at Arnie. “Don’t give up. Those guys are counting on us!” It was a scene that was repeated throughout the day even as Burton High made a serious run at the Friday trophy.
But when Coach Henry took the platform that night, he only shook his head, dazed. “I’ve been running this camp for more than a decade.” He looked across the sea of football players. “I’ve never seen anyone play with more intensity than Lyle High played this week. For the first time in the camp’s history — first place goes to the same school all six days. The winner of the Friday trophy is the Lyle High Buckaroos!”
The guys looked back at him, and Cody understood. He nodded his approval, and the entire group ran to the front to accept their prize. As they jumped around, holding the trophy overhead, their faces lit up with smiles and cheers, only Cody and his other coaches understood what they were celebrating. Not until that night did Cody call a meeting in the same room where they’d met six days ago.
“I’m very … very proud of you, men.” Cody choked up as he faced them. “You proved what you’re capable of … and you proved how much you care.” He paused, hoping he could get through the next part without breaking down. “I want to tell you something about that team, the team you’ve been fighting for and playing your hearts out for all week long.”
The guys were seated on the floor, a camaraderie between them that hadn’t been there when they arrived at camp. They looked interested, but not overly so. It didn’t matter what team they had competed for … but only that they had done so. A group of lives would be changed because of their efforts this week. That was the important thing. Cody could see that in their faces. Clearly they had no idea what was coming.
“That team … the one you won eighteen-thousand dollars for … they’re here at camp this week.”
Cody’s players looked slightly baffled, and a whisper of voices came from a few of them as they tried to guess which team here at camp might’ve struggled with so much adversity. When he had their attention again, Cody dropped his voice — low enough so the guys had to strain to hear him. “What’s amazing about this team, is that only the coaches knew about their troubles. Guys were seated next to each other this week, blocking tacklers side by side … throwing touchdown passes to guys they didn’t know were struggling.”
He shrugged, never breaking eye contact. “The team was on the verge of collapse … guys ready to give up. But no one knew.” He let his voice rise a little. “You know why? Because they weren’t a team. They were a bunch of guys who wanted to play football. But they didn’t talk … didn’t share … didn’t care at all about the man on their right or their left.”
The room was dead silent, each player waiting to find out which team they’d competed against that week that might’ve been so unaware of their own struggles. Finally, when Cody couldn’t wait another minute, he looked at each of them and nodded with a certainty that hinted at what was to come. “That team is you, men. It’s you.”
“What?” DeMetri’s question summed up the expression on all their faces. They couldn’t have looked more surprised if Cody had told them they were going to grow wings. Their mouths hung open and a few of them looked down: Larry Sanders and Terry Allen … Wells and Bronson. Guys who had known they were up against the same struggles someone else was facing, but who’d never imagined the team with all those troubles was their own.
“Look around the room, men.” Cody’s voice was loud with concern, his tone a reflection of how much he cared. “Sanders!” He walked to the tight end and helped him to his feet. Then he put his arm around the kid’s shoulders. “Tell the guys about your sister.”
Tears spilled onto Sanders’ cheeks, and he rubbed at them with his fist for a few seconds. His face was red, but when he had control he looked at his teammates. “She … she has bone cancer. She needs a new medicine.”
Around the room several of the guys were quietly crying, not the type of crying that showed weakness, but the kind that proved commitment and concern. Sanders sniffed loudly and nodded. “Thanks