I didn’t even glance at the cheerleaders already warming up on the sideline as I jogged out with the rest of the team, all of us gathering in the center of the field where Coach Sanders was waiting to give his pre-practice speech. I slipped into the familiar, comfortable zone that only existed on a football field for me. The smell of the turf invaded my senses, the feel of it beneath my cleats like coming home after a long day, and when I took a knee next to one of my fellow defensive backs, focused was all I felt.

Where Coach usually had to blow his whistle to get us all quiet before practice, no one was talking today. We kneeled around him, one hand on our knee and the other on our helmet as we waited.

Coach Sanders was one of the best in the nation. He’d made waves in his short tenure at NBU, turning a team around that had a consistent losing record and hadn’t seen a bowl game in decades, to being a top contender again for the first time since the 90s. The fact that he was in his early thirties only added to how impressive that was, and the truth of the matter was that I didn’t care that he was a dick most of the time, that he was severe and almost never gave out compliments.

I respected him, and I’d follow him into a burning building.

He hung his hands on his hips, brow furrowed as his eyes washed over all of us. “Most of you know the drill for today,” he said, sniffing. “I usually like to wait until after practice to even talk about it, because we have work to do, but I know it’s difficult for any of you to ignore what’s waiting at the end of it.”

He paused, glancing down at the clipboard in his hand before he thumped his fist against it.

“I didn’t take any decisions with this lightly. And I want you all to remember that nothing’s permanent. You might have a number one spot and then get taken out before our season opener next week. You might be slated number three and end up starting. So, no matter where you are, keep working hard, and keep your eye on the prize. Understood?”

“Yes, Coach,” we all responded in sync.

He nodded. “I’ll hang it outside my office after practice so you can see it first,” he said. “At five this evening, it’ll be released online for the rest of the nation to see. I expect you all to be ready for media after film meetings tonight.”

My teammates varied in how they reacted to that, some of them shifting uncomfortably, while others sported cocky smiles like they weren’t worried in the least.