(S28) PT 4 - Back to School

[Memento Mori]

Brandon Booker played high school football at Desert Vista High School - I selected it when writing my wiki as some google research showed several NFL players played there. The school clearly has a consistent football culture and is presumably well-coached with sufficient resources. You'd think, therefore, that Booker would walk into a situation where he was set up for success, but the circumstances that would lead to him taking an interim coaching role suggests the previous coach left mid-season. Coaches rarely leave mid-season when things are going well, so in this universe the team is 1-6, and the locker room is a bit of a shambles. Brandon Booker attempts to motivate the players, pointing out that their subpar play and off-the-field conduct will keep them from suiting up in the ISFL and even from being stood in front of a high school football team as their coach. This has some positive effect, as a 28 year old athlete in his prime might be more relatable to the kids, and is certainly a different image.

After weeks of blowout losses and poor discipline, the Desert Vista team is able to put together four quarters of competitive football. The world isn't perfect, though, and some nice speeches and a fresh perspective aren't enough to overcome the lack of effort shown in the offseason and in the previous seven weeks of the season. The team loses a tough game by one score, going down 31-28. Still committed to pro football, Brandon Booker does not apply for the permanent job having only agreed to coach this game due to his affection for the program. (270 words)