“I think you have it headed in the right direction. So how do you see me fitting in?” I asked.
“I’d like to redshirt you your freshman year if we can. Quarterbacks tend to need a year to get used to the college game. It’ll also give you a chance to get stronger and learn the system. My biggest problem may be Coach Erickson wants you on his defense. He starts drooling when he talks about you playing strong-side safety, with your strength for run support and your size in pass coverage. He almost has me convinced you could be a game-changer.”
“I could play both ways,” I said with a smirk.
“There’s a good reason no one does that in college anymore. Plus, I can’t have my quarterback getting dinged up playing defense.”
“What are your goals for when I get there?”
“We’ll win a National Championship. In the next two years, I want to start challenging for the Conference Championship. By the time you’re playing, we’ll win it all.”
He said it as if it was a foregone conclusion. I liked what I was hearing.
“What do I need to do?” I asked.
“I’d like to see you get stronger and faster. Work on throwing the ball with your whole body. You’re relying on arm strength too much. Go to every camp you can, and learn. I’d also suggest you no longer play defense, or return kicks. It’s too easy to target you, and possibly get you injured.
“Your offense is evolving. Send Coach Diamond to some coaching clinics. He’s missing some opportunities in situational play-calling. He also needs to run the slotback in motion more often. Movement causes the defense to react.
“I once asked one of my mentors what the ideal offense was. He told me it was combining the triple option with a passing game. That’s why the read option from the shotgun was developed. You’re missing the third option right now. By setting the running back in motion, and running him through the backfield, it creates the third option. You’ve seen how hard it is for defenses to defend your read option now. Add the third back into the mix, and you’ll be unstoppable.
“I’d suggest you move that Ed Pine kid to the slot. You want serious speed and some shakes from that position. From watching game films, he would be your best slotback. Of course, he needs to work on catching the ball. I don’t think I saw him catch more than a couple of passes, and he looked a little unsteady,” Coach Styles instructed.
“I think I want football to start tomorrow,” I said, getting excited about next year.
“I’ll talk to Coach Diamond and Coach Hope about changing your offense slightly,” he said. “Are you planning on coming to camp again this year?”
“We haven’t talked about it yet. Talk to Coach Hope and see if he can’t get it arranged. I had a good time last year. If we don’t get the whole team there, I plan on coming anyway. I’d like to spend a week with John. We need to start getting him used to riding the bench and carrying my bags,” I suggested.
“You two will be the death of me. All I have to do is show him some game film of you, and he starts working harder. I think old John might surprise you by the time you get to Kentucky.”
“I know he works hard and will set a good example. Which fraternity did he end up joining?” I asked.
Coach Styles just glared at me. He had to know his team drank and had women. He didn’t have to like that a fraternity helped organize those activities.
“On second thought, I hear Florida could use your services. Do they even have any starting quarterbacks?” he asked.
It was always good to get a shot in about your rivals. I was sure USC could poke some fun at Notre Dame or UCLA. Don’t even get me started about Michigan and Ohio State.
“For some reason, they’re excited about me going there,” I said with a straight face.
“I’m sure they are, but we love you, too. Tell you what. Let’s end all this drama for you and you just commit to us today, and we can have a press release sent out tomorrow. It would help us with recruiting if you did.”
“You do know if I did that, I couldn’t guarantee I would go to Kentucky. You might jump to the NFL or your dream job by then. I mean seriously, who turns around Kentucky?”
“Tell you what, if I go to Alabama when their coach retires or takes the USC job, I’ll have a scholarship reserved for you. Do we have a deal?”
“I made a commitment to Coach Beck at State. It was made under duress, and it was clear from the start it was a soft verbal. I haven’t heard from their new coaching staff, and I didn’t make the commitment to them,” I said.
State had had another terrible year. They’d hired a new coach from a mid-major to take over, and everyone thought he was in over his head. I’d originally made the commitment to save Luke’s scholarship. Coach Beck was going to pull it after the fight Luke and I had. I at least owed State a call. Uncle John taught me that being a man of your word didn’t mean just when it was convenient. The man I’d made the commitment to was currently looking for a new job. A courtesy call was in order.
“Coach, can you give me a few minutes? I need to call State and tell them I’m pulling my verbal.”
I looked through my contact directory to find the number for the football offices at State. What sounded like a young woman answered the phone. I wondered if it was a college kid.
“It’s a wonderful day for State Football. How may I direct your call?” she asked.
I suddenly drew a blank as to who the new coach was.
“Um ... This is David Dawson. I made a verbal commitment last year, and need to talk to someone about it?”
“One moment, please.”
I was put on hold and listened to the State fight song while I waited. Go State!
“This is Coach Newhouse.”
That name didn’t ring a bell. I was sure this wasn’t their head coach.
“Hi, this is David Dawson. I made a verbal commitment last year.”
“What can I do for you?”
“I just wanted to call and let you know I’m pulling my verbal.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. May I ask why?”
“I made the commitment to Coach Beck because he said it would help him with recruiting. He also signed three players from my school last year. Coach Beck is no longer there, so I decided to open my recruiting back up.”
“So, you’ll still give us a chance to recruit you?”
“Yes, sir. I would welcome the opportunity to get to know the new coaching staff.”
I wrapped up my call and thought about what I was going to tell Coach Styles. When I had it sorted out, I went back to talk to him.
“Coach, one thing you need to know about me is that my word means something to me. I made a mistake making a commitment to State. At the time, they had me in a bind. When I make a commitment, you’ll know it’s solid. It’s just too early for me to decide. What I would be willing to do is tell everyone you’re my number one choice, as of right now. I think Scouts rate it as ‘High’ interest. I would rate everyone else as ‘Medium’ interest. I’m willing to do that until the start of my junior year when recruiting will really start. Then I would put everyone on an even playing field,” I offered.
“Fair enough,” he said, and then shook my hand. “Just so you know, we have a ‘High’ interest in you, also. Can I give you some advice?”
“Actually, I’d appreciate it.”
“Do you have a dream school, somewhere that you’re dying to go to?” he asked.
“No, sir, I really don’t.”
“Then don’t make any quick commitments. Go on all your visits. The biggest mistake I see kids make is that they get on campus, have a fantastic trip, and commit. What they don’t realize is most major football programs have exceptional facilities, and any one of them would be a great destination.
“What you need to decide is what will make a difference for you? If it’s making it to the pros as a quarterback, that might not be the same program as winning a national championship. If you want to own your own business, be in sales, be an engineer or a lawyer, those all may be different schools. I know you have some friends you want to play with. Being a top-five rated quarterback can garner you some favors, but if a school’s willing to do that, then what else are they willing to do?