Coming Home - Book 3
Douglas Fox
Table of Contents
Title Page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Coming Home
Book 3
by Douglas Fox
© 2023
Prologue
Coming Home – Book 3 is a continuation of the Coming Home series following Kyle and Penny Martin and their children as they return home to Landenberg, PA when Kyle is hired as the head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. You should read Coming Home, Books 1 and 2 before tackling this book. Action picks up the day after the Eagles 2031 season ended. The players have packed their things and departed. Coaches and front office staff are all that are left in the Eagles’ training center, NovaCare Complex in south Philadelphia.
I must thank Persecutor for his invaluable assistance with editing this story. The remaining errors that may have crept into the are entirely my fault.
Cover Photo: View of the back side of Baldy Mountain, Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, New Mexico. Kyle, Penny, David, Jessie and the rest of Crew 628-J4 climbed from Copper Park using the path you can see in the center of the photo.
Photo © 2023, Douglas Fox
Chapter 1
=============
-----oooOooo-----
Monday, January 5th 2032 – NovaCare Complex, Philadelphia, PA
Kellen Brown poked his head in Kyle Martin’s office door. “Got a moment, Coach?” Kellen asked politely. Kyle waved his wide receivers coach in the door.
“What can I do for you, Kellen?” Kyle asked as he motioned for his former mentor to have a seat.
“I am glad I caught you before you headed for home,” Kellen commented. Kyle could see Kellen fidget and hesitate.
“Um… uh… I really appreciate you giving me this opportunity to coach here this season,” Kellen responded. After another hesitation, he added, “I was just a grunt-level college position coach and you trusted me and brought me up to the NFL.”
“You’ve done a hell of a job for me,” Kyle answered. “You took a bunch of undistinguished free agents and rookies and turned them into a strong, cohesive receiving unit. Did you know your receiving corps ranks fifth in the league in receiving over the past four games?”
“I did not know that,” Kellen allowed. “Boy… you telling me that makes this that much harder. You know… I played ball at Colorado when I was in college.”
“I remember,” Kyle agreed. “I hear your boys just hired your old boss from FIU to be their new head coach.”
“Yes, Isaiah Strickland got that job,” Kellen answered.
“Good for him,” Kyle replied, smiling. “He deserves the promotion. He did a good job at FIU.”
“He called earlier this afternoon,” Kellen said. “He asked me to be his OC [offensive coordinator] for the Buffaloes.”
“Congratulations! That is a fantastic opportunity for you,” Kyle gushed. “Boulder [, Colorado] is a fun place. You and Carla will enjoy it.”
“Carla is originally from Denver,” Kellen replied. “My years with the Broncos were great for her. She got to see her family regularly.”
“And this promotion will do the same for her,” Kyle agreed.
“I want to take this opportunity, but…” Kellen said, his face going grim momentarily. “I feel like I am deserting you and the Eagles. Coaching here and learning from you, it is such a great opportunity for me.”
“Nonsense!” Kyle declared. “A year ago, you were a position coach in college, you stepped up and did a year as a position coach in the NFL. Now you get another promotion and you will be a coordinator with a Power 5 college team. You have to grab this opportunity.”
“I appreciate your support, Coach,” Kellen said. “I feel like I am leaving you in the lurch, but, knowing you, you probably have a list of potential replacements for me stashed somewhere.”
“I do have a list to use when my coaches are recognized for their good work and get promotions,” Kyle laughed.
“Can I add a name to your list?” Kellen asked. Kyle nodded yes. “Add Jordan Burke.”
“I don’t know him,” Kyle said. “Where does he work?”
“She has been the receivers coach at Cal for the past four years,” Kellen replied. “I know her from when she worked as a grad assistant with me at FIU. She did well and got the chance to coach at Cal.”
“That school has put some good receivers into the NFL recently,” Kyle remarked.
“She did,” Kellen agreed. “They aren’t the most physically talented players around, but they play smart football and are…”
“Well coached,” Kyle agreed. “Point taken. I will put Jordan Burke on my list for your replacement.”
“Thank you again, Coach, for everything you’ve done for me this past year.”
-----oooOooo-----
Monday, January 5th 2032 – North Residence, Landenberg,PA
Allison North and Jake Steele repeated their “horseback ride” of the previous week after school. The two rode up to Jake’s house and spent 45 minutes making love together. They cleaned up and headed back for Allison’s house afterward, expecting that no one knew their secret. Unknown to them, one neighbor and friend of Jake’s, Mike DiFillipo, saw them ride to Jake’s house. He saw them again when they left. He also saw Jake give Allison a seriously passionate kiss and feel of her chest before they mounted up and rode off.
Mike confronted Jake the next morning at the bus stop.
“Are you banging Allison North?” Mike asked. He was nothing if not direct. Jake’s face blushed pink.
“What?” Jake stuttered. “What gives you that idea?”
“The forty-five minutes the two of you were alone in your house after school yesterday afternoon, Mike replied. “The hot kiss and grope you gave her before the two of you rode off. Give? What’s it like?” Mike was a frustrated virgin desperate to relieve himself of that burden. It was a condition the two talked about frequently over the past year and Jake had shared with Mike until Christmas vacation.
“God! You can’t tell anybody,” Jake insisted. “Allison will have my balls if word gets around.”
“So… she already has your balls,” Mike teased. “And your cock too.”
“You got to keep our secret, man,” Jake pleaded. “No one can know.”
“I'm your friend,” Mike protested. “I'd never spread this around, I promise. So... give... what is it like?”
“It's... it's amazing,” Jake said. He saw Billy Horst, a little seventh grader walking towards them. “This is secret.’ I'll tell you later.”
“What's secret?” Billy interrupted.
“None of your business,” Jake replied sharply. The short boy stepped further away from the older teens. “Later.”
“You bet we will talk about this later,” Mike answered, grinning from ear to ear.
-----oooOooo-----
Mike's idea of keeping a secret wasn't quite what Jake had in mind. After sixth period gym, Mike was changing beside his friends Konnor Wentz and Tom Anderson. No surprise, the topic of discussion in the locker room was sex - who was doing it with whom. Konnor and Mike were listing ninth grade couples that did the deed.
“Mila Becker and Ben Foltz,” Konnor said.
“A slut and a weirdo,” Tom responded. “Old news. I heard Carly Miller and Jake Jackson are doing it.”
“No way,” Konnor said. “I have one you won't believe - Jake Steele and Allison North.”
“Impossible!” Tom protested. “’She's all goody-goody. No way Jake's been near her pants.”
“It's true,” Konnor insisted. “My older sister was at this party last month. The two of them were locked in one of the bedrooms for like... a half hour doing it. I swear it's true.” Chris Steele's party had been mostly juniors and seniors, so news of Jake and Allison spending time alone in a bedroom hadn't made it into ninth grade gossip circle.
“I find it hard to believe,” Tom responded. “Though they have been dating since school started. Jake should be looking elsewhere if Allison isn't putting out... at least a little.”
“I know it's true about Jake and Allison,” Mike said. “They did it again yesterday after school. They were alone for forty-five minutes. Allison gave Jake a seriously hot kiss before they left his house after they did it.”
“Time alone doesn't mean Allison gave up her treasures for Jake,” Tom insisted.
“Jake admitted it to me this morning,” Mike answered. “He admitted they banged their brains out yesterday afternoon.”
“Amazing,” Tom commented. “’Who'd have thought it?”
“If Jake Steele can get laid, there might be hope for you too,” Konnor teased.
“Fuck you!” Tom responded.
“Well... fuck you too,” Konnor replied, but without heat. “I've got Amanda primed. All we got to do is find time alone an’ I'll be sliding her my big one.”
“Big one?” Mike teased. “Only in your dreams.”
“At least I have a girlfriend,” Konnor replied. “You two aren't getting laid without girlfriends.”
“I'm working on it,” Mike answered.
“Me too,” Tom echoed.
“By the way... keep the news about Jake and Allison secret,” Mike asked, finally remembering his promise to Jake earlier in the day.
-----oooOooo-----
Tuesday, January 6, 2032 – NovaCare Complex, Philadelphia, PA
Ryan Reynolds and Ed Fritz filed into Kyle’s office on Tuesday morning and took seats on his couch. Kyle joined his assistants in a chair by the couch.
“What’s on tap this morning, boss?” Ryan asked, grinning.
“I wanted to brainstorm some ideas for who will replace Kellen,” Kyle replied.
“I am going to miss Kellen,” Ed said. “I didn’t know him before last February, but he proved to be a dynamite receivers coach. The job he is taking in Colorado is a nice step up for him.”
“It is,” Ryan agreed. “I know you started a list already, Kyle. Who are you thinking about?”
Kyle went through his list. Ryan and Ed briefly commented on each of the names as Kyle listed them.
“That’s not a bad list to work from,” Ryan commented when they finished the list of possible receiver coaches. “What about that intern we had last summer during training camp. Jon… uh, Jon…”
“Caffrey,” Ed added.
“I like the idea of some young, up-and-coming guy joining the staff,” Ryan said. “He’s young but he has a good head for football.”
“Maybe,” Kyle allowed. “He’s lived football most of his life. His dad was my high school coach and has been working for Bob Burton for a couple decades. Jon comes by his football smarts honestly. Is a jump from a high school coach to an NFL coach too big of a leap? I’d go after Jon as an offensive assistant in a second, but as a position coach?”
“I see your point,” Ryan said. “Zion is doing good work now and I don’t see him being ready to move up to be the receivers coach.”
“Not yet,” Kyle agreed. “Kellen gave me a suggestion yesterday afternoon after he informed of his departure. Either of you know Jordan Burke?”
“Never heard of him,” Ryan said, shrugging his shoulders.
“I ran into HER a few times with I was QB coach in Florida,” Ed allowed. “We bumped into each other at some recruiting events. She was a grad assistant then. I heard good things about her work. I understand she stepped up to being a receiver coach out in California. I’m not sure which school.”
“She’s at Cal,” Kyle said. “I googled her. Cal’s receivers seem decent. Do either of you have any objections if I bring her in for an interview?”
“I have no objection to a woman coach,” Ryan said.
“I’m fine if Penny’s fine with you hiring a woman coach,” Ed teased.
“I don’t think Penny will worry about one of my position coaches being female, if I hire Burke,” Kyle laughed. Talk moved on to the work for the offensive coaching staff for the next couple weeks. They determined that the staff would do an in-depth review of their own personnel and then work on self-scouting. What tendencies had their team developed this season that other teams might find and exploit next season?
-----oooOooo-----
“Bill? How are you doing?” Kyle asked his first wide receiver coach candidate. Bill Wilson, known as “Willie B” when he was drafted by the Broncos to start Kyle’s third season with team. Bill was undersized but had some quickness. Most of all, he caught ANYTHING thrown his way. Bill was football smart too, making up for his lack of speed and athletic talent by understanding what an offense was doing on each play.
“Coach, it’s been too many years,” Bill commented. “How have you been?”
“I’m am good,” Kyle replied. “Penny and the kids are all doing well too. Davey is graduating from high school this year. How are Sam and Owen?” They were Bill’s sons.
“Sam moves on to high school this fall. Owen is in sixth grade.”
“Time does fly,” Kyle agreed. “How is Latisha doing?”
“She’s loving Oregon,” Bill replied. “What is the occasion for the call, Coach? I know you. This isn’t just a social call.”
“I have seen video of the work you’ve been doing with your receivers,” Kyle replied. “You are doing stellar work.” Bill was the receivers coach for the Oregon Ducks. “How would you like to take a step up and come back to the NFL? I need a new receivers coach. Kellen Brown is taking the OC job at Colorado.”
“Ohhhh… man! Are you serious, Coach?” Bill asked.
“Deadly serious,” Kyle replied. “I think you would make a great coach in the NFL.”
“I am honored you would ask me,” Bill replied. “If you had called three days ago, I would have probably jumped at this chance. It isn’t public knowledge yet, but I accepted the OC job here. We aren’t releasing that info until a press conference tomorrow.”
“Have you formally started the job?” Kyle asked. “You could thank your university, turn down the job and come east to work with me. I need a good man like you.”
“I gave my word I’d take the job,” Bill replied. The reluctance was evident in his voice. “You know, my word is my bond.”
“Say no more,” Kyle said. “I respect that. If things do not work out in Oregon, I will keep you in mind for a job in the future. I think you have great potential to coach in the NFL.”
“I appreciate the thought, Coach,” Bill replied. “Give Penny and your kids my love.”
“You do the same from me to Latisha, Sam and Owen,” Kyle replied before finishing the phone call. This was disappointing. Kyle thought Bill would be perfect for the wide receiver position coach’s job. He shrugged and called the next name on his list.
-----oooOooo-----
Kyle played “phone tag” with Tom Gilbertson, without either managing to reach the other. Tom had been a teammate of Kyle’s at the Broncos. Tom had joined the team as a sixth round, slightly undersized tight end about the time Brendan Hayden blew out his leg and retired from football.
Tom never became a starter with the Broncos, but he grew into the special teams ace role that Brendan had previously filled. He wasn’t the strongest guy but he was fearless and willing to throw his body against anyone to make a play. He was smart and had a fiery personality. He became the motivator and special teams captain for the Broncos.
Midafternoon, Tom finally caught up with Kyle.
“Coach, I got you… finally!” Tom laughed when he heard his old teammate’s voice. “What’s up? What can I do for an old friend?”
“It’s good to hear from you,” Kyle replied. “It’s been too long since we talked.” The two exchanged pleasantries and discussed their families for a minute.
“So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this conversation, Coach?” Tom asked.
“I don’t know if you heard Kellen Brown is taking the job as OC at Colorado,” Kyle said.
“Really? Shit!” Tom responded heatedly. “My guys are going to need to score some more points if we have to face Brownie’s offense every season.”
“The Sun Devils will have to score some points if they want to take on Kellen’s offense,” Kyle replied. “How would you like to let that be someone else’s problem? Come east and join my staff. Be my wide receivers coach.”
“Really… wow, I’m stunned,” Tom said after a pause. “You think I’m ready to coach in the NFL?”
“I know you are ready to coach in the NFL,” Kyle answered. “You've done an outstanding job at Arizona State. I want you to teach my young receivers how to play at this level.”
“I am honored you would ask me,” Tom replied. Kyle could sense some reluctance in Tom's voice.
“But?”
“Eva grew up in Tempe,” Tom explained. “Her parents are here. My kids are settled in at their school and have lots of friends. Eva's parents are available to babysit whenever we need a break. This is just about the perfect spot for my family.”
“Eva would not be willing to move if you got a promotion?” Kyle asked.
“She would move,” Tom replied. “I know she would but that is my challenge. She and the kids would follow me if I take your job offer. Is it fair for me to ask them to upset their lives so I can get a job promotion? You should understand. You and Penny, you are in your third house in... what... seven years?”
“It isn't so bad,” Kyle replied. “We lived a dozen years in Denver. We were in Pittsburgh for six years. Living here outside of Philly is really coming home for us. We live in the house Penny and I bought a few weeks after we graduated from college. Families are resilient. Eva, Luke and Troy will enjoy southeast Pennsylvania. It does not hit 115 degrees here in the summer.”
“There is that,” Tom allowed. He was quiet for a moment. “I don't see how... I am surprised I am on your list for prospective coaches.”
“You are an effective teacher,” Kyle replied. “You know how to motivate people, whether it is your special teams members at the Broncos, or, I assume, your receivers today at Arizona State. You should not be surprised I called. You are on top of my list for wide receivers or tight ends coaches.”
“Kyle Martin has a list,” Tom laughed. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Well... you know how it is,” Kyle chuckled with his former teammate.
“I make lists all the time too,” Tom replied. He sighed. “Man, I would love to say yes to you, but I just can't drag my family across the country right now. If my boys were older, perhaps, but not right now.”
“I am sorry to hear that, Tom,” Kyle answered. “You are a dynamite coach who is going places. I wanted one of those places to be with me here in Philly. Are you certain you will pass on this opportunity?”
“I am, Coach,” Tom replied.
“If your circumstances change, let me know,” Kyle said. “I would love to have you on my staff and for us to work together again.”
“Circumstances?” Tom laughed. “Like Brownie's offense kicks our butts year after year and State fires our asses?”
“It's coaching, things happen,” Kyle replied. “If you find yourself looking for a job, call me. I would hire you in a heartbeat.”
“I will keep that in mind, Coach,” Tom said. “Thank you for considering me. In any other circumstances, I would be hopping the next plane to Philly.”
“Take care, Tom,” Kyle answered.
“SHIT!” Kyle remarked to no one after the call ended. He took out his legal pad and crossed off Tom Gilbertson’s name from his list. He buzzed the receptionist. “Beth, could you look up Ken Garver's number? We should have it on file from when we worked him out last spring.”
-----oooOooo-----
Less than five minutes later, Kyle was punching in Ken Garver's number into his phone.
“Coach Martin, this is an unexpected pleasure,” Ken said when he answered the call.
“I wanted to touch base with you, Ken,” Kyle replied. “I guess this past season did not work out quite as you hoped.” Ken Garver was out of work for half the season. The Titans finally brought him in when they lost a key receiver. Ken played in six games at the end of the season. He had nine catches for 71 yards and no touchdowns.
“No, not as I hoped it would,” Ken allowed. “I have been thinking a lot about what you and I talked about last spring. You may be right. It may be time for me to move on from football.”
“How would you like to trade in your cleats for a visor?” Kyle suggested. “I would like you to join my staff here in Philly and teach my receivers how the game is played at this level.”
“Coach for you?” Ken said. “I am not a coach.”
“You and I are two of maybe a couple dozen people in this world who know how to play wide receiver in the NFL at an elite level. I think you would be good at sharing that knowledge with my young guys.”
“Coaching is such a peripatetic profession,” Ken replied. “I can't see myself moving around the country every few years chasing another coaching job.”
“I am not asking you to make this a career,” Kyle replied. “Come down to Philly and try out coaching. Hell, Pottsville isn't that far away. You will be able to see your parents and in-laws easily from Philly. They could easily come to the games.”
“It is tempting, Coach,” Ken allowed. “Still, I think I will have to say no. I just don't see myself coaching.”
“So, what is next?” Kyle asked.
“This isn't public yet,” Ken replied. “I am signing a one-day contract with the Vikings, so I can retire as a Viking.”
“That's appropriate,” Kyle said. Ken was drafted by the Vikings and played his best years there. “Good luck with your future endeavors.”
“Thanks, Coach,” Ken said. “Thank you for considering me for a spot on your staff. Thanks too for all the teaching and mentoring you've given me over the years.”
“It's been my pleasure, Ken,” Kyle said before the two concluded the call.
Kyle scratched Ken Garver's name off his list of candidates. He called Ryan Reynolds and Jeremy North to have them call in the guys they suggested for interviews. Kyle made one last call to California. He set up and interview with Jordan Burke for the following week.
-----oooOooo-----
Tuesday, January 6, 2032 – Lionville YMCA Pool
Downingtown West was expected to be a good team. David worried if everyone would be ready after layoff from practice and competing over the holidays. David's “A” team easily beat West's “A” team in the Boy's first event, the 200 Medley Relay. Avon Grove's “B” team managed to stay close to West's “A”. Mike Bell nearly closed the gap on the final leg but unfortunately tapped the side of the pool a split second after West. Mason Ewing narrowly edged out West's best freestyler for first in the 200 freestyle. Avon Grove also took fourth place. The lead dwindled to 16-13, Avon Grove's favor.
David easily bested the field in the 200 Individual Medley. Mike Harris took fourth place. Sam Kohler was unable to keep up with West's best swimmer in the 50 Freestyle. He did manage to stay ahead to grab second place. Jacob Hartman earned points with his fifth-place finish. The Avon Grove lead narrowed to 31-30.
In the 100 Butterfly, David dominated. He was three seconds behind the state record he set against Henderson a couple weeks earlier. Downingtown West grabbed second and third places. Reed Cameron just missed catching the West swimmer and ended up in fourth place. The score was 39-Avon Grove, 38-Downingtown West.
Mason Ewing was a beast in the 500 Freestyle. He pulled ahead to take first, just ahead of two swimmers from West. Jacob Hartman, the quick freshman, just missed taking third place by an eye blink. He settled for fourth while Trey Batdorf took fifth place. Avon Grove's lead remained one point, 55-54.
Downingtown West took first in the 200 Freestyle Relay. Mason Ewing, “A” team anchor and Luke Allerton, “B” team anchor both beat West's “B” team. This event moved Downingtown West ahead by one point, 62-61.
Mike Harris opened David's eyes by taking first place in the 100 Backstroke. Reed Crawford took second place. Their strong performances grabbed the lead back for Avon Grove 72-67. David was possessed as he dove in to start the 100 Backstroke. He led from the gun through the end. To most of the Avon Grove's team's surprise, Mike Harris stayed nearly up with David to take second place. Jacob Hartman managed to grab fifth place. Avon Grove's dominance in this event increased their lead to Avon Grove-83, West-72.
The final event of the afternoon was to 400 Freestyle Relay. Luke Allerton battled gamely but was edged out for first place in the final leg. Jacob Hartman was catching West's “B” team but ran out of pool to catch them at the end. The final score for the meet was Avon Grove-87, Downingtown West-82.
David talked with Coach Bunting on the bus ride home from Lionville. Both agreed that their team was fortunate to edge out a strong Downingtown West team. Their layoff over the holidays had set the team back a little. Coach Bunting promised his team captain that they would correct that oversight be they faced Bishop Shanahan in eight days.
-----oooOooo-----
Tuesday, January 6, 2032 – PARC, Exton, PA
[PARC is the office of Chester County Council, BSA, the local council where David, Jessie, Danny and Robbie enjoy their Scouting]
Kyle, Penny and Matt Robinson rode together for the council’s high adventure committee meeting. The people at the meeting were mostly cool with the head coach of the Philadelphia frickin’ Eagles being at their meeting. A few guys did come over to talk Eagles before the meeting started. Once Mr. Fulmer started the meeting, Kyle blended right in with all the other advisors learning about Philmont.
Mr. Fulmer spent most of the evening discussing the thirty-five preplanned treks Philmont offered crews for the ten-day trip in the mountains of northern New Mexico. The Scouts should select the trek, not the advisors. The advisors needed to have some say in the trek, because some of the higher numbered treks were rated as strenuous or super strenuous. The advisors needed to be certain they were physically up to staying with fourteen- to seventeen-year-olds hiking in the mountains with forty to fifty pounds in their backpack.
The trek the crew chose would determine where they stayed each night, what programs they got to do each day, how far they would hike and how much climbing would be involved. It was the key decision the crew would make. The Ranch needed to know what trek their crew would be doing by the end of January.
Kyle, Penny and Matt talked on the drive south to Landenberg after the meeting. They would have the crew meet at the second Venturer crew meeting later in the month, review the options for treks and help the kids chose half a dozen trek possibilities.
“What do we want to do with the strenuous and super strenuous treks?” Kyle asked. “Do we want to include them when we present the choices to the crew?”
“Is that a polite way to ask if I am in shape for something that rugged?” Matt laughed. “I am certain you are in physical condition to try one of those difficult treks. I hiked with Penny already. I don’t think she even broke a sweat last November on the Horseshoe Trail. You can relax. I am a runner, Kyle. I did a half-marathon last fall. I am up for whatever the kids pick.”
“OK, that is decided,” Kyle responded.
-----oooOooo-----
Thursday, January 8, 2032 – Martin Residence
“Hey Danny, a couple guys from the varsity football team asked me pass an invitation along to you,” David said as he stuck his head in his brother’s bedroom door.
“Oh? Who?”
“Joey Phillips and Ricardo Munez,” David said. “They asked me to talk to you a couple days ago, but I forgot to mention it. Anyway, you know how the varsity team studied video and prepped for the football season last winter. They want you to join their study sessions.”
“Why me?” Danny asked.
“They figure you have a shot at being the varsity QB next season,” David said. “They want you ready and prepared in case you make varsity. They meet after school in Room 221 on Tuesdays and Thursdays”
“Do you really think I have a shot at varsity next fall?”
“If not you, who?” David asked. “Bill Daugherty will not win the job. It will be between you and Chris Goebel. You two already competed for the starting job once. We know how that came out.”
“But Chris is older,” Danny said. “I’ll just be starting ninth grade. Would Coach Meyer really start a ninth grader?”
“You were only in eighth grade when you won the JV starting spot,” David laughed. “You beat the snot out of all the JV teams you faced. Odds are better than even that you’ll be lined up behind center when varsity kicks off the season against Strath Haven.”
“Let them know I will try to make it to the next study session,” Danny said.
-----oooOooo-----
Friday, January 9, 2032 – Lurie Winter Home, Palm Beach, FL
Troy Vincent and Kyle looked out of the limo at ex-President Trump’s Mar-A-Lago before they turned onto South Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach as they drove from the airport. Jeffrey Lurie had arranged a private flight for his two key underlings for a weekend of relaxation, deep sea fishing and debriefing from the Eagles 2031 season at the Lurie family’s winter home.
“Welcome to Billionaire’s Row,” Troy laughed as they passed gated mansion after gated mansion. “You ever thought about getting a place down here? You can afford it, you know.”
“I like the woods and mountains better,” Kyle replied. “My free time comes in July. Why would I want to come down to Florida in July for a vacation?”
“True,” Troy laughed. “Me… I could never afford a place like this.” The Vincent family was not hurting financially. He made good money from his sixteen-year career in the NFL, his time as a league executive and now as the President of the Philadelphia Eagles. He laughed again. “My net worth is probably fifty or a hundred times less than yours. Places like this are out of my price range.”
The driver pulled to a stop in front of a wrought iron gate and spoke on the intercom. The gates swung open a moment later and the driver pulled into the circle in front of the big mansion. The two stepped out of the limo and immediately looked over the two-story, white mansion. Three sets of double doors welcomed visitors to the house. A small balcony overlooked the entrance. An oval window flanked by two sets of double doors provided access to the balcony.
The front door opened and a servant greeted Troy and Kyle. “Welcome to the Lurie home, Mr. Vincent and Mr. Martin,” he said with a reserved smile. “I will see that your luggage gets to your rooms this evening. Mr. Lurie and Julian are on the patio. They are expecting you.” He led them through the elegant foyer and down the central hallway to the rear of the mansion. Jeffrey and Julian were sitting on the patio, overlooking the lawn and pool. Half a dozen palms swayed in the breeze surrounding the backyard and pool. Lights from West Palm Beach twinkled in the distance across the Intercoastal Waterway.
“Welcome to my home, Kyle,” Jeffrey said as the two men stepped onto the patio. He chuckled. “Troy, you know your way around here pretty well by now. Both of you, have a seat and relax. That is part of our plan for the weekend.”
The four spent the next hour relaxing and having drinks by the pool, enjoying the balmy weather, at least by Philly standards of temperature. It was seventy-two degrees. It was twenty-seven degrees back in Philly when Troy and Kyle left that afternoon. The group headed to bed early. They had a 4:30 AM wakeup call for their deep-sea fishing on Saturday morning.
The wake-up call came way too early for the foursome. Coffee managed to get Troy, Kyle and the Luries moving enough for the ride over to Key Biscayne to their charter boat and for their day out on the ocean. Jeff and Julian seemed to know the captain well. It turned out they used him regularly when they wanted to get in some deep-sea fishing.
The boat motored down past Palm Beach and Miami to Biscayne Bay, where the captain indicated would be best for fishing this time of year. The fishing turned out not to be as good as they hoped. They wanted to catch snook and tarpon.
Despite some promising readings from the fish-finder on board, they did not get as much as a nibble from any snook. Troy managed to hook a small tarpon. A tarpon is a big fish and Troy was working it to reel it in and get him aboard when suddenly the line went slack. He easily reeled in just the head of the tarpon. A larger tarpon had seen the struggle and said to itself, ‘Hmm… lunch on a string. Cool!”
They managed to catch some speckled trout and black drum as well as a couple small snook. The captain motored north in the afternoon and dropped the group off. He cleaned their catch for them before wrapping the fish and sending them off.
Mr. Luries’ cook prepared the fish for their dinner. The fresh fish were quite tasty. After dinner the group relaxed on the veranda before screening a movie. Sunday morning after breakfast Jeff, Julian, Kyle and Troy assembled in Jeff’s sitting room for a discussion of the state of the Eagles.
“Coach, give us an overview of your take on our team today,” Troy asked. Kyle understood this would be the heart of their talks this weekend. He came prepared.
“I’ll go over the team by position groups, starting with the wide receivers,” Kyle began. Troy laughed, interrupting Kyle.
“You can take the wide receiver off the field but you can’t take the wide receiver from his heart,” Troy teased. “Continue, Coach.”
“As I was saying, the wide receiver group we have today is at best, pretty average in talent,” Kyle said. “Coach Brown did a good job with what he had but this group does not have the level of talent necessary for us to utilize the offense I brought from the Steelers and you hired me to put in place here.”
“What about your nephew?” Troy asked. “He showed some speed this season. Do you rate his talent as average?”
“Colin Weaver is a special case,” Kyle replied. “He does have good speed. He had good coaching in high school but I see little to show he progressed much beyond that while he was in college. I believe his college team used his speed to stretch the field and not a whole lot more. He needed a lot of coaching to improve his fundamentals last spring when we drafted him. Once he fully develops his talents, I see him as a #2 or #3 receiver for the team. He can be a good receiver to have but not the lead receiver on the team.”
“He is nearly your size and close to your speed, Coach,” Julian asked. “What do you see stopping Colin from achieving close to what you did, with the proper development and experience?”
“He does have height and speed for a big-play, prime receiver, but his body frame is too small to match me in size,” Kyle explained. “Did you notice how he had trouble sometimes getting off the line of scrimmage if the other team played press coverage?” Troy, Jeffrey and Julian nodded in agreement. “I played at 215 to 220 pounds. If we bulk him up to that size with his frame, he is going to lose speed. I don’t see Colin playing at more than 185 to 190 pounds. The defenses around the league will quickly learn press coverage is his weakness. That is about all he will see once the league figures out his weakness, if he is our lead receiver. You understand, don’t you Troy? You were a big cornerback trying to manhandle Michael Irvin back in the day.”
“Those were some battles, Coach,” Tory chuckled. “So, you want to see a top-notch receiver through free agency or the draft?”
“I do,” Kyle confirmed. “Moving on to the tight end group, Cain had done a good job for a rookie. The other two, they’re adequate at best. We will need upgrades here, but maybe not this year.”
“Where do you see Cain’s biggest needs to be?” Julian asked.
“He is OK at blocking but needs to improve to reach a higher level of play,” Kyle replied. “He is a good pass catcher now, but tight ends must do more. I think with time, coaching and experience, he has the potential to be a good, if not a pro-bowl level player.”
“Noted,” Troy said. “Next?”
“Running backs,” Kyle replied. “Darrell Lee did a good job, for a rookie. He will get us good yards as he gets more experience. I doubt he will ever be a workhorse back, carrying 25 or 30 times, but then no team has that kind of back anymore. It would be nice to have small, fast scatback with good hands and some speed, but not essential.”
“A Darren Sproles?” Julian asked.
“Exactly,” Kyle agreed. “I don’t see a need for us to pursue any high-priced free agent running backs this year. Maybe we use a mid- to late-round pick to keep our running back group stocked up with young guys.”
“Moving on the our most important group, the quarterbacks,” Troy said. “Let’s evaluate each QB in more detail. Start with Aiden Anderson.”
“Ed Fritz has cleaned up Anderson’s mechanics over the past nine months,” Kyle began. “We knew he was smart when we drafted him. We did not know he has a photographic memory. We tell him something one time and he retains it. He has a strong arm and can hit the deep pass. He is capable of making all the throws in the route tree. He needs more practice time and more experience, which, when he gets it, puts him potentially a pro-bowl caliber player or better. He was a steal for us with a fourth-round pick.”
“Do you see him as our long-term quarterback?” Jeffrey Lurie asked.
“I believe he can get there,” Kyle replied.
“Moving on,” Troy stated. “What about Harris? Is there any reason for us to keep him if Anderson is our guy for the long-term?”
“Absolutely,” Kyle responded.
Before Kyle could continue, Julian interjected, “At $3 million a year, why don’t we offer him an injury settlement and use Evans as our backup? He costs us half as much.”
“I learned a hard lesson when I was with the Steelers,” Kyle replied. “Having the best backup QB is worth its weight in gold. We lost a golden opportunity in Pittsburgh when Treyvon Williams went down and we did not have a good backup. Hell, you guys should remember how that works. You had Nick Foles lead you to a Super Bowl win when he filled in after Wentz got hurt. In a seventeen-game regular season, quarterbacks will get dinged up or hurt. I have confidence that Dylan Harris can come in and start a few games and get us wins. We already saw how Brandon Evans does as a starter; he went 5-12 this season. Is the risk of missing some winnable games worth saving $1.5 million?”
“Fair point,” Jeffrey Lurie agreed quickly. “He will be forty-three next season. Will he be able to perform as you anticipate given his age and injury?”
“Dylan is rigorous in his training, diet and preparation,” Kyle responded. “He did a decade as a backup QB, so he does not have the normal wear and tear a starting QB accumulates. He is working diligently at rehab.” Kyle paused and tapped his right knee with his hand. “I know as well as anyone how an athlete can perform after an ACL repair. Dylan will be as good as ever next training camp. Remember one more thing about Dylan, with his twenty-one years of experience, he is like having an extra coach in the QB room. Better, he is not limited by the CBA with how much time he can spend with the other players.
“Do you remember seeing our QBs out on the practice field last spring after practice was over?” Kyle asked. The others nodded their agreement. “That was something Dylan organized. He is a consummate professional. Who is better to mentor Anderson and teach him what it takes to be a top NFL quarterback?”
“Fair point,” Troy agreed. “Let’s move on to Evans. Your thoughts, Coach?”
“We’ve discussed him to an extent already,” Kyle answered. “He did what we hired him to do this year. He helped teach our offense to the team and kept things organized on offense this season. He is smart and makes the most of his limited athletic talents, but he will always be a backup not a starter. At his price, I feel it makes sense to keep him on the team, most likely as QB3 next season. If you can find me someone who knows the offense as well as him but is more talented, go for it. I will have no objection.”
“What about using Wright instead of Evans?” Julian asked. Jeremy Wright was acquired to be QB3 last season after Dylan Harris ruptured his ACL.
“I would prefer Evans over Wright, it is not even close,” Kyle responded.
“Are we in agreement with Wright?” Troy asked. “He will be released?” Everyone agreed. “How do you rate Tariq Valentine?” Valentine was an undrafted free agent rookie on their practice squad last season.
“He is learning,” Kyle said. “He will never be a starting QB in the NFL. He may become an acceptable QB2 or QB3 in time. He works hard and is a good teammate. I have no strong feelings one way or the other about his future with the team. Get me someone better and I will be fine with that too.”
“That may be possible, Coach,” Julian replied.
“Understand, despite what I say to you here, I plan to tell Anderson, Harris and Evans that the starting QB position is open to competition,” Kyle stated. “I may expect Anderson to be the best, but there is no reason to allow him to be comfortable. At the end of August, whoever performs and practices best will start when we host the Browns for our first game.”
“Moving on, how about the offensive line, Coach?” Troy asked.
“Coach Hill is getting our guys up to his high standards,” Kyle responded. “We are set at both tackle spots. Jordan Newsome is excellent at center.” Newsome had finished his eighth year in the league. He had gone to the Pro Bowl twice. “Next season will be his ninth and he will turn thirty-two. We may not need a top young center right away, but we should be planning for his replacement.
“We are good at tackle. Our guards are OK but we could use more depth for our line. I remember when I was younger how Andy Reid made sure to draft a lineman or two every year to keep the line one of the best in the NFL. I would like to get back to that plan, if we can.”
“You’re not the first head coach since Andy to tell us that,” Jeffery Lurie agreed. “Let’s make sure this happens, Julian.”
“Right, Dad,” Julian agreed quickly.
“Moving on to defense,” Kyle continued. “Far and away our biggest need is to in the secondary. Davis is learning to be a good corner. Kiante is well suited to cover the slot. The other cornerback is… well, substandard. Our starting safeties are fair but not special. That position could stand an upgrade too, but it is not as urgent.”
“I think everyone here agrees with your evaluation of the secondary,” Troy responded. “I noticed Davis is showing promise, but he needs more help to hold things together.”
“I expect I may get pushback on my next recommendation,” Kyle said. “Coach C and I agree that we need to target a top linebacker, either a free agent or in the draft this year.”
“It is a long-standing position in this organization that linebacker is not a high value position,” Julian responded. “We need to spend our resources along the offensive and defensive lines as well as skill positions on offense. Having an expensive, high-value player at linebacker is a luxury we cannot afford.”
“It is a necessity we cannot afford not to have,” Kyle replied. “What is Coach C to do when he faces a team lining up two tight ends, both of whom can catch balls and block well? Does he put in two linebackers and a slot back? The slot back will get manhandled when they run on this defense, as they will. Suppose Coach C counters with three make-do type linebackers? The QB switches to a pass play, the tight ends run by the linebackers and make a big play.
“I know that philosophy goes back to Coach Reid,” Kyle said. “It was right a decade or two ago too. Offenses have changed and our philosophy needs to change with today’s game. When I plan my offense, I am always trying to put the defense on the horns of a dilemma. Will I run or will I pass? I want our linebackers athletically talented so Coach C does not have to choose between covering the run or the pass. I want a linebacker gifted enough to be able to slip blocks and stop the running back or to cover the tight end or a running back on pass plays.”
“This is an important point that warrants further discussion,” Troy noted. “Today is about debriefing Kyle for the season. I would like to hear more from Coach C about this subject.”
“I would too,” Jeffrey Lurie agreed.
“Summarize your evaluation of our team’s needs, Coach,” Julian asked.
“The #1 need is in our secondary,” Kyle replied. “#2 is wide receiver, #3 is linebacker, #4 is defensive line, #5-tight end, #6 is offensive line, #7 running backs and last quarterbacks.”
The four debated Kyle’s list for a bit. No firm decisions were made that afternoon. The group moved on.
“Let’s talk about analytics,” Julian said. The Eagles’ analytics department was under him as the team’s Director of Football. Every team in the league had a department of math whizzes who did statistical analyses of their team and the rest of the league.
What play worked best against which defense? What was the call to maximize chances of victory? Go for it on fourth down and one or to kick a field goal when you were in the red zone. They had charts tracking chances of winning for just about every situation imaginable in a football game. Guys from the analytics department were in the booth upstairs with the assistant coaches, feeding Kyle recommendations based on their charts.
“You went against analytics’ recommendation 22% of the time last season,” Julian continued. “Can you explain why?”
“So, you are saying I agreed with analytics’ recommendations 78% of the time?” Kyle replied, smiling. “I am surprised the percentage is that high. I value analytics’ contribution to football. It has gotten rid of a lot of fuzzy thinking handed down by generations of coaches. I use it as much as I can, but I do not believe the team will be successful if we use analytics’ recommendations exclusively.
“Every analytics department in the league is using the same data set, all the plays run in the NFL, for their analysis. I had enough statistics in college to understand that our chart is not going to look radically different than the Giant’s chart, the Commander’s chart or the Cowboys’ chart. If I follow analytics at all times, the defense will be able to anticipate what I am doing. The hallmark of my football philosophy is to keep the opponent on the horns of a dilemma as long as possible. What crazy thing will I do next?”
“You have used that term ‘horns of a dilemma’ many times,” Jeffrey Lurie noted. “Define what you mean.”
“Keep your opponent guessing about what comes next,” Kyle explained. “Whether it is running a pass route, calling a play, or whatever situation your team faces. Keep your opponent guessing. I teach my receivers that every… EVERY pass route begins exactly the same. Give the defender no clues what route you are running. They don’t find out until you make your cut. Their indecision gives you an advantage. It works running routes. It works choosing plays to run. The defense has a harder time preparing for what you are going to do because they have no clue what you are going to do. That is the horns of a dilemma.”
“Horns of a dilemma,” Jeffrey asked. “It seems like such an odd way to put your point. Where did you get the idea?”
“B. H. Liddell-Hart’s Strategy of the Indirect Approach,” Kyle answered. “It is a military strategy book I studied when I was doing my Master’s degree.”
“A military strategy book?” Troy laughed. “They always say football is like war.”
“Back to analytics,” Julian said.
“You ask me why I don’t follow the analytics more?” Kyle said. “That is part of the reason, to be unpredictable. The second part relates to team building and motivation. There are times I feel it is more important to motivate my players with something out of the blue than it is to play the odds with analytics.”
“Like you taking out a linebacker when you were in college?” Julian laughed.
“ESPN shows that clip way too much,” Kyle replied. Julian was referring to the infamous play when Kyle was a senior at Penn State and his team was struggling against a strong Nebraska team. Kyle sought out and trampled the Cornhusker linebacker when he was running a sweep. The act woke up his team and helped them win the game.
“That play is exactly what I am talking about,” Kyle continued. “Analytics would never suggest a wide receiver should run down a linebacker who has thirty pounds on him. I did it to wake up my teammates and let them know we were we just as tough as the Nebraska team and that we would not back down.” Kyle chuckled. “I made the first down on that third-down-and-long play too.”
“I understand where you are coming from, Kyle,” Troy said. “When it is all said and done, football is a game played by people, not numbers. You use analytics but consider the human factor too when you make decisions.” Troy’s playing career was before analytics came in vogue. He also coached by some great motivators, including Andy Reid.
“That summarizes my feelings well,” Kyle responded. “I value the insights analytics give me but I am not a slave to it to the point of being predictable about what I do. Keeping my opponent guessing is the essence of my system.”
The group concluded the morning’s talk with a discussion of the coaching staff. Kyle, Julian and Troy praised the work the Kyle’s coachs were doing. No one had an issue with any of the coaches. After the meeting concluded, Jeff and Julian served their guests lunch before sending them off the airport and a flight back to Philly. Overall, the weekend was a good chance for the Luries to know their head coach better and for Kyle to know the Luries better too.
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
===========
Tuesday, January 13, 2032 – NovaCare Complex, Philadelphia, PA
Kyle interviewed Michael Holland for the open wide receiver coach position Monday afternoon. Ryan Reynolds had worked with Holland when they both were with the Raiders. Michael had been an offensive assistant there, the most junior coaching position on a staff. He worked as the wide receivers coach at Wyoming for the past two years.
In the morning, Kyle interviewed Justin Jackson, who was recommended by Jeremy North. Jeremy had played with Justin when they both were at the Bears. After his playing career was over, Justin had taken a position at Boston College. He and Jeremy had crossed horns annually when Notre Dame played BC.
Neither candidate had wowed Kyle. They would be adequate to the task but didn’t have the something extra that would make them a great coach. Kyle knew if he hired either of them, he would spend more time with the receivers than was probably best for him. As head coach, he had to delegate responsibilities to his assistant coaches, not to do the assistant coach’s job. Hopefully his afternoon interview would go well.
Kyle invited Ed Fritz to lunch over at Chickies and Pete’s so he could pump his best friend for intel about his afternoon interviewee, Jordan Burke. Ed had coached at Florida when Ms. Burke was working as a grad assistant at Florida International University. About all Ed could say was they’d met a couple times and she was well regarded among the coaching fraternity in the State of Florida.
Kyle was back in his office in plenty of time before Ms. Burke’s 1:30 PM interview.
Jordan Burke walked into Kyle's office a minute after the receptionist announced her and sent her upstairs to his office. She was quite striking, about 5'-9” tall with flaming red hair pulled back in a pony tail. She had an attractive figure. She reminded Kyle immediately of his old college girlfriend, Kelly O'Keefe.
Jordan looked to be in her late twenties, which matched the timeline in the resume she sent ahead before her interview. Damn! If he were ten years younger and not married, Kyle would have been trying for Jordan's phone number.
Kyle welcomed Jordan and had her sit in the couch in his office. He took a seat in the chair beside the couch. He was surprised to see her lugging a big notebook with her.
“Coach Martin, thank you so much for allowing me to interview for this position with your team,” Jordan commented when they were settled.
“May I call you Jordan?” Kyle asked. “The coaching staff is pretty informal. We go by our first names around each other.” He chuckled. “Except for two of us. Larry Czarwinski, our defensive coordinator, goes by Coach C and most of the staff calls me Coach. That has been my nickname since high school.”
“Jordan for me and Coach for you,” Jordan agreed, smiling. “That works for me.”
“Tell me about your background,” Kyle asked. “How did you come to coaching? It is an unusual line of work for a woman.”
“Coaching runs in the family,” Jordan replied. “I'm a third-generation coach. My grandfather coached Pickerington Central for thirty-four years.” Pickerington Central High School is in Ohio.
“I've heard of them,” Kyle said. “They are a talented high school team.”
“My dad worked for my grandfather for a few years before getting his own high school head coaching shot. Dad did that for a few years until he was asked to step up and work at Kent State. He started coaching defensive backs in 2012.”
Kyle gave Jordan a funny look. She smiled. “I was lucky enough to travel with the team to Beaver Stadium when we played your team that year. Yeah, you trashed my dad's backs. You had something like seven catches for 150-some yards and two TDs. I was afraid my dad might get fired after that day.”
“I kind of remember that game,” Kyle allowed. “It was a lot of years ago. You must have been pretty young then.”
“I was nine-years-old,” Jordan replied. “The atmosphere in that stadium was electric. I wanted to be a part of something like that. I decided that afternoon that I wanted to become a coach like Dad and Granddad.”
“We don't get a 110,000 fans like Beaver Stadium, but the Linc, uh… Lincoln Financial Field, holds 67,500 boisterous Philly fans each week. It is a great place to play some football.”
Kyle began asking questions about football philosophy, procedures and routines. Jordan was well prepared with answers to Kyle's questions. She referred to her notebook numerous times as they spent the next twenty minutes talking football and coaching wide receivers. Kyle was impressed. This lady knew her stuff.
Kyle asked one of his key questions next. “What is the best way to motivate your receivers?”
“Well Coach, there is no one right answer to your question,” Jordan replied. “I've found that I need to get to know each individual under my charge. Motivation needs to be tailored to suit each player. What motivated you to your Hall of Fame career is not the same as the motivation that another receiver needs to excel. I need to know them well enough to understand how to motivate them. I hope that answer isn't too vague, but it is the best I can give.”
“It is the perfect answer to my question,” Kyle replied, grinning widely. “The wrong answer would have been anything specific you said you would do to motivate all the receivers.”
“There is no substitute for getting to know your players,” Jordan said.
“Amen to that,” Kyle agreed. “So, I've been asking you questions for the past half hour. What questions do you have for me?”
“I was reviewing your current roster of receivers to prepare for this interview,” Jordan said. “I see one of the receivers is your nephew. Is there anything special I need to know about handling him?”
“Nope, not a thing,” Kyle replied. “Treat him just like any other player.” Kyle chuckled. “Maybe ride him a little harder. He has to live up to the reputation of the Martin clan.”
“You and your brother Andrew set that bar pretty high,” Jordan commented.
“Nothing wrong with that,” Kyle answered. “Other questions?”
She asked about compensation and benefits. She wanted to know about where most of the players and coaches lived.
“Do you have any more questions for me?” Kyle asked.
“Not really, except what’s next?” Jordan asked.
Kyle had a good feeling about Jordan through the interview. She was head and shoulders above the two he interviewed yesterday. She checked all the right boxes. He felt she would be an excellent addition to his coaching staff.
“Well, I guess what is next is… will you accept the position of wide receivers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles?”
Jordan looked startled to get a job offer on the spot. “Um… oh… kay…” she stuttered before calming herself. “I have the job. Cool!”
“Welcome to the Eagles,” Kyle grinned.
“I guess I still have to ask… what is next?”
“I’ll get you down the hall to the admin people so they can get your contract prepared,” Kyle said. “You can send it off to your agent and legal people. I am sure the contract will be fine. The Luries are generous to their coaches. Once they are working on preparing your contract, I will take you around and introduce you to the rest of the coaching staff. Then you can head back home to California to pack up and come back east.”
“That sounds like a plan, Coach,” Jordan agreed.
“Do you mind a personal question?” Kyle asked. Jordan agreed. “Why the notebook?”
“My grandfather taught me to do this,” Jordan laughed. “He’s old school. I jot down ideas whenever I get them. Periodically I put the notes into my notebook in categories, so I can reference my ideas easily later.”
“I do exactly the same thing, except I do them on my iPad,” Kyle responded. “Anyway, welcome aboard. I am glad to have you join my staff.”
“I am looking forward to learning under your leadership,” Jordan replied.
-----oooOooo-----
Tuesday, January 13, 2032 – Room 221, Avon Grove High School
Danny stuck his head in the door of the room and asked hesitantly, “Is this where the football team is meeting?” There were about fifteen juniors, sophomores and freshmen in the room, staring at a video on the wall. Chris Goebel was among the participants.
“Danny, welcome. It’s good you could make it,” Joey Phillips said. “Did your brother fill you in on what we are doing?”
“David explained a little,” Danny allowed as he walked into the classroom and took a seat beside Chris. “Dad and Coach Fritz used to do something like this with Coach Zack Hayes when they were our age.”
“Two NFL head coaches studied like this,” one of the guys laughed. “I think we’re on the right track, guys.”
“We’re breaking down video from our game last year against Strath Haven,” Joey explained. “We play them first and they are a very tough opponent.”
The teens got to work, commenting on how Strath Haven’s team operated and reacted to what the Red Devils did. One of the Strath Haven cornerbacks stood out.
Richardo Munez, a wide receiver, commented on the cornerback. Another guy laughed. “He was a senior last year. We won’t see him again.”
“Be careful,” Danny piped up. “The kid I faced in the JV game is good and will probably be playing cornerback for varsity next fall.”
“I know who you mean,” Chris Goebel added. “He almost picked you last year. We need to be careful if we pass to his side of the field.”
“There is a good reason we invited the two of you, Chris and Danny,” Joey Phillips interjected. “One of you two will likely be our starting quarterback on August 28th, when we line up against these guys.”
Breaking down the video continued. Danny was happy to be accepted by the older kids. This prep would hopefully pay off next fall for either him or Chris. Either way, it was good for Red Devil football.
-----oooOooo-----
Wednesday, January 14, 2032 – Lincoln University Pool
Avon Grove hosted Bishop Shanahan at their home pool at Lincoln University. The rivalry between the two schools was intense. Shanahan wanted revenge for the butt kicking they received at the end of last season. They were disappointed.
Without David, Shanahan might have had a chance. With David swimming for the Red Devils, they had no chance. The meet started off bad for the Shanahan Eagles. Avon Grove's “A” and “B” teams placed first and second in the 200 Medley. The rout was on.
David took first in all four of his events. Mike Harris grabbed seconds in three of his events. Mason Ewing grabbed first in the 500 Freestyle. The Red Devils' “A” team took first in both the 200 and 500 Freestyle Relays. Avon Grove may have been celebrating a little prematurely by the time the final 400 Freestyle Relay came. They led 101 to 54. Shanahan just squeezed by Mason Ewing on the anchor leg to take first. The final score was 105-Avon Grove, 64-Bishop Shanahan.
David came within three-hundredths of a second of matching his state record in the 200 IM. He tied his three-week-old record in the 100 Butterfly. He pushed his time lower in the 100 Breaststroke too. It was an excellent day for the Avon Grove team and their captain.
-----oooOooo-----
Wednesday, January 14, 2032 - Wentz Residence, West Grove, PA
It was 4:15 in the afternoon and Konnor Wentz was lying in bed beside his girlfriend of almost three months, Amanda Phillips. The pair were naked except for boxers and panties. They were locked in a tight embrace as they kissed and dry humped. Both teens were sweaty and horny as hell.
“Let's try it,” Konnor pleaded. “I've got a rubber. I won't knock you up, I promise.”
“We're fourteen,” Amanda protested as she rubbed her bottom on the prominent bulge in Konnor's boxers. “We're too young to go all the way.”
“Lots of kids our age are doing it,” Konnor responded.
“Like?”
“Mila Becker and Ben Foltz,” Konnor offered.
“A slut and a loser,” Amanda countered.
“Joe Warren and Tammy Kurtz,” Konnor said. “Bill Yost and Jackie Williams.”
“Bill knocked Jackie up,” Amanda replied. “Bad example. All the people you are mentioning are sluts and pervs. Name one nice couple who has gone all the way.”
“Um... Jake Steele and Allison North,” Konnor offered. He knew he shouldn't say anything, but it might be the difference between him getting laid or not that afternoon.
“No way Allison North gave it up to Jake,” Amanda responded.
“Way!” Konnor insisted. “I'm friends with Jake's best friend. Jake admitted he and Allison have done it multiple times. I swear to God.”
“Wow!” Amanda marveled. “I am amazed.” Konnor rubbed his erection hard against her wet slot. He could feel the lubricating juices preparing his girlfriend for fucking. Konnor fondled her titty as he stimulated her.
“I've got a rubber,” Konnor reasoned. “You can't get pregnant. Your folks won't be home for another hour. We have plenty of time. Let me slip it in. It will be fun, I promise.”
“I don't know,” Amanda temporized. “Keep rubbing me.” Konnor did, spending the next ten minutes dry humping, petting and kissing his girlfriend. Amanda, stimulated beyond belief, seriously considered allowing Konnor to put his cock inside her. Would it hurt? What if the rubber came off or broke? Amanda wanted to feel his cock slide up into her. She was so horny and his cock felt so sweet sliding against her mons. Maybe they could do this.