Draft day brings about a lot of feelings. Excitement and anticipation. Fear. Disappointment when you fall further than you think that you should. Surprise when you finally get that call. The San Antonio Marshals were the organization to give Ben that call. All of the way down in the fourth round is where he finally went. Ben knows that he has the ability to far outplay his draft position though. From a young age, he has made sure that he beat the expectations, and why should this be any different. As the season is just around the corner, the draft feels like ages ago. There have been a lot of ways of work put in since that phone call. As Ben steps out on the greenest field that he has ever seen, and thinks about his past and all of the different people that helped to bring him here he can’t help but get lost in his thoughts. The metallic bench feels familiar to him. It makes him think back to his time in just pee wee football. That year the feeling of the bench became all too familiar to him.
Ben could not be any more excited than he was right now. He was about to play in his first pee wee football game! He had dreamed of this day since he was old enough to watch his family play before him. To him, this was the big time. The locker room was abuzz with excitement from all of the youngsters also ready for their first game. They were playing the cross town rival from Urbana. At this age though, they had not developed the concept of a rival yet though. This was just the first game of the season, but the most important one for many of them. The first time they will hit someone, or get hit. Catching their first pass, or running in their first touchdown. This is a memory that will stick with them, no matter how far they go. Ben had already thought about all of this, and could not wait to get the game going.
As the clock ticks closer to game time, fear and nervousness set in. “What if I don’t play well today” Ben thinks to himself. Throughout practice, he has felt lost trying to learn this sport that was all new to him. He definitely did not want to look stupid out there on the field in front of everyone. He’d have to just try his best and make the most of this game. And then it was time to take the field. Coach Harrington came in and got them all rounded up and led them on to the field. Going through their stretches and position specific drills only took 10 or so minutes. The team then regrouped and the discussion that made Urlacher’s stomach turn to think about came up. Who would be starting? In practice, he had played running back on offense, and on defense had played both defensive line and linebacker. Coach Harrington went through all of the positions starting with the offense. Mike, Ben’s best friend, was named quarterback. Ben looked over and could see the excitement on Mike’s face. Ben felt happy for him, but also very jealous. Ben just wanted to know that he would be able to start alongside his friend. Then it dawned on Ben, if he was the running back, then they could be working directly with each other. This would be a dream come true for Ben in his first game. To have his best friend right there next to him, and being able to give each other confidence in their first game would great. Ben did not hear his name called when he found out who the running back was. Instead, Coach Harrington called out Colin to be the running back. Ben was not a big fan of Colin, and was feeling a lot of jealousy and hate towards him right now. As Coach Harrington went through position by position, Ben was still waiting to hear his name called. And then that was it, he had named every starter and Ben’s name had not been called.
Even though coach had told them that even though they were not starting that they should still be ready to play whenever, Ben could not help but still feel disappointment over the situation. He looked around him and another kid named Elliott looked just as disappointed as him. Elliott was not the most talented, but no one gave the effort that he did. Elliott was constantly sticking his nose into every play he possibly could, going 100 miles per hour every down. This did not seem to matter though as he was still stuck on the bench with Ben.
The first quarter ticked by. Ben looked as the seconds ran off the clock. He was not even going to get a chance to play in this first quarter. Mike had made some plays out there with Colin in the backfield. Every time they did, Ben felt a little bit and rage and jealousy towards Colin as he felt like that should be him out there. And then it finally happened just before halftime. Coach Harrington came to Ben and told him that he was going in at the outside linebacker position next drive. Ben could hardly contain his smile as he heard the news. This is what he had been waiting for all day. The only thing that he did not notice is the clock would run out before he got his chance this half. As he watched Mike and Colin move the ball down the field slowly, he heard the horn and his heart sank. He would have to wait for the entire halftime break to get his chance.
Come the second half though Ben got his chance still. And he took full advantage of it. Hitting the blockers as hard as he could, crashing into the ball carriers as best a kid his age could, Ben made the most of every play. By the time the game clock ran out, he left no doubt that he was the best defensive player on this young team. Mike came over to congratulate and joke with Ben as Colin shot him a dirty look from across the locker room. Ben did not know now, but the dynamics of the relationship between Ben, Mike and Colin would one day become quite complicated and a little violent. Elliott never got his chance today until the final drive, but would in time get more opportunities as they grew older.
Ben first game had been a success. It was a fond memory to him. But it was just one of the many, many football and life memories that he could share. This memory is just the first of his football memories, and one we can all relate to in one way or another. As Ben grows up into the man he is today, the memories grow darker. In time though, we will have the chance to go through all of them, and see how life played out not just for Ben, but for Mike, Colin, and Elliott as well.
1201 words
Ben could not be any more excited than he was right now. He was about to play in his first pee wee football game! He had dreamed of this day since he was old enough to watch his family play before him. To him, this was the big time. The locker room was abuzz with excitement from all of the youngsters also ready for their first game. They were playing the cross town rival from Urbana. At this age though, they had not developed the concept of a rival yet though. This was just the first game of the season, but the most important one for many of them. The first time they will hit someone, or get hit. Catching their first pass, or running in their first touchdown. This is a memory that will stick with them, no matter how far they go. Ben had already thought about all of this, and could not wait to get the game going.
As the clock ticks closer to game time, fear and nervousness set in. “What if I don’t play well today” Ben thinks to himself. Throughout practice, he has felt lost trying to learn this sport that was all new to him. He definitely did not want to look stupid out there on the field in front of everyone. He’d have to just try his best and make the most of this game. And then it was time to take the field. Coach Harrington came in and got them all rounded up and led them on to the field. Going through their stretches and position specific drills only took 10 or so minutes. The team then regrouped and the discussion that made Urlacher’s stomach turn to think about came up. Who would be starting? In practice, he had played running back on offense, and on defense had played both defensive line and linebacker. Coach Harrington went through all of the positions starting with the offense. Mike, Ben’s best friend, was named quarterback. Ben looked over and could see the excitement on Mike’s face. Ben felt happy for him, but also very jealous. Ben just wanted to know that he would be able to start alongside his friend. Then it dawned on Ben, if he was the running back, then they could be working directly with each other. This would be a dream come true for Ben in his first game. To have his best friend right there next to him, and being able to give each other confidence in their first game would great. Ben did not hear his name called when he found out who the running back was. Instead, Coach Harrington called out Colin to be the running back. Ben was not a big fan of Colin, and was feeling a lot of jealousy and hate towards him right now. As Coach Harrington went through position by position, Ben was still waiting to hear his name called. And then that was it, he had named every starter and Ben’s name had not been called.
Even though coach had told them that even though they were not starting that they should still be ready to play whenever, Ben could not help but still feel disappointment over the situation. He looked around him and another kid named Elliott looked just as disappointed as him. Elliott was not the most talented, but no one gave the effort that he did. Elliott was constantly sticking his nose into every play he possibly could, going 100 miles per hour every down. This did not seem to matter though as he was still stuck on the bench with Ben.
The first quarter ticked by. Ben looked as the seconds ran off the clock. He was not even going to get a chance to play in this first quarter. Mike had made some plays out there with Colin in the backfield. Every time they did, Ben felt a little bit and rage and jealousy towards Colin as he felt like that should be him out there. And then it finally happened just before halftime. Coach Harrington came to Ben and told him that he was going in at the outside linebacker position next drive. Ben could hardly contain his smile as he heard the news. This is what he had been waiting for all day. The only thing that he did not notice is the clock would run out before he got his chance this half. As he watched Mike and Colin move the ball down the field slowly, he heard the horn and his heart sank. He would have to wait for the entire halftime break to get his chance.
Come the second half though Ben got his chance still. And he took full advantage of it. Hitting the blockers as hard as he could, crashing into the ball carriers as best a kid his age could, Ben made the most of every play. By the time the game clock ran out, he left no doubt that he was the best defensive player on this young team. Mike came over to congratulate and joke with Ben as Colin shot him a dirty look from across the locker room. Ben did not know now, but the dynamics of the relationship between Ben, Mike and Colin would one day become quite complicated and a little violent. Elliott never got his chance today until the final drive, but would in time get more opportunities as they grew older.
Ben first game had been a success. It was a fond memory to him. But it was just one of the many, many football and life memories that he could share. This memory is just the first of his football memories, and one we can all relate to in one way or another. As Ben grows up into the man he is today, the memories grow darker. In time though, we will have the chance to go through all of them, and see how life played out not just for Ben, but for Mike, Colin, and Elliott as well.
1201 words
