| Our team physician ran his hand up under
| |
| | of the defender's face just above the
|
| my shoulder pads and instantly found his
| |
| | nose and between the eyes. And with as
|
| mark. "Thought so - it's dislocated," he
| |
| | much grit as one could muster, I prepared
|
| said. And before I could mutter a single
| |
| | to uncoil, deliver a blow, careen left
|
| syllable, the 80-year old relic started
| |
| | and, if possible, still score. A
|
| pulling off his hushpuppy while I lay
| |
| | masterful plan - almost.
|
| flat out. "Don't fight me on this one
| |
| | Just shy of impact, I encountered a "turf
|
| son," he said. "Just relax, I'm gonna
| |
| | monster" - a euphemism we used to
|
| try something here."
| |
| | describe the act of tripping over your
|
| "Something here" - that's it? That's the
| |
| | own feet. I stumbled, faltered and
|
| most medically advanced approach at his
| |
| | unfortunately, reached down with my right
|
| disposal?
| |
| | arm (a classic tripod) to keep my
|
| He pushed his foot into my armpit and
| |
| | balance. At precisely the time I planted
|
| pulled firmly on my wrist until we both
| |
| | my right hand, a crushing blow dislocated
|
| heard a loud thud. I looked at him and
| |
| | my shoulder. This certainly was not part
|
| he back at me - neither of us reacted,
| |
| | of that master plan. It was, however,
|
| but we both knew instantly that the arm
| |
| | very real.
|
| was now "relocated." And as I ambled
| |
| | In an instant I knew my once promising
|
| back to the sidelines, the good doctor
| |
| | prospects for a major college football
|
| looked every bit as surprised by the
| |
| | career were now limited, or worse,
|
| outcome as me. "You know what?" he asked
| |
| | nonexistent. I sat out the next two
|
| rhetorically. "Wow - I haven't done one
| |
| | games and the last six were marked by
|
| of those in over 40 years!"
| |
| | several less-dramatic though painful
|
| It was opening day, senior year. The
| |
| | reoccurrences. I was certain my football
|
| Pequannock Township Golden Panthers and I
| |
| | career was drawing to a close as rapidly
|
| readied ourselves for a classic Skyline
| |
| | as the football season itself.
|
| Conference match-up against the
| |
| | With little help from my head football
|
| Highlanders of West Milford. With enough
| |
| | coach, I sought the counsel of an
|
| time remaining in a deadlocked game, we
| |
| | assistant and pled my case in
|
| needed only to convert a short third down
| |
| | desperation. His advice was direct and
|
| to maintain the well-orchestrated
| |
| | candid. He professed to have few
|
| offensive series methodically moving us
| |
| | connections outside his world of high
|
| closer to six points. As was the case
| |
| | school football, save one. Within days I
|
| with many fullbacks at the time, my role
| |
| | paid a visit to the coaching staff at
|
| was so rarely a ball carrier that when my
| |
| | Milford Academy, a Connecticut prep
|
| number was called, I struggled to retrain
| |
| | school which gave me a shot - bad
|
| my way of thinking. The next play would
| |
| | shoulder and all. August arrived swiftly
|
| be no exception.
| |
| | and I reported for summer camp. Somehow
|
| A quick hitter over the guard-center gap
| |
| | various body parts held together for most
|
| was predictably called. Suddenly, and
| |
| | of that season. My streak of good
|
| with complete surprise, I passed two
| |
| | fortune continued and Colgate University
|
| blitzing linebackers at the shoulder and
| |
| | recruited me. This Division I-AA program
|
| moved unnoticed into the secondary. Many
| |
| | was proficient then for uncovering and
|
| times before when the distraction of an
| |
| | persuading student-athletes who fell
|
| open field presented itself, I employed
| |
| | through the cracks. Colgate's recruiting
|
| unequalled self-control in order to
| |
| | classes were filled with those possessing
|
| redirect and head toward the end zone in
| |
| | great potential but lacking options.
|
| light of my first instinct, which was to
| |
| | To my relief, Colgate eventually found
|
| trample under foot any defender I might
| |
| | me. With the exception of surgical
|
| encounter. Unfortunately, this day I
| |
| | mishaps, years of continued
|
| would lose the battle for self-control.
| |
| | rehabilitation and nightly replays of the
|
| Heading up field and against the grain
| |
| | fated run, this story ends well. I
|
| with great speed and agility (at least it
| |
| | played competitive football, participated
|
| felt that way to me), I fixed my sights
| |
| | in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs two of
|
| squarely on a pylon located in the front
| |
| | my four years and received a degree from
|
| left corner of the end zone. Suddenly,
| |
| | a highly respected academic institution.
|
| the unthinkable (or more accurately, the
| |
| | Ironically, I nearly missed the college
|
| inevitable) happened - a defensive back
| |
| | experience altogether. With few
|
| appeared in the upper right hand corner
| |
| | connections to schools outside Northern
|
| of my vision. Without hesitation, I
| |
| | New Jersey, I could have wound up working
|
| arrived at the only rational decision one
| |
| | the night shift instead.
|
| could. My fullback logic was sound and
| |
| | I've traveled back to watch my old high
|
| unflappable - an entire season lie ahead
| |
| | school play West Milford on occasion
|
| no doubt filled with countless
| |
| | since but have never stumbled upon that
|
| opportunities to score. I would opt to
| |
| | guy who changed my life forever. Maybe
|
| defer glory in exchange for instant and
| |
| | that's best - after all, I've only got
|
| primal gratification.
| |
| | one good shoulder left.
|
| I remember becoming focused on that part
| |
| |
|
