babysit,” I said.
“No, ‘stupid boy,’ your other brother. The one who has a girlfriend and no car,” Brook said.
“You’re a genius because that would be perfect,” I said, imagining all the free time Brook and I would now have.
What could we possibly do?
“Okay. I’m done solving all your problems. I’ll see you after you get back from church,” Brook said, and then hung up.
◊◊◊
“You want to have how many people?” Mom asked at brunch.
The list had grown when I’d thought about it at church. I wanted Coach Mason and Coach Hope there. Then all the guys and their parents, plus their girlfriends and their parents. Then my family, including Phil and his parents. Dad had pointed out that Megan and Caryn should be there. The list felt like it might be never-ending.
“You should invite Jeff and his cameraman,” Dad recommended.
He had a point. The streaming video had attracted a lot of viewers. Jeff had done us a solid in the morning paper and followed Coach Mason’s spin. I suspected he planned to show the whole sequence in his documentary.
“Where am I supposed to put everyone?” Mom asked.
“Our House is closed on Monday nights. Let’s have it there,” I suggested.