"Nobody cares, work harder" are words that changed Eric Richards life forever. In his sophomore year of high school he had pretty much given up on his dream of playing high school basketball. "Too big and too short" they told him. In a miserable point in his life, he decides on a whim to buy a ticket to his high school's football team, the Bullitt Lick Dragons. He went with his best friend Joey Stanley and sat in a seat really close to the sidelines. As he watched, he couldn't help but try to holler suggestions for plays in his own special way.
"Why not blitz?!" He yelled after the opposing Central High School Spartans quarterback got a first down with his feet "you know he loved to run! Send some players in to contain him!" The coach, Nick Nelson, heard all the yelling from this student that was practically right next to him and was fed up.
"Why don't you try huh?!" Nick yelled a bit louder then he meant to "You try putting on the pads and playing with us."
"You know what I'll try out tomorrow!" Eric yelled "I'll show this school how good I can be!"
"Fine then meet me here after school Eric!" The Dragons ended up losing by 10 due to defensive struggles, and Eric told his Pa Dean Richards about the encounter.
"Well?" Dean asked "you gonna try out?" Suddenly Eric wasn't as sure anymore, his previous bravado having left him after the game.
"Well I don't know if I will, I mean I was pretty mad then Pa and I said some things I shouldn't have said..." Eric trailed off as he saw his fathers face
"You better at least try out, he threw done the gauntlet with you!" Dean yelled "you may not have what it takes for basketball but I believe you can be a great football player!"
"You think so Pa?" Eric asked, surprised.
"I know so son. I will share some words that my Pa said to me when I was about to try out: Don't complain because nobody will care if you do. Nobody cares, work harder. Mull that around in your head some, it's dinner time" Later that night, Eric prepares to go to bed with his father's words of wisdom in his head.
"Nobody cares work harder huh?" Eric says to himself as he goes to sleep. "Well I'll work hard. I'll work harder then anyone else." The next day Eric goes to tryouts with a determined look on his face.
"Hmm not the right height for a Cornerback or a Safety..." Coach Nick said to himself, then said to Eric "you'll try out as a Linebacker, you OK with that?"
"Absolutely, I will work hard no matter what" Eric manages to impress Coach Nick with his hard hitting ways and impressive speed.
"You made the team Eric" Nick says as he hands him a green and orange jersey"
"Wow I did?" Eric asked, surprised.
"Yep Welcome to the Dragons." Nick says as they shake hands. "Keep working hard and you'll be one of the greats"
"Don't worry" Eric smirked "I plan to"
"Why not blitz?!" He yelled after the opposing Central High School Spartans quarterback got a first down with his feet "you know he loved to run! Send some players in to contain him!" The coach, Nick Nelson, heard all the yelling from this student that was practically right next to him and was fed up.
"Why don't you try huh?!" Nick yelled a bit louder then he meant to "You try putting on the pads and playing with us."
"You know what I'll try out tomorrow!" Eric yelled "I'll show this school how good I can be!"
"Fine then meet me here after school Eric!" The Dragons ended up losing by 10 due to defensive struggles, and Eric told his Pa Dean Richards about the encounter.
"Well?" Dean asked "you gonna try out?" Suddenly Eric wasn't as sure anymore, his previous bravado having left him after the game.
"Well I don't know if I will, I mean I was pretty mad then Pa and I said some things I shouldn't have said..." Eric trailed off as he saw his fathers face
"You better at least try out, he threw done the gauntlet with you!" Dean yelled "you may not have what it takes for basketball but I believe you can be a great football player!"
"You think so Pa?" Eric asked, surprised.
"I know so son. I will share some words that my Pa said to me when I was about to try out: Don't complain because nobody will care if you do. Nobody cares, work harder. Mull that around in your head some, it's dinner time" Later that night, Eric prepares to go to bed with his father's words of wisdom in his head.
"Nobody cares work harder huh?" Eric says to himself as he goes to sleep. "Well I'll work hard. I'll work harder then anyone else." The next day Eric goes to tryouts with a determined look on his face.
"Hmm not the right height for a Cornerback or a Safety..." Coach Nick said to himself, then said to Eric "you'll try out as a Linebacker, you OK with that?"
"Absolutely, I will work hard no matter what" Eric manages to impress Coach Nick with his hard hitting ways and impressive speed.
"You made the team Eric" Nick says as he hands him a green and orange jersey"
"Wow I did?" Eric asked, surprised.
"Yep Welcome to the Dragons." Nick says as they shake hands. "Keep working hard and you'll be one of the greats"
"Don't worry" Eric smirked "I plan to"
![[Image: journey.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/3N5zwgZG/journey.png)
![[Image: 5EsgqpN.png]](https://i.imgur.com/5EsgqpN.png)
