Hot Rod Ford - Collegian

Hot Rod Ford p7

From Chapter 6:

"I see the look on your faces; no, I'm not trying to question your coaching. But he had several bad games down the stretch, and this one probably ended any chance of moving to the pros. That means he's back, QB2 & 3 are back, and I'm coming in. QB2 is a freshman, 3 is a redshirt freshman, and QB1 has two years after this.

"Don't get me wrong: I'm not afraid of competition. But if there is a seniority system and only the starter is going to play, regardless of his performance or the performance of his backup, it will be four years before I see the field. By then I'll have my master's degree and other options beyond football, so it would be wise for me to look at other football and non-football options now."

Coach Sarkisian was red faced at being challenged by a recruit, but Milwee intervened before he could speak. "I understand your concerns, and I'll explain when we meet tomorrow. Right now, we need to go see other recruits and their families. Thanks for coming, and for bringing a crowd with you, and I'm looking forward to getting to talk tomorrow morning about 10, if that works okay."

The coaches walked away; Rod turned and found three recruits walking up from behind him. Colt Evans, the sole tight end recruit; Quinton (Q) Arms, a four-star wide receiver from Mississippi; and Wes Compton, the Fort Worth lineman. "Well, now I'm convinced you really aren't afraid of anything! That was ballsy."

Before Rod could ask why, Q said, "Dude, I want to play with you! Bad quarterback play let them stack the line so there was no running game, and the line had no chance to block whatever five, six, or seven rushed. Thompson sure wasn't going to beat 'em with his arm, which everyone on the field and watching knows. I heard some grumbling from the players I talked to, but you're the only one with big enough balls to call them out!"

Rod sighed. "I wasn't trying to call them out. I have a decision to make between now and January 9, and I need to understand a few things. As I understand it, Favre is a great athlete, and Thomson is an accurate passer. Except today, with a five or six man rush, he was not accurate, his decision making was slow, and his footwork was terrible as a result.

It's a bowl game that means nothing, so I expected Favre to get some playing time anyway, but he never left the bench. Despite him seemingly being a better option to defeat the rush with his height, running abilities and speed.

"Since you overheard my conversation, you know my reservations. I'll meet with them, but right now I'm questioning coming here, even though it's my favorite school and the Longhorns are my favorite team. If I never see the field because I'm not good enough, that's fine. But if I'm better and coaching policies and decisions keep me off the field, that's not fine."

*****

Disclaimer: Although the names are authentic, the situations and conversations are obviously entirely fictional. That said, this section attempts to depict the world of college athletics in the early part of the NIL era, and some of the consternation coaches feel in recruiting and retaining athletes who can got into the portal on a whim, or to see if they can get a 'higher bid.'

Also obviously, Hot Rod Ford is a remarkable athlete, of which there are many in real life. For instance, Texas has a 5-Star football player who enrolled in January. He is tearing up the collegiate baseball field with elite hitting and speed, while he should be playing high school baseball and running track. Is he unique? No, there are more than you know about, and always have been. Think Bo Jackson and Hershal Walker.

And remember: HR Ford is the 'Jack Armstrong' of his day, minus the inhibitions that held ol' Jack back.

********* Chapter 7

The meeting at ten the next day was as slick as any Rod had attended, and that said something, since he had been on network news shows, national network morning shows, and at affairs hosted by some of the biggest and most powerful companies in the country. He was too jaded to be overly impressed, but it was nice to know they took his recruitment seriously.

Quarterbacks coach AJ Milwee and offensive line coach Flood led off, with Milwee assuring him they were deadly serious about his recruitment, and that he would have every opportunity to compete for playing time. Rod interrupted at that point to ask, "Please define 'playing time,' coach. From what I've seen since you guys got here, QB1 plays from start to finish unless he gets hurt or the game gets out of hand, neither of which has happened much."

Milwee didn't blink, but Flood did. Rod knew his boldness wasn't something most high school players being recruited to UT would express, even if they had the reservations he had. But he was a 20-year-old with considerable real-world experience, a healthy bank account, and a 'second career' in which he was the reigning world champion in two events. He could go back to rodeo or pay his way through UT without making a dent in his savings or investments. He had no intention of signing to play football and being relegated to the third spot on the bench because of some weird politics or agreements with the highly recruited players already enrolled.

Milwee knew all that and was ready. "Rod, I know the NIL money we're going to offer is relative chump change to you. I know you aren't afraid to compete, but what you want to know before you put in the time and effort to begin playing football again is whether there are agreements in place with the other quarterbacks that would keep you off the field, even if you surpass them in practice. The answer is yes and no.

"Yes, there are agreements, but, henceforth, those agreements are the same as the one you are asking for; the better player plays. So no, there aren't agreements with others that will keep you off the field."

He paused, and Rod asked, "You said 'henceforth,' coach; there was an agreement made with Thompson when he transferred to Texas?"

"We were warned about your IQ and confidence, Rod," he said with a chuckle. Flood still looked pissed, but Milwee continued. "There wasn't an agreement with Andrew, but we did promise he would get every opportunity to reach his goal of being drafted in a high round by the NFL, and Favre came here knowing that. Drew's had that opportunity, and he knows all coaching decisions henceforth will be made strictly based on merit."

Rod looked at Flood for a moment before replying, and when he did, his reply was directed at Flood, not Milwee. "Coach Flood, I can see you think I'm insubordinate, but I didn't get to be the world champion in two events, runner-up in another, Rookie of the Year, and All-Around Cowboy because of a lack of confidence, or audacity. I've long wanted to go to UT, and if I'd played football last year it would have been here.

But I'm a world-class athlete, at least in rodeo, and a savvy businessman worth millions. I have very lucrative offers from big-time sponsors to return to rodeo, and even more lucrative offers to be a model and spokesperson for an emerging clothing line, and for other multi-national concerns you would know if I mentioned them by name.

"I'm here because I want to play football again, but if politics or existing agreements, rather than merit, are going to keep me buried on the bench until the sophomore and redshirt freshman above me graduate or go pro in three or four years, I'll play somewhere else. Or just go to school and model. Or go back to rodeo. Because, honestly, I believe I will win an open competition with Thompson and Favre.

"But you wouldn't recruit a lineman who didn't think the same thing, would you? I know there is a lot to learn to play at this level, but it won't take me three or four years to learn it, and when I know what I need and am ready, I expect to play. There are things you learn in games with the other team firing live bullets that you can't learn in practice, so the reserve quarterbacks sitting, regardless of poor play by the starter, or so he can run up stats, just isn't a situation I want to be in. I don't need the aggravation.

"I'm a winner: I want to play where the focus and preparation are on winning, and merit determines who best helps the team meet that purpose."

Flood's frown slowly turned into a smile, then a grin. "Sorry, Rod. I'm used to recruiting 16-18 year-olds with a superiority complex because they are physically blessed, not a grown-ass man who has already competed at the national championship level. And you're right: I wouldn't recruit a lineman who lacked confidence. You can rearrange bodies, and teach skills, but a bad mentality is hardest to fix. As coach Royal used to say, 'If he bites you as a dog, he'll bite you as a pup," and my experience says that's true. I don't want to speak for coach Sark, but..."

"But you don't need to, Curt," Sarkisian said as he entered the room and proceeded to shake Rod's hand.

"I hate to admit that I took the chicken-shit route, Rod, but I've been listening in. I wanted to be sure I knew where you're coming from before we talk, and I wanted these guys to hear you out without me in the room. I trust them implicitly, and I value their opinions."

Turning to the two coaches, he asked, "So what do you think?" Milwee just laughed and said, "I already knew; Curt, what do you think?"

Flood chuckled. "Yeah, I see what Steve saw at Las Vegas, and what he showed us in rodeo and football clips. I don't know if he can play quarterback worth a shit, but he don't lack for brains or confidence!"

"Then tell him what you told me about the offensive line prospects, and then I'll address wide receivers and running backs."

Flood lost the smile and grew serious. "You know I came here from Alabama, and I want to tell you something I'll never tell my linemen: the last two recruiting classes have gotten us the largest and most talented crop of linemen I've ever coached! The current group is smart, feisty, and talented, but they don't have the size or talent of those coming in. It takes a while to develop a lineman - all the reads, calls, and instant decisions they have to make to open holes or protect the quarterback usually take several years to learn and develop their bodies. Strength and conditioning and practice provide 90% of that.

"But you're right that some things can only be learned on the game field against a motivated opponent, and I have to figure out how to get them game experience without disrupting the highly coordinated line play we have, or waiting for injuries or blowouts."

The HFC agreed. "And we need to do the same with three quarterbacks, assuming Drew stays. Feedback from the NFL says he needs another year of development to get selected early, but he knows he has Brad, and now you, pushing him in an open competition. We'll see what he does, but I expect him to stay.

"To be honest, he has the inside track due to his experience, and Brad will start out ahead of you because he's been here, knows the system, and understands what to do against defenses better than you. That doesn't mean you'll never see the field, but it does mean you'll probably end up playing four games this year and redshirting. Unless you prove me wrong, like you did the rodeo experts."

Rod chuckled. "Coach, I'm a bigger, faster, stronger, better athlete than either of them: that's not brag, it's fact. You'll see when we get workouts underway. I don't pretend to know what they know about reading defenses, or the intricacies of your system, much less claim I know more than you know.

"But I've been there 'with the game on the line,' or in my case, championships worth millions of dollars, and I didn't flinch. I, or my partner and I, went into the box or chute over one hundred times last year, knowing we needed to catch fast or ride better than anyone else to get the money and points we needed to get to the NFR: we did it over and over as a team, and I did it as an individual.

"I'm not as accomplished at quarterback yet, but I've seen more action in dire circumstances than either, or probably both put together. And frankly, your team needs offensive leaders who won't flinch in big games, or in big moments in big games, and who will give you four quarters of quality play, not two or three.

"So if you still want me, and we can agree on a business-like arrangement to offset my lost income, I'd like to come here and compete with your five-stars for the job. Might take a while, even a year, as you intimated, but I'm not lacking confidence that I'm the man for the job."

"I'm sure you believe that, Rod, and I agree. So give us until January 9 and then come to Austin for the day. There are new entities entering our NIL program, and they may affect the business end of our agreement. As to the quarterback competition, I promise you my decisions as to QB1, 2, and 3 will be based on merit - that is, the one who gives us the best chance to win - and that I'll find a way to get QB2 more game experience. If you're QB3 this year, you need to learn all you can and be prepared, but you will sit most of the time.

"It's a tough sport, and having three quarterbacks is barely enough, depth wise, so we're bringing in another this year with you. He's an athlete as much as a quarterback, and started both ways for a strong 6A program, so he'll be in the hunt as well.

"Do you have any questions?"

Rod asked, "I'll assume things will go well on January 9, so I guess my question is, when do we start winter workouts?"

They laughed, gave him a date, and Rod went on his way.

"Well, what do you boys think?"

The cornerback coach chuckled. "Drew and Brad better tie their jockstraps on. He don't play around!"

Flood was pensive before speaking. "I'm not sure

how

this will play out. He's more like a graduate transfer than a freshman; he's experienced a lot of success in very high level competition, and I guarantee he ain't afraid of the devil himself! Unlike Brad, who was willing to be the backup for a year or two and learn, Rod's going to stir things up. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to see someone hit the portal after spring practice. And by someone, I don't mean him.

"He's also a natural leader. He hasn't been to any camps or recruiting events with these guys, but he already buddied up with two of my best line prospects, that hot shot linebacker, our best receiver recruit, our tight end recruit, and several others. Once this all gets underway, he's going to become a leader. That's just who he is. That could be a great thing, or a terrible thing, depending on how the quarterback competition plays out, and whether the players believe the order is proper.

"As you pointed out when we were watching film, Coach, he's got a big arm, yet is unerringly accurate, especially on the deep balls that receivers love. That's going to show up when we go outside, and his camp of followers will grow. Honestly, as much as I know you love Drew, he's going to be QB3 before this is over. The other two are superior athletes with superior arms, and this one has cold blood in his veins in dire situations. I suspect Brad does too, but until he's been there, we won't know.

"So, hell yes, do whatever you need to do to sign him, but understand what you're getting on both sides of the equation, because he

will

stir shit up. It may be in the best way possible, or it may divide the team, but these young guys and a lot of the older guys are going to flock to him."

AJ interjected, "Coach, the other drawback is, he demands perfection of himself. He quotes Roy Cooper, the old calf roping champ, with 'Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.' So we can't expect him to sit back and watch others lollygag through drills or scrimmages. From what I've heard and seen, his patience with people who fuck around when at work is paper thin, and he has little to no respect for 'his elders' - you have to earn his respect! He's 100% results based, and, to him, being 6'6" 300 pounds of God-given talent means nothing, unless you're working to fully develop it and are producing for the team.

"Dude is a mixed blessing. He's a blessing because he believes the same things we, and all other coaches believe about hard work and all. But he's not going to sit back and watch us trot the same guy or guys out that ain't getting the job done if there are good alternatives sitting on the bench. And maybe we

should

reexamine our commitment to 'loyalty' and to 'them that brung ya.' If the success of the team is the summary of its part, and one or two parts or a few parts keep misfiring, is it fair to the other 20-21 players if we keep running them out there?

"Steve, you and I got roasted by knowledgeable commentators for not pulling QB1 in this bowl game and inserting the quarterback more likely to succeed against the fast, athletic defense we were facing, and I can't even disagree. I just wanted to give him his chance to impress the NFL scouts, and instead I cost the team the game and dropped his draft stock into the third or fourth round. I did no one a favor, and cost our seniors a chance to go out with a bowl win. I'm not willing to do that again, Rod Ford or no Rod Ford!"

****

The airline ticket to Denver had been changed from San Antonio to Austin, and Rod was on the 3:30 departure. A four-wheel drive jeep was waiting for him at the rental car center, and he was on the way to Aspen just a little later than the time he left AUS; one of the benefits of traveling west across a time zone.

Their condo was large and lavish; he even had his own bedroom, rather than the usual sleeping bag in the living room. Of course, his bedroom and that of his sisters were the only ones on the third floor - too many stairs for the old folk.

They had scoped out the ski area, but none had gone skiing or snowboarding today. Mandy and Andi insisted he rent a snowmobile and take them for rides, so that occupied their evening. Reconnecting with his 'little sisters,' though it was obvious they weren't little anymore, made it a special day.

His recruiting visit became the first subject of conversation after supper, and that was kind of a downer. The coaches ultimately said the right things, but deeds speak louder than words. and Rod was less than fully satisfied with their artfully chosen words.

A second, much more joyful subject of conversation began with a ringing doorbell and the delivery of beaucoup boxes. The men put away those boxes marked Day 2, 3, and 4, and the girls were tasked with opening day one. It was like they were 8 and 10 again, all giggles, excitement, and enthusiasm. "Mom, this one is for you!" Mandy proclaimed, followed immediately by "Dad, this is yours!" and so on until everyone had a big package to open, and then they all opened them.

As soon as he saw FLI as Sender on the label, he knew everything was from Addy and Carlos, and he suspected he knew what they were getting. He was right, and wrong. Each package included a ski bib with jacket, and a shirt that wasn't the same color, but matched. Beneath the ski paraphernalia they found a jacket, two shirts, and fleece lined tights or pants. The pants were for the older men; the tights were for the women and Rod. Folded on top of his tights was a handwritten note from Addy.

"These are our Christmas presents for your family! We already had the sizes, so what you see is our hot-selling winter items, custom fit for each of you. They come without obligations, but we will have a photographer in Aspen on December 31 through January 1, and we'd love it if you'd let her take pictures. Your family is just so beautiful, from grandparents to your baby sisters, and it would help us add steam to our winter campaign. If that doesn't work, we understand. And please send us some feedback on how they look and feel. Love you, Addy and Carlos."