Another day of training wrapped up. Luke stretched out his muscles and started packing up the gear on the field.
Using the school's field during the offseason wasn't something you could just decide to do. First, you needed the coach's okay, then the coach had to get the school's approval, and finally, Luke had to pack up the equipment and clean up. Luckily, the field maintenance was handled by the pros.
In just six weeks of training, Luke had gotten pretty used to this routine. Back when he was just a sparring partner, these chores were split among the sparring partners and freshmen.
"Hey, kid!"
A voice called out from the edge of the field. Luke looked up and saw a short, chubby guy next to an old man with gray hair. The sun was still a bit blinding, making it hard to see their faces clearly, but Luke wasn't dumb: the whole training session had lasted nearly three hours, and these two had been sitting in the stands almost the entire time. He wasn't about to ignore them.
"Gentlemen, how was it? Did you like what you saw?" Luke asked, half-jokingly.
The two exchanged a glance and laughed. The chubby guy teased, "This one's different."
The old man next to him shrugged, "Didn't I tell you? He's a journalism student, a top student. If he doesn't make it as a pro football player, he'll be a great journalist."
"Mr. Klein, could you have a little more faith in me?" Luke chimed in, hinting that he was aiming to be a top-notch pro player, so don't count him out.
The two laughed again. "This is Geep Chryst, the quarterbacks coach for the San Francisco 49ers," Adam introduced them.
Luke casually tossed the football into the cart and kept packing up the gear. He started stacking the cones nearby. Anthony, who was also helping out, saw the three talking and hesitated for a moment but decided not to join. Self-promotion and socializing were Luke's strong suits, so no need to mess it up.
"Nice to see you again, Mr. Chryst," Luke said with a big smile.
Geep looked surprised, "You remember me?" With over a hundred coaches and hundreds of scouts at the training camp, remembering every coach was nearly impossible.
"I'm from San Francisco, always waiting for the call from the 49ers. During training, it's hard not to pay extra attention," Luke's honesty made both Geep and Adam smile. "Unfortunately, this meeting took way longer than I expected."
Geep clasped his hands behind his back, showing keen interest. "The 49ers are your main team?"
"No, my second favorite team," Luke's honesty surprised not just Geep but also Adam.
What rookie would make such a blunder? Telling the quarterbacks coach of the team watching your training that they weren't your main team?
Luke wasn't like Eli Manning, a top-tier talent who could openly reject the San Diego Chargers' offer, saying he'd never play for them. Luke didn't have the luxury of being picky.
Luke seemed unfazed, standing up straight and smiling at the two, sincerely saying, "My main team is the Green Bay Packers."
Every player has a main team in their heart, a childhood memory and nostalgia; the team they play for is another, a professional pursuit and goal.
Most players might play for more teams than they can count on one hand, or even two, but their main team in their heart remains the same. Only a very small number of players spend their entire career with one team, and that team eventually surpasses their main team in their heart, becoming their home.
This sense of "home" isn't something everyone can find.
Geep's eyes lit up, "My main team is also the Green Bay Packers!" He had just joined the 49ers' coaching staff this year and had no emotional attachment to them, but his main team in his heart hadn't changed. "I was born in Wisconsin and still remember the excitement and thrill of going to Lambeau Field for the first time as a kid."
Luke's hands paused slightly; this was completely unexpected. "The first game I watched was when Brett Favre led the team to a last-second victory over the Cincinnati Bengals!"
"Jesus Christ, that was Brett's debut with the Packers! He started his legendary career in that first game," Geep exclaimed, his smile fully blossoming. "But that was in 1992. How old were you then?"
"I wasn't in the U.S. back then," Luke explained. "Caught that game on ESPN replays later. After that, I became the most die-hard Green Bay Packers fan, even though I live in San Francisco." This made Geep laugh out loud. "But the 49ers are my second favorite team. The first live game I watched was at Candlestick Park, 49ers vs. Washington Redskins."
"The Christmas game in '99!" Adam chimed in, a bit surprised. "But the 49ers lost that game."
"Yeah, but they pushed it into overtime despite everything. Man, my heart almost stopped." Even after ten years, thinking about it still got Luke's blood pumping. He paused his equipment-packing, eyes shining.
At that moment, they weren't just a coach, a scout, and a player; they were three fans.
Geep chuckled, "Is that why you started playing football? From what I know, the Asian American community isn't big on football, even in San Francisco."
"Yeah, my dad and I were more into basketball. Lakers," Luke said simply, making Geep and Adam exchange another knowing glance. "But football's just so captivating. The day I stepped onto the field, I knew I'd be a great football player."
His confidence and determination lacked the traditional Asian humility, instead brimming with the energy of American youth.
"But didn't you think maybe your physical talents were better suited for basketball?" Geep asked sincerely, genuinely curious. "Maybe you could've made it to the NBA?"
"That's a maybe," Luke smiled. "Just like becoming a great football player is also a maybe."
Geep raised his chin, a smile in his eyes. He liked that answer and the way Luke delivered it.
Geep and Luke kept chatting for a while. Geep asked about Luke's high school performance and the ups and downs of his college years, including his unrecorded freshman and sophomore years.
Even someone as seasoned as Geep couldn't help but be impressed. "You know, as an Asian American player, every step you take is making history." Winning the Rose Bowl or causing a stir at the rookie training camp was new history. Not because of Luke's "Asian American" identity, but because of his talent.
Luke shrugged nonchalantly, "Before making history, I should first create my career."
The humor in his words made Geep pause, then clap and laugh heartily, nodding vigorously. "I'm starting to like you already." But this also made his inner regret even stronger.
As they left the field, Geep looked back at Luke, who was still packing up equipment, and sighed deeply to Adam, "I regret coming here today. If I hadn't, I wouldn't feel so reluctant now." He was just the quarterbacks coach, responsible only for training; the team's planning was in the hands of the head coach and the team manager.
"That's your problem, not mine," Adam said nonchalantly, then turned and walked away, leaving Geep shaking his head helplessly before catching up. "Hey, aren't you gonna help me with dinner tonight?"
After watching Adam and Geep leave, Anthony finally came over and eagerly asked, "How'd it go? Was the conversation good?"
"Pretty much like with the New Orleans Saints," Luke, surprisingly calm compared to Anthony, replied. "But don't get your hopes up. The 49ers didn't invite me for an interview before, and now they're just inquiring. No need to overthink it."
The six weeks of silence weren't as calm as they seemed. Luke had been on an emotional rollercoaster: anticipation, joy, anxiety, frustration, disappointment, sadness, and struggle. After the ups and downs, he cleared his mind and focused entirely on training. Ultimately, skill was the only way to succeed.
He needed to avoid overthinking because those around him were even more anxious than he was. Anthony was one of them, as were his parents.
Anthony paused, then let out a long sigh, "What are your plans if the draft results aren't what you hoped for?"
Hope was gradually fading. As an assistant coach, Anthony should be more aware of the NFL's rules and operations. The harsh reality of competitive sports spares no one.
"Then I'll sprint to the finish line with all my might and see the scenery at the end of the road," Luke said confidently. His strong confidence and determination left Anthony stunned and somewhat ashamed. Dreams not only make life bearable but also make it colorful.
Suddenly, Anthony's anxiety and impatience vanished. He believed in Luke. Or rather, he wanted to believe in Luke, believing that one day, dreams would come true.