"Yo, what about the quarterback?" Blake asked, catching Adam's eye roll, which made him laugh. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Too many big-name QBs this year, but these two starters? Nah, they ain't it."
This year's QB lineup is stacked: Stanford's Andrew Luck, TCU's Andy Dalton, Auburn's Cam Newton, Washington's Jake Locker, Florida State's Christian Ponder, and the list goes on. All these guys are first-round material, and it wouldn't shock anyone if the top pick came from this bunch.
But the Badgers' Scott Tolzien and the Bruins' Kevin Prince? More like fifth-rounders. Their teams' killer offense is all about the O-line and play-calling. Forget the QBs; it's the offensive line and receivers that are the real show.
"I'm not talking about the starters, man. I'm talking about that Avalis American QB," Blake said, all hyped up. "You haven't heard? Last game of the season, final quarter, Bruins' starter gets hurt..."
Adam cut him off with a wave. "Yeah, yeah, I've heard it a million times. It's all anyone talks about. Can't escape it." Adam stayed cool, giving Blake a side-eye. "How many times have we seen this? One game wonder, then poof, they're gone."
Blake laughed, "So you're saying that dude's not worth our time?"
"In this league, talent's everywhere, but it's also cheap," Adam dodged. "And that backup QB? Not even worth calling talent."
For the past three weeks, everyone’s been buzzing about the Bruins vs. Trojans game, with that Avalis American QB stealing the spotlight. But here's the kicker: he's a senior with zero records, like he just dropped out of the sky.
Even if scouts wanna check him out, they got nothing to go on.
"So you're not even a bit curious how he pulled it off?" Blake crossed his arms, eyeing Adam like he was missing out.
No matter how good that QB really is, he's the talk of the town, the Bruins' sudden hero. And with no past games to his name, he's wrapped in mystery, like a puzzle no one can solve.
The scouts Blake knows are all a bit curious, even if it's just for the drama. But Adam? Nah, he couldn't care less.
Adam shrugged, looking chill. After years in the league, seeing it all, he learned one thing: don't buy into overnight stars. "Should I be curious?" he asked, with a smirk. "If I remember right, today's starting QB for the Bruins ain't that random dude."
That snarky comment got Blake and the other scouts laughing, their faces showing a bit of scorn: Yeah, a QB who can't even start? Big deal if he had one good game.
The chat ended as Adam and Blake turned their attention to the field; the game was about to kick off.
"Alright, everyone, gather up, eyes on me," Rick yelled, pulling the players in. They circled around, taking a knee, eyes blazing. Rick took a deep breath, "Put your right hand on the knee of the guy next to you. Quiet down, feel each other's heartbeats, soak in the moment, hear the crowd? Today, it's today!"
Rick's voice was rough, showing his nerves. He scanned the players, locking eyes with each one. "The Bruins have waited eleven years for this. We're finally here. But we ain't just here to play; we're here to win and bring the Rose Bowl home! Failure? Not an option, and the fans outside won't accept it either!"
Simple words, but they hit hard, firing up every player. "You know the drill; I don't need to repeat it! Remember, no one, I mean no one, messes with us on our turf! This is our house! We rule here!"
Rick clenched his fist and slammed it down hard. "This is your game, boys! For the seniors..." He paused, locking eyes with those young faces, especially the seniors. "This is your last ride! No regrets, no holding back! Give it everything you got! This game, you'll remember it forever!"
Raising his fist high, he yelled, "Let's crush 'em!" The players jumped up, shouting, roaring, going wild. The locker room turned into a stormy sea, waves crashing everywhere.
The deafening roars echoed through the room. Luke felt his blood boiling, his shouts tearing at his throat, hot and fierce, like a sleeping lion inside him waking up, hungry for blood, battle, and victory! Every cell in his body was buzzing, ready to explode!
Inside was lit, and outside was just as crazy.
The drumbeats pounded harder, the shouts got wilder, and the air was electric. The Badgers, as the visiting team, hit the field first, and the crowd went nuts, welcoming both teams with insane energy.
The Rose Bowl was packed. As the Bruins' home turf, over 60,000 fans showed up, hoping for a championship win since '86. The Badgers brought nearly 30,000 fans, traveling all the way to LA, hoping to see their team win on enemy ground. Plus, about 10,000 neutral fans were there, cheering, partying, and ready for an epic showdown.
But right now, the crowd was one, clapping, whistling, and shouting, setting the Rose Bowl on fire with their passion, giving the warriors a hero's welcome.
"It really is the last game," John said, feeling like he was about to suffocate, gasping for air, but his lungs still couldn't catch any oxygen. His nervousness made Luke laugh, who then said, "Don't worry, once you're on the field, you'll get used to it! Enjoy every second of this game; this is your stage!"
"This is your game too," John said sincerely, patting Luke on the chest.
Luke nodded, his smile growing brighter. "Of course, I know. So, are you ready? Let's score some touchdowns." His cheerful words made it seem like he was the starting quarterback and John the starting receiver, as if touchdowns were just a matter of reaching out and grabbing them. They exchanged a glance and laughed together.
"Bambi? Bambi!" A voice called from the front. Luke and John looked up to see their teammates' eyes all on them. "Bambi, get to the front. John, you too."
"What's going on?" Luke asked, puzzled, as he walked through his teammates to the front. There he saw Kevin standing at the front, but Kevin stepped aside, ignoring Luke and John with a stiff expression, his eyes looking elsewhere, exuding a fighting spirit.
Glancing at Kevin out of the corner of his eye, Luke didn't pay much attention and walked to the front with John. Not just them, but Logan, Marcus, and others were also at the front. Logan waved joyfully, jumping up and down like a hyperactive flea. "Bambi, come on, today the seniors lead the team onto the field."
In football, players traditionally rush onto the field together, but who leads the team is decided internally by the team.
The Badgers had just been led by their offensive unit, the heroes who brought them to the Rose Bowl. For the Bruins, they chose the seniors.
Luke's emotions surged, not because it was the last game, but because of the overwhelming cheers at the Rose Bowl, making his blood boil. He could almost hear the call from the field: Fight! Fight! Fight! The passionate emotions burst forth like a tidal wave, unleashing an energy that could shatter the sky!
Standing at the front, the seniors bumped fists, exchanged glances, and roared at each other. The light in their eyes intertwined, reaching an emotional peak. Everyone couldn't help but start jumping in place, like boxers ready to enter the ring, fully mobilizing their bodies.
Suddenly, the coach's command cut through the air, "Take the field!" The cheerleaders and team mascots at the front began to rush out, and the players swarmed forward, charging towards the bright lights, the thunderous cheers, and the boiling field!
The shouts exploded!