Lying on the bench, Luke let out a steady breath, his hands gripping the barbell tight. His arms slowly bent, feeling the weight press down like a thousand-pound boulder crushing his chest, squeezing the air out of him. Time seemed to freeze around him.
He sucked in a sharp breath, trying to straighten his arms and finish the bench press, but they sank a bit. The barbell felt like Mount Everest, and lifting it seemed impossible. Anger bubbled up inside him. He gritted his teeth, adjusted his breathing, gathered his strength, and pushed again.
This time, he lifted the barbell like it was nothing, even holding it up for three seconds. It felt like all his inner strength exploded, controlling the weight in his hands. Only when his joints started to tremble did he repeat the cycle of bending and pushing.
He knew he was just a backup. Going from a practice squad player to a backup in five months was a huge leap. But one good game, or even one good quarter, wasn't enough to prove he was a starting quarterback. Kevin had been the QB all season. He wasn't amazing, but he didn't mess up either. Now that Kevin's injury was minor, it made sense for him to get his spot back.
Luke also knew that as an Avalis American athlete in this immigrant land, he faced more hurdles, more challenges, more tests. Others might need to score an eight to get cheers and recognition, but he had to score a twelve just to get noticed by the coach.
This is the sports world, where strength rules. With absolute strength, any barrier can be broken, any doubt countered, any conflict resolved. But without it, it's survival of the fittest, the closest human society gets to the wild.
In the football food chain, Asian players are at the bottom.
What does this mean? It means the coaching staff made a safe but right choice. He’s still the third-string backup QB.
But he had missed the whole season. He had spent enough time honing his skills and finally got a chance in the last game, seizing the moment to shine. This was probably the first time he caught the scouts' attention!
He needed more chances, more space, more stages to keep showing off! The Rose Bowl was the best shot, and also the last shot, because rookie training camp started in March. The countdown was on. For an unknown player, for an Avalis American player, to win the team's favor and get drafted, he needed to keep proving himself in the Rose Bowl.
Now, being on the backup list killed all possibilities.
Before any player enters the draft, scouts review and re-review, evaluate and re-evaluate. Talented players get noticed from high school, make their way to college, and stride confidently into the pros. With inherent disadvantages, Luke had made it this far with the help of the system, only to be stopped abruptly.
No games, no performance; no performance, no scout reports; no scout reports, no draft future.
Resentment, anger, frustration, oppression, bitterness. All these emotions surged in Luke, a mix of flavors he couldn't even identify.
Luke straightened his arms, bent them; straightened, bent. All the chaotic thoughts in his mind gradually faded, focusing entirely on the bench press, feeling his muscles burn, feeling the chaotic emotions in his chest burn. First the bench press, then squats, then sit-ups, pull-ups, and finally the regular passing drills.
For a full ninety minutes, Luke immersed himself in his daily grind, sweating buckets, feeling like all his pores had opened up, making the whole world feel right again.
He wouldn't give up, and he wasn't planning to! For every athlete, until the game is over, until the final whistle blows, anything is possible. Giving up early means surrendering. He didn't plan to surrender, nor did he plan to compromise. He would fight until the last moment!
He was ready to stand up again, clench his fists again, and throw himself into the battle again! More importantly, to win again, both in football and in his own life!
Meanwhile, Anthony slammed his hands on the conference table, his eyes blazing, "Rick, you're making a mistake. I know it, Norm knows it, and you know it too!"
"Anthony!" Defensive coach Chuck called out, trying to stop him. Challenging the head coach's authority wasn't the smartest move, but Rick shook his head, raising his hand to stop Chuck, signaling Anthony to keep going.
"Kevin's a decent backup QB, but he's not a great starter! I hate to say it, but he's just average! Mediocre!" Anthony's neck veins were popping, but he didn't care. "Last game, Luke's performance was clear to everyone! Does he have weaknesses? Sure, tons of them, but he's got something we desperately need: he's a game-changer! He's got a big heart, he makes the right calls when it counts, he can clinch the game!"
Anthony pointed towards the door, as if Luke were standing there. "He trains harder than anyone, he's more focused on the game than anyone, and he wants to win more than anyone! You should see his training and growth over the past two weeks; his progress is unreal! Rick, is it because he's Avalis American? Is using an Avalis American QB in the Rose Bowl something the school board can't handle?"
"Anthony! Watch your language!" Chuck couldn't hold back and interrupted again.
Anthony turned his head and glared at Chuck, "Am I wrong? Which part did I get wrong? Are you gonna correct me? Norm, you should be able to tell me how much the surname 'Chow' has affected your career?"
Caught in the crossfire, Norm raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Anthony, you know I support Luke. I also hope he can become the starting quarterback."
Realizing he needed to speak up as the offensive coach, Norm continued, "Rick, Anthony's right about one thing: Luke's determination, judgment, and willpower are crucial. Last game was his first appearance in four years of college, but his performance was enough to shame other quarterbacks. In a critical game like the Rose Bowl, he can lead us to victory!"
"But he could also lead us to disaster." Facing Anthony and Norm's doubts, Rick finally spoke, his gaze falling on his three colleagues. "Luke's strengths and weaknesses are very clear. His skills and fundamentals are really poor; aside from passing, all his other techniques are subpar. He has determination, willpower, and a big heart, but this is the Rose Bowl. A small mistake could put us in a dire situation. The Badgers won most of their games this year with their offense, but their defense isn't just spectators. The risk is too great; I can't take that risk."
Compared to Anthony's fiery anger, Rick remained calm, rubbing his temples. "Yes, Kevin isn't an excellent quarterback, but at least he's a competent choice."
That was his final decision, made after careful consideration. Seeing that Anthony still had more to say, Rick raised his hand to stop him. "I know how hard and dedicated Luke is in training, which is why he's the second quarterback and Darius is the third."
Kevin Prince, starting quarterback; Luke Howard, second quarterback. It wasn't apparent on the list, but in the coach's mind, there was a difference.
Weighing, struggling, hesitating, Rick came to his final conclusion, making the best choice for the team. "And Anthony, Luke's Avalis American identity has no impact on me. It's not a factor I need to consider. If he can bring me victory, I would use him without hesitation, and I believe the school board would stay quiet. But this is a game, a life-or-death game. I must make the right choice; I won't take my job lightly."
With that, Rick didn't linger any longer. He stood up and walked out of the conference room with large strides.
Chuck also stood up, shaking his head. "This is bad, Anthony, this is very bad!" He prepared to leave but couldn't contain his anger, turning back to Anthony. "You should trust Rick's judgment; you should trust our professional judgment! Luke was still just a practice squad player five months ago! There's a reason for that!"
This time, Chuck didn't stop, shaking his head and walking away with large strides.
"I trust my eyes! I trust that the game doesn't lie! And I trust that you're a racist!" Anthony's temper truly lost control. "You're refusing to believe in a genius! A genius!" He kicked over a nearby chair. "You're making a mistake! This is a mistake!"
Norm tried to comfort Anthony but found himself at a loss for words. His mind was slightly confused, unable to sort out his thoughts. In the end, he could only shake his head and turn to leave.
Anthony was left alone in the conference room, facing the empty space. Even if he wanted to vent, there was no one to vent to. He stood with his hands on his hips, breathing heavily, his face and eyes full of disappointment. Yet, he was powerless.