Chapter 5 -- Hotness
Sunday September 11
I was getting ready to go running when my cell rang. I looked at the caller ID, and it was an 859 area code. I tried to think where that was.
"This is David," I answered.
"David, Coach Styles," said the head coach for the University of Kentucky.
"Morning, Coach, how can I help you?"
"I saw you left us off your visit list. I know you've been on campus a couple of times. What I'd really like to do is to schedule an in-home visit before you get much further into your recruiting process. I think I can help you narrow the field and make this process as easy as possible."
"By committing to the University of Kentucky," I finished his thought.
"I knew you were smart," he said and chuckled.
"When did you want to do this?" I asked.
"I talked to the woman answering your phone, Megan, and she said something about you being banned from your dojo until Tuesday. Would tomorrow night work?"
I would have to talk to Megan about sharing too much information with recruiters. I knew that she hadn't given him my number. He'd stolen it when we met at Wesleyan a year and a half ago. This was the first time he'd used it. I was glad I hadn't had to block his number.
Kentucky had been the first school to offer me and Coach Styles had always been honest. He'd offered to help me through this process, so I decided to accept the visit.
"I've only done this for baseball. What do I need to know about a football in-home visit?"
"I want the decision-makers to attend. I suspect that will be your parents and any trusted advisers you have. I'd like them to be able to get to know key members of my staff and me. I think it's important that they know who they would be entrusting their son to for four years. I also want them to know everything the University of Kentucky can offer you," he said.
"Is it okay if I invite my girlfriend and her family?" I asked.
"I'm comfortable with you inviting anyone who you think needs to be there."
"What about Wolf Tams and Tim Foresee?"
"I planned to call them next. I also want to talk to Ty Wilson while I'm in town."
"Okay. Call Megan, and she'll coordinate everything. I look forward to seeing you," I said.
After I hung up, I called Brook, and her phone went to voicemail, so I called the house line.
"Hello," a sleepy Ava answered.
"Hey, it's David. I need to talk to Brook," I said.
"What time is it?"
I looked at the clock.
"7:30."
"And what day is it?"
"Sunday."
"And you think my daughter's out of bed?" she asked with amusement in her voice.
"Maybe you could have her call me when she gets up," I suggested.
"Oh, no. Let me go get her," Ava said.
I heard her knock on Brook's door, and Brook say something rude.
"Who died?" Brook asked when she answered.
"Hey, I thought that was my line," I teased.
I'd said it more than once while I was in LA and Brook forgot about the time difference.
"Bite me, Big Daddy. What's up?" she asked, sounding more awake.
I explained the recruiting visit and wanted to know if she and her parents wanted to come.
"I've been curious about this whole process, so count me in. I'd suggest that you also invite Cassidy, Tracy, and Pam."
"I thought Pam planned to go back to California for college."
"She does, but she is your Baby Mama. Don't you think she wants to at least hear what's going on with you?" Brook asked, making way too much sense.
"This is turning into a circus," I moaned.
"Are you serious about Kentucky?" she asked.
"Probably not, but I don't want to burn any bridges, either."
"Here's how I would look at it. Use this one as a practice run. Have whoever you think would want to be part of the process come to this one, so they get an idea of how this all works. Then when you meet with the ones you're genuinely interested in, just have the key players there.
"Plus, are you crazy? Your recruiting will be a circus whether you want it to be or not," Brook predicted. "Use this to help manage it."
Everyone had been badgering me about where I planned to go. I sure hoped Coach Styles had a sense of humor. I suspected that this might be a unique in-home.
"Okay. I can see where this might calm some folks down," I said, thinking of Tracy in particular. "Are you guys coming to brunch today?"
"Yes. On that note, I'm going back to sleep. Next time you wake me up on a Sunday morning at this time, there had better be a payoff, if you know what I mean."
"I might have to think of a new nickname for you. 'Hotness' might not be enough to describe you," I said, dropping down into my sexy voice.
"It was just a thought."