Tom & Sue & John & Debbie Ch. 13

Coach Pete quickly approached the warriors and made everyone take a seat on the bench, calming everything down.

The Irish broke their huddle and Mel called the next play, "Here come the Irish to the line... O'Hare drops back and lofts a long pass down the east sideline toward the speedster, O'Mally, James is in his hip pocket... oh my... James stumbles... and falls! O'Mally has it all alone at the 50... 45... 40... 35... 30... 25... no one is going to catch him, he'll go all the way—93 yards! Touchdown Irish! The Irish have now taken a commanding 29-21 lead with Henry on to add the extra point."

Tim replied, "James had O'Mally covered like a glove... it seemed he was in perfect position to either intercept the pass or knock it down before he suddenly stumbled, getting his feet tangled up and tripped. Not going to give in to your 'ghost' theory Mel, but there have been some very strange things happening since the first quarter!"

Henry added the extra point and the Irish lead 30-21 as the third quarter came to an end.

Mel commented, "Well folks, here is 'ol' golden toe kicking off into the wind for the first time today... no problem it's going to clear the cross bar once again! State's ball first down on the State twenty.

"State's up to the line, Williams fires a quick pass to Zackery in the flat... it bounces off his shoulder pads and falls to the ground incomplete. Second and ten.

"Williams looks over the Irish 4-4 defense and calls a time out.

"Timmy, what do you think Williams saw?"

Timmy replied, "Don't know Mel, but whatever it was BW wants to talk it over with Coach."

Jamie sighed, "State's played so hard today... just too many mistakes at critical times—kind of reminds me of our 'Sweet Sixteen' game with the Bears last spring—doesn't it Angie?"

Angie replied, "Sure does! We had it won in regulation and again late in the first OT even though we went cold from the field. The Bears took advantage of our turnovers and we ended up losing in double OT, 78-77!"

Mel was back on the air, "State breaks their huddle and comes to the line. Williams is under center, State in the power I... drops back to pass... the Irish are sending O'Leary on another safety blitz... Williams pump fakes and hands off behind his back to Simmons coming around to the right... the ol' Statue of Liberty... Simmons has Zackery out in front..."

Nancy was once again jumping, hollering, cheering, "RUN EDDIE RUN... GO EDDIE GO," watching Eddie break into the open field!

Mel picked up his play by play, "Simmons is at the 25... 30... 35...40... cuts back against the grain... picks up a block from Sanders... 45... 50... is hit and spins away... still on his feet and is finally stopped at the Irish 40!"

The gym was once again buzzing with excitement! State was still in the game and making a bid to close the gap... a touchdown and a field goal would win it for State!

"State's up to the line first down from the Irish 40... Williams fires a quick slant to Sanders... he got it at the Irish 30...

"Sanders breaks away from O'Leary... 25... 20... 15... 10... finally hauled down from behind by three, maybe four, green shirted Irish defenders at the Irish 8! First and goal!! Timmy, State needs a touchdown and quick!"

We were all exchanging high five's, the gym was rocking to the chants of 'Let's Go State!' Victory was still within reach this September afternoon in Irish Stadium!

Timmy analyzed the play, "Mel, 54V again, it's been open all day long. State has to put points on the board and then make a defensive stand in order to have a chance to pull this one out!"

Mel replied on the audio, "I know Timmy, it seems like every time State gets down in the Irish red zone they shoot themselves in the foot! The curse of the Irish!

"Here we go folks from the Irish 8, Williams takes the snap, drops back to pass... it's a quarterback draw behind McDonald and Gibbysworth... O'Grady saves the day for the Irish making the touchdown-saving tackle at the Irish 2! Second and goal for State!

Jenny and the cheerleaders were leading cheers, the band was playing the fight song, the noise inside the gym was booming, all 10,000 students, faculty members, and their families were standing and cheering in unison, "Let's Go State! Let's Go State!"

"Williams back under center calling out the signals, takes the snap and pivots to his left... OH NO... Jammer and Williams collide in the backfield for the second time today... the ball is loose on the ground again... there's a free-for-all for the football... O'Grady pounces on it for the Irish at the Irish 6!"

Blake just sat motionless in his seat. Buster put his face in his hands. Angie had tears in her eyes, Nancy and I were likewise stunned. Another fumble and another muffed scoring opportunity for State. But if the defense could stop the Irish there was still time! A touchdown and field goal could still win the game... and State had the wind for the final five minutes!

Tim came on the audio, "Mel, that's the second time Jammer and Williams have collided in the backfield causing a fumble. Remember the first time was in the second quarter at the Irish 15 stopping a drive when State was controlling the game leading 21-7. Now this one at the Irish 2! It seems strange that in two critical situations Jammer and Williams collide in the backfield! If I didn't know better, well it looked as if they were being shoved into each other!"

Mel replied, "The curse of the Irish, Timmy!

"Big defensive series here Timmy! O'Hare brings the Irish up... it's a quick hitter to Jamoski over the right side... breaks Bracksun's tackle at the 10... still going at the 15... finally brought down by Mayes at the Irish 19. First down Irish."

Timmy commented, "Mel, State has to expect more of the same since the Irish are going against the wind. Even with O'Hare I doubt they'll try and put it up this deep in their own territory leading 30-21 late in the fourth quarter."

Mel was back on the air, "I agree with you Timmy, and so does Coach McCoy—he has State's defense set with nine men in the box.

"O'Hare's in the shot gun, Jamoski in the Irish one back set, O'Hare takes the snap and rifles a quick slant to O'Brien... he's free at the 25... 30... 35... only Mayes to beat... Mayes lays a lick on him at the 40... O'Brien won't go down... spins... shakes off Mayes... forget it folks... it'll be an 81 yards and an Irish touchdown! Timmy, that'll seal State's fate this September afternoon!"

Timmy sighed, "I have never seen Mayes miss so many tackles! Quite frankly, I can't understand how in the world O'Brien stayed on his feet! Mayes really stuck a shoulder on him for the second time this afternoon and for the second time, O'Brien somehow stayed on his feet and galloped into the end zone!"

Everyone in the gym now realized defeat was inevitable for State this hot September afternoon before 83,000 in Irish Stadium!

Henry added the point after and the Irish were home free at 37-21 with less than three minutes to play.

Henry once again kicked the ball out of the end zone, splitting the uprights against the strong south wind!

Mel got ready to call the play, "Well folks, if you believe in miracles, State has to score a touchdown and do it quick, make the two point conversion, recover an onside kick, score another touchdown and make the two point conversion once again in order to salvage a tie with the Irish. Strange things do indeed happen in Irish Stadium—but not for the visiting team!

"Williams under center, drops back to pass and lofts a long pass toward Zackery... he's behind Kelly at midfield... and wouldn't you'd know it, Kelly picks it off!

"Timmy, that looked like a State touchdown for sure, but the football just seemed to flutter and die allowing Kelly to recover. That's the fourth pass interception today by the Irish defense. The Irish can just down the football and run out clock."

The Jumbotron showed the scoreboard at the south end of Irish Stadium: Irish 37, State 21, as the final seconds were ticking off the huge scoreboard clock and the Irish faithful were singing that all too familiar, 'Na... Na... Nahh-Na... Na... Nahh-Na... Hey... Heyyy... Good-bye...' while the State football team slowly walked off the playing field into the tunnel at Irish Stadium.

Mel interrupted the audio, "Well folks, today we witnessed a great football game between two of the nation's best! The scoreboard doesn't reflect the true account of how this game was actually played. Timmy, your thoughts on today's game before our cameras go back into State's locker room a final time."

Timmy sighed, "Mel, State ran up and down the field, but failed to put the football into the end zone just like Coach mentioned in his pre-game speech, 'We can't have turnovers, mistakes in the kicking game, and we have to score touchdowns when we get in the red zone. Defensively, we can't give up the big play.'

"State played a 'perfect' first quarter, but it was all downhill beginning early in the second quarter. State committed eight turnovers, four fumbles in the Irish red zone with two being inside the Irish five-yard line along with four interceptions—two deep in State territory leading to two Irish touchdowns!

"Breakdowns in the kicking game led to nine Irish points in less than a minute just before halftime—the safety on the blocked kick followed by O'Mally's return of the free kick some 88 yards for an Irish touchdown. Prior to those breakdowns, State was controlling the game and leading 21-7. This was a huge momentum swing for the Irish going into the locker room only down 21-16.

"I thought a key possession came on State's first possession in the third quarter when Brent Jacobs threw an INT on Wag 22—it appeared Diablo was wide open, but Brent's pass came up short and the Irish defender, O'Leary, intercepted the pass and returned it to State's six-yard line. O'Hare found his tight end, Mitcheson over the middle on the next play for the Irish touchdown and a 23-21 lead.

"O'Hare connecting on those two homeruns—the first to O'Mally in the third quarter for 93 yards and later 81 yards to O'Brien in the fourth quarter, after two costly State fumbles inside the Irish five yard line put the nail in State's coffin this afternoon.

"Mel, I have to agree with you, this place is cursed! There is no reasonable explanation why the Irish won this football game today!"

Mel commented, "Thanks Timmy. Here are today's final stats; First downs... State 29, Irish 15; Yards rushing... State 409, Irish 82. Simmons led the way for State running for 297 yards on 25 carries while scoring two touchdowns. Quite an impressive start for the young sophomore out of Northwest!

Nancy nudged my arm, looking in my direction, with a proud 'that's my boyfriend' smile on her face!

"Passing yards... State passed for 230 yards with Williams connecting on 15 of 27 attempts, but throwing three big interceptions. Jacobs was 0-1 with an INT. Sanders was State's leading receiver with ten grabs for 169 yards and a touchdown.

"O'Hare led the Irish completing 26 of 40 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.

"Total offense... State had 639 yards and the Irish 404 yards with 174 of those coming on the two homerun touchdown passes.

"Fumbles... State had a total of seven fumbles losing four. The Irish did not fumble in today's game.

"State was penalized seven times for 75 yards while the Irish drew one yellow flag for 5 yards.

"Well folks, that about does it from Irish Stadium for this afternoon. The Irish rallied from a 21-0 deficit in the first quarter to defeat State 37-21. We'll be on the air next week from State Stadium. The #3 ranked Trojans will be in town with revenge on their mind after being upset last year by State in the Coliseum. Our camera will now go into what has to be a dejected State locker room one final time. Mel Bodysmithson bidding everyone good-bye from Irish Stadium."

The silence in State's locker room was only broken by the clatter of cleats against the concrete floor. The camera slowly scanned the locker room at the beaten warriors while they were removing their jerseys and shoulder pads waiting for Coach Lewis to address the team.

The camera zoomed in on Eddie, sitting motionless in front of his locker, his helmet at his feet, his sweaty State jersey #32 still covering his shoulder pads, soaking wet, stained with grass and blood. Tears and sweat slowly rolling down his cheeks. His bloody hands rested on his navy blue pants. His arms and elbows skinned and bleeding, the orange athletic tape still covering his wrist and ankles—only another athlete who had laid it all on the line, who had given every ounce of energy they had would understand the agony of defeat which was written all over Eddie's face while he sat staring aimlessly across the silence of State's locker room.

Nancy sighed at the sight of Eddie, "Roommate, Eddie always takes losing hard, especially when he plays like he played today.

"The worst I ever felt after losing a game was last year in the semis when the Dragons beat us in overtime 78-76—thanks to you and your 51 points!"

I replied, "Well roommate, if I remember right, you weren't too bad that afternoon yourself scoring 49! But, those days are behind us, we're teammates now!

"Tom is just like Eddie when it comes to losing. I guess it's our athletic attitudes, you know, that burning desire deep inside to win—that makes losing so hard."

The camera zoomed in on Tom sitting silently in front of his locker, removing the tape from his wrists. His hands were bloodied and battered. His sweaty jersey, soiled with blood, grass, and dirt, was lying next to his shoulder pads on the floor beside his helmet scarred with Irish gold. His sweaty sleeveless T-shirt still on, the charcoal under his eyes was smeared, and his brown hair was sopping wet with perspiration from the hot September sun. Bruises extended up and down his arms, and then I gulped at the sight of a tattoo on his huge left deltoid—something I had never seen before, '2383 Forever.'

Nancy grabbed my arm, "Did you see that tattoo roommate?"

I sighed, "Yes, I don't know when he got it—I've never seen it before," trying to hide my emotion.

Coach Lewis entered the locker room and in his usual gruff voice, said, "Gentlemen, the best team did not win this game today—we gave it to the Irish on a silver platter!

"Eight turnovers, not being able to capitalize on two possessions inside the Irish five, breakdowns in the kicking game and the straw that broke the camel's back—the two home run touchdown passes.

"Gentlemen, we can't pout over spilled milk—the Trojans are next up and we have to be ready to play. The training room opens tomorrow morning at 7AM, film review is at 1PM, and practice at 2:30PM.

"I challenge each one of you to think about how you could have made a difference today by just doing the little things.

"Gentlemen, take your showers and do some soul searching on the flight back home—take time just to think what could have been, should have been this afternoon—it's one thing to get beat but it hurts a hell of a lot more when you give it away."

The closed circuit telecast scanned the locker room one final time. No one said a word—heads hung low, the dead silence of State's locker room where the 'luck of the Irish' had cursed so many other teams gave everyone a creepy, eerie, uncanny feeling. The players slowly began taking off their uniforms as the closed circuit telecast came to an end.

We all filed quietly out of the gym and walked back toward the dining hall. Angie whispered to Michelle, "Coach, your place or mine after dinner so we can finish our little gossip session we started this morning? I'm sure everyone wants to hear the conclusion of your threesome experience!"

I smiled at Angie, "You thinking about a threesome experience Angie?"

Angie with a bigger than Texas grin, "Hmm... never thought about one... but if the 'guest' was THE right guy..."

Jamie was laughing, "Got anyone in mind Angie?"

Angie smiled, looking in my direction, "Hmm... maybe... but I'll never let the cat out of the bag!"

Michelle laughed quietly saying, "Let's go to my room in case Robby calls a little early. I really need to finish telling everyone how I royally fucked up my life—to get it all out in the open so I can close this nightmare on my life forever!"

Angie tried breaking a smile, "I guess when the team gets back, I'll have to give Billy a piece of ass tonight—he's been wanting to fuck me in the ass for a while now—maybe it'll cheer him up, God knows he needs it!"

Everyone just laughed at Angie remembering what she had said during our sorority meeting after John fucked her in the ass their freshman year—'I decided right then and there I'd never get fucked in the ass again!'

We entered the dining hall just as dinner was being served. Jimmy, Misti, and Beverly joined us. The two redshirt freshmen, Buster and Blake, along with Wendy and Emily, dined with other members of State's football team that didn't make the trip.

That evening our main entrées were chicken fried steak or fried chicken with plenty of sides to choose from along with left over roast beef hash from brunch. For dessert, there was hot apple cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Michelle and I ordered fired chicken, collard greens, and corn on the cob, while everyone else opted for chicken fried steak, white gravy, mashed potatoes, and fresh green beans. Jimmy also added a side of roast beef hash to his plate!

Jimmy and Michelle opted for an eight-ounce bottled Coke while everyone else chose iced tea to drink. We all enjoyed apple cobbler with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream! Jimmy went back for seconds with a double scoop of vanilla ice cream!

I smiled at Jimmy as he took his seat with his second helping of apple cobbler and ice cream, "Remember 'Little Brother,' you've got to make weight on Monday morning or else you'll be running stadium steps till the cows come home!"

Jimmy grinned, "Don't worry, 'Sis,' Cat and I will be working it off tonight! Won't we Hon?"

Cathy grinned, "It depends—but you won't get any ass—my butthole is still sore from last night! If you'll be a sweetheart and do my laundry maybe, just maybe, you'll get a little poontang!"

We all laughed and everyone discussed the game while we were finishing our apple cobbler and ice cream.

We all wondered what could had been—IF there hadn't been so many turnovers and missed assignments. Mistakes, not the Irish, defeated State this September afternoon. Or, was it really the uncanny curse of the Irish—causing the untimely turnovers and out of character mistakes which led to the Irish victory?

We were finishing our desserts when Michelle asked, "Why do Tom's teammates and coaches called him Diablo? I can understand nicknames like BW, Gibby, Crav, Luke, and Superman—the Tigers always called Robby either RG, Rob, Hollywood, or Pretty Boy—but Diablo?"

Donna replied, "Coach, Diablo is Tom's middle name—at least that's what Gibby told us all the first day of classes in Poly Sci—something about a warrior and chief if I can remember. What about it Sue? "

Jamie butted in, replying, "That's true, his middle name is 'Diablo,' but I think roommate here should fill everyone in on the 'nitty gritty' since she knows Tom way better than anyone else—after all, her and Tom were practically married until all the bullshit took place this summer! How about it roommate?"

I sighed, "Okay. Tom's Mom, Anne, told me the story last fall when she and Pop took me to the Tiger game with them."

Michelle interrupted me, not thinking we had 'new ears' at our table, "Boy, do I remember that game! We won 31-30! It was Tiger's Homecoming—about three weeks before Terry and I got engaged.