Читать книгу Coach to Coach - Martin Rooney - Страница 12

After a game, it is usual for the team to practice the next day. Since the season is short and condensed, athletes and coaches have to maximize the time to get physically and technically ready for the next week.

After a losing game, however, morale is usually low and aggressions can run high. Practice can often seem like a softer word for punishment. On that Sunday morning after the game, Brian would find out he wasn't the only one who was in a defensive mood.

Marcus Chase was the most talented player on the defense. A top recruit out of high school from Florida, some people questioned his decision to go to a program that was rebuilding. Now in his third year with the school, even he might agree it had been the wrong choice. Not only had the team not cracked into the Top 25, but his play had been highly criticized. Just like Brian, no one likes to admit when they aren't living up to their potential.

Marcus also hadn't recovered from the fallout of the game last night. Rarely do defensive players make highlight reels on ESPN. That is, unless they end up making an offensive player look really good. During the fourth quarter, on a big third-down play, Marcus was hurdled by a receiver as he attempted to make a tackle. Not only did this acrobatic play lead to Marcus making his first Sports Center highlight, it also led to the touchdown that sealed his team's loss.

Marcus was a bit of a lone wolf on the team. His teammates also knew his football pedigree and got the feeling from Marcus that he thought he was better than they were. Marcus always put in the work and did as he was instructed, but his quiet demeanor didn't position him as a leader. Being a talented player can be a lonely place. Especially when you aren't playing up to that talent. And on this Sunday workout, his teammates and coach weren't going to miss an opportunity to let him know about it.

Sunday was going to be a “Run Day.” Although it is said working out the day after a game can promote healing, Brian had a little pain in mind for his players. After warmups and some compulsory technical work, Brian was unhappy as usual with the effort of his players. Frustrated and still upset from the loss, Brian told the linebacking crew the last thing they wanted to hear: “Since you guys have been ‘half-assers,’ I think it's time for some ‘half-gassers.’”

The groans from the players let Brian know they knew what was in store for them. A football field is 53 and a 1/3 yards wide. A half-gasser is performed by running down to the sideline and back for 106 and 2/3 total yards. The stopping and re-accelerating can be especially tough on the legs, not to mention your heart feeling like it is going to jump out of your chest.

“Since you all couldn't seem to finish the last 15 minutes of the fourth quarter, we are going to see if you can finish 15 half-gassers in under 18 seconds,” yelled Brian with the tone of a dictator. “You will get a generous 45 seconds rest between each rep, so if any one of you doesn't make the time, you'll be sorry.”

On Brian's whistle (which he liked to use a lot lately), the athletes took off down and back making the first time. They were still sore from the previous day, but knew they didn't want to suffer more of Brian's wrath if they didn't make it. They didn't call him the “Dark Knight” behind his back for nothing. Brian was, after all, the one who never seemed to run out of punishing exercises to perform.

During the sprints, Brian screamed coaching cues that were far from encouraging:

 “Get your asses in gear, ladies! Pick 'em up and put 'em down.”

 “No wonder we got smoked yesterday by the offense.”

 “Looks like you are all carrying weights in your pants!”

 “Maybe a few less burgers, Johnson! You look like ten pounds of crap in a five-pound bag!”

Even with the negativity, the players kept making the time. But each rep was getting closer to exceeding the dreaded 18-second mark. After each finish, the players would retch as they could barely catch their breath before their 45-second rest was over. Then, everything came to a head with one comment from Brian.

After rep number 14 was completed, a number of the athletes were bent over with their hands on their knees. Marcus was one of those athletes and without thinking, Brian screamed out, “Hey, Chase! Stand up straight before another receiver jumps over you for a game-losing touchdown!”

Even in their fatigued state, the other players let out a chuckle at Marcus's expense. With that, Marcus was beyond angry. When the whistle for the next and final rep blew, unlike the other sprinting athletes, he jogged the final rep. As the whole team watched him after completing the rep well after the allotted time, he stared them down and yelled, “What? I don't hear anyone laughing now!” Then he looked up at Brian and said, “Got any more funny lines…Coach?” It was the way he said “coach” that set Brian off. It was as if he was questioning whether he really deserved the title right in front of the team. It stung. And that sting led to rage.

Not one to back down, Brian ran over and got in Marcus's face with a “Now you will run the last rep again alone!”

“No, I won't! I'm DONE!” And with that Marcus turned and walked off the field, to the shock of both the team and Brian. Both Marcus and Brian knew this could signify the end of their careers.