Truth is, I’m really confused, baffled even, so I raise my hand, which is a total Blaine football cultural blunder. Within seconds the room falls silent and every set of eyes descends upon me. And I really don’t care, because at this point I know my career as a Blaine football player will be over in less than five minutes.

“What is it, Ramsey?” Horton barks.

“Coach, maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t really know what you mean by the ‘think you can, think you can’t’ thing.”

Horton shakes his head and stares at the floor. “Well, you will in time. It’s a new one. I have new material this year. Just listen and learn.” Anxious to resume his gridiron rhetoric, he says, “Gentlemen, winning is contagious, but so is losing.”

I raise my hand again.

“Christ, Ramsey, what now?”

“No offense, Coach, but I’m afraid I can’t buy that. I mean, I don’t know anybody who likes losing so much that they try to spread it to other people.”

A series of impatient sighs fills the room.

“Will you just hear me out, Ramsey? It’ll all make sense if you take the time to listen.” He pauses. “Maybe your head’s cloudy from your late-night date with Foster the other night.” He grins.

Players and coaches laugh.

“Whatever you say, Coach,” I say. “By all means, fire away.”

He sucks in his gut, cocks his head from left to right, and jams his thumbs inside his belt loops.

“Men,” he says, “I want you to know that anything is possible … it’s just that the impossible things take a little longer to accomplish.” A cocky smile crosses his face.

Players and coaches applaud again.

But I can’t buy his motivational bull any longer, so I raise my hand for the third and final time.

Moans fill the room. A few players tell me to screw off under their breath.

Horton points at me.

“I’m about done messing with you, Ramsey. Last question.”

“Coach, I have to tell you. That last thing you said was just plain stupid.”

Coaches and players lower their heads in embarrassment.

“Know what, Ramsey? I’m beginning to think you’re no longer Blaine football material.”

“Coach, I’ve known that since I was a freshman, but just hear me out on this one.” I stand and rub my sore knee. “First of all, it’s just downright cruel and unusual punishment to make us take a knee on a floor like this, but that’s not my point. What I’m really wondering is, if anything’s truly possible, how come I can’t lift a full-grown elephant above my head using only my pinky?”

A few people laugh.

“Son,” Horton says, “what the hell are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about your little slogan, Coach. You just said anything’s possible, but I seriously doubt that statement.”