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