Page 1 of Dear Coach's Daughter
1
HUNTER
When the news broke about the doping scandal that involved our star quarterback Jace Michaels, I got a call from the team manager telling me that Coach Moreno wanted to see me right away. As the backup QB on the team, my number was finally being called. It’s a day I haven’t had yet in my professional career.
“Did you know about this?” Coach asked, pointing at the muted screen mounted on his office wall.
All the sports networks hadn’t stopped talking about the scandal all morning. They were showing old footage of Jace practicing with the team as if it were happening right now or something. Then, a picture of my face appeared on the screen with a red question mark next to it.
I shook my head and turned back to Coach. “No, sir.”
There had been some rumblings from some of the guys on the team about how they heard that Jace might be taking some enhancement drugs after his hamstring injury last year. But I didn’t think it was true until, just like the rest of the world, I was told about his drug test that found the use of a diuretic in his system that is often used to mask drug use in tests.
The headline below the sports anchor flashes, and it says that Jace has been suspended from the first eight games of the season.
“Dammit, Michaels!” He slammed his fist down on the desk. “We had a real chance of going all the way this year, but thanks to him and this suspension, it’s really going to set us back.”
I tried not to take Coach’s frustration with the circumstances as a direct reflection of his belief that I can't step up and fill Michaels’s shoes. Nevertheless, this is a big blow to all of us.
“What else did he say?” Ramirez asks over the loud swell of voices in the bar.
He and Caldwell, two of my closest friends on the team, had invited me out for drinks to discuss everything that was going down.
I shrug and take a sip of my beer. “He just asked a few more questions about what I might have heard and then told me that I’d be starting.”
"Well, it's not the best way to get some time on the field, but congrats Delaney. It’s been a long time coming.” Caldwell holds up his own beer bottle to clink with mine.
I tap my beer bottle with him, but I can't shake the feeling in the pit of my stomach. I felt a change in the air this morning when I woke up, but I couldn't have imagined it would be this.
“Screw Michaels,” Ramirez says. “He’s always been a selfish bastard. Only thinking of himself and never putting the team first. I’m glad that it’s finally caught up with him.”
Caldwell nods.
My teammates might be okay with how the events unfolded, but it is something much bigger to me. My life is about to change. I’m about to step out onto the biggest stage in football. I've dreamt of this moment my whole life. Since back in the day, when I played in the backyard with my dad and older brother, Zach.
What I would give to have my older brother around today to get some advice on how to handle all this. He always knew how to help me compartmentalize the shit going on in our lives.
I lift my beer to take another sip but realize that it’s empty. I push back from the table.
“I’m going to get another.” I shake my empty bottle at them. “Another round for you guys?”
BROWNIE
I was supposed to meet my dad for dinner tonight. But on the drive back to the city, when I heard on the radio about the doping scandal with Jace Michaels, I knew that he wouldn’t be able to make it.
This is the last thing his heart needs to be dealing with right now. The doctor wanted him to take it easy after his mild heart attack over the summer, but you can’t tell my dad anything—unless it involves football.
Thankfully Taylor, my college roommate and now current roommate, was available to distract me. She suggested we come down to the bar below our building and get a drink. A reward for both of us after we spent the afternoon unpacking my stuff and getting me settled.
I’d planned on moving in with my dad, wanting to be closer to him so I could watch out for him, but he wouldn’t have it. He was already upset that I’d picked up and moved back for him. He'd much rather live in denial about what happened than doing what he can to get better.
“He’s going to be fine,” Taylor says, reading my worried expression.
“I just don’t want him to have to deal with anymore added stress.”
"Well, stress is a part of anyone's life when you are the head coach of a professional football team."
“Is that supposed to be helpful?” I ask.
