Post by Lisa on Apr 22, 2010 2:44:53 GMT 10
Title: A Long, Hard Road
Rating: G
Summary: Kel’s joined a college American football team… and begins on probation. >.<
Note: This is part of a gigantic AU thing in my head. I don’t know how much I’ll get to post for AU week, though!
“I’m going to give you one season. Consider it your probationary period. I don’t care what your record is with your old school – you’re not going to a starter on my team unless you earn it.” Coach Cavall looked her up and down, taking in every detail of her. “You’re out of shape. I don’t know how you think you can be a player when you’ve let yourself go soft. Maybe that’s how things were done in that powder puff league you played for. I expect to see you in the weight room. Regularly.”
Kel fought the urge to flush in embarrassment. “Yes, Coach.” Instead of looking at his hard brown eyes, she stared past him, at the various motivational posters on the wall. His office was sparse – a few coaches’ trophies were in a cabinet along one wall, but his prize and joy, the Coach’s Trophy – a crystal football awarded at the national championship game – was on one corner of his desk. It was well known that Coach Cavall had led Tortall to a victory championship game in his second year at Tortall University. But the last three years the team had gone, they’d lost in stunning defeats. It was at team on the decline, Kel was told.
“You’re to live in the athletics dorm with the rest of the boys – you’ll be granted a private room with its own attached bath. I disagree with granting you preferential treatment, but…” he shrugged, waving one hand dismissively. “You will be held to the same standards as everyone else: keep your grades up. If you’re put on academic probation, you’re off the time. I won’t tolerate partying – while you’re an active player, you’re a clean player. Random drug tests are permitted, let me remind you.”
It doesn’t sound like they’re that random, she snarked internally. Not that she had any intention of screwing up her body with illegal drugs. She didn’t even like taking painkillers.
“I know that college players are often offered a certain lifestyle that wasn’t experienced in high school. Many athletes are given the status of professional players. I doubt that will happen in your case, but if it does, I expect you to remember your roots. Humility is the key to success. I won’t have my players ruining their future with unwanted pregnancies or other questionable decision. From this point on, Mindelan, you don’t represent only yourself. You represent this university. You represent me.”
He levered himself out of his chair, wincing slightly as he placed pressure on his arm. He’d been injured in a game years before – his throwing arm, no less – and it seemed to still pain him. Kel had watched online clips of his “glory days” as a quarterback on a Superbowl-winning team. He’d been one of the best, up until that injury. Now he was coaching, unable to throw for more than one quarter. He had a reputation as a good coach, though.
“Follow me.”
She did, and was taken from his office down to the field, where the players were already dressed and beginning their calisthenics. Coach Cavall blew a long tweet on his whistle and the flock came running over, helmets in hand.
“Gentlemen, we have a new player among us.” His voice was pitched to carry perfectly over the field. “Kelsey Mindelan has transferred to our school. She’s to be our back-up quarterback.”
A murmur seemed to travel through the crowd of young men, but Kel was too embarrassed to look over at who was talking. She instead kept her eyes on the coach.
“Let’s get moving. Two laps, everyone.” He blew his whistle again and the players began to run. His eyebrows climbed upward. “Well, are you going to join them, probationer?”
Kel took off at a trot, shaking her head. She wasn’t even wearing a practice uniform yet.
Rating: G
Summary: Kel’s joined a college American football team… and begins on probation. >.<
Note: This is part of a gigantic AU thing in my head. I don’t know how much I’ll get to post for AU week, though!
“I’m going to give you one season. Consider it your probationary period. I don’t care what your record is with your old school – you’re not going to a starter on my team unless you earn it.” Coach Cavall looked her up and down, taking in every detail of her. “You’re out of shape. I don’t know how you think you can be a player when you’ve let yourself go soft. Maybe that’s how things were done in that powder puff league you played for. I expect to see you in the weight room. Regularly.”
Kel fought the urge to flush in embarrassment. “Yes, Coach.” Instead of looking at his hard brown eyes, she stared past him, at the various motivational posters on the wall. His office was sparse – a few coaches’ trophies were in a cabinet along one wall, but his prize and joy, the Coach’s Trophy – a crystal football awarded at the national championship game – was on one corner of his desk. It was well known that Coach Cavall had led Tortall to a victory championship game in his second year at Tortall University. But the last three years the team had gone, they’d lost in stunning defeats. It was at team on the decline, Kel was told.
“You’re to live in the athletics dorm with the rest of the boys – you’ll be granted a private room with its own attached bath. I disagree with granting you preferential treatment, but…” he shrugged, waving one hand dismissively. “You will be held to the same standards as everyone else: keep your grades up. If you’re put on academic probation, you’re off the time. I won’t tolerate partying – while you’re an active player, you’re a clean player. Random drug tests are permitted, let me remind you.”
It doesn’t sound like they’re that random, she snarked internally. Not that she had any intention of screwing up her body with illegal drugs. She didn’t even like taking painkillers.
“I know that college players are often offered a certain lifestyle that wasn’t experienced in high school. Many athletes are given the status of professional players. I doubt that will happen in your case, but if it does, I expect you to remember your roots. Humility is the key to success. I won’t have my players ruining their future with unwanted pregnancies or other questionable decision. From this point on, Mindelan, you don’t represent only yourself. You represent this university. You represent me.”
He levered himself out of his chair, wincing slightly as he placed pressure on his arm. He’d been injured in a game years before – his throwing arm, no less – and it seemed to still pain him. Kel had watched online clips of his “glory days” as a quarterback on a Superbowl-winning team. He’d been one of the best, up until that injury. Now he was coaching, unable to throw for more than one quarter. He had a reputation as a good coach, though.
“Follow me.”
She did, and was taken from his office down to the field, where the players were already dressed and beginning their calisthenics. Coach Cavall blew a long tweet on his whistle and the flock came running over, helmets in hand.
“Gentlemen, we have a new player among us.” His voice was pitched to carry perfectly over the field. “Kelsey Mindelan has transferred to our school. She’s to be our back-up quarterback.”
A murmur seemed to travel through the crowd of young men, but Kel was too embarrassed to look over at who was talking. She instead kept her eyes on the coach.
“Let’s get moving. Two laps, everyone.” He blew his whistle again and the players began to run. His eyebrows climbed upward. “Well, are you going to join them, probationer?”
Kel took off at a trot, shaking her head. She wasn’t even wearing a practice uniform yet.