Post by manningtypeaim on Nov 16, 2011 21:15:54 GMT -5
I started off like most people did. A small town boy with a big time dream. Dad would always tell me I had the potential to be something special, something great. I believed him with all my heart…and that’s why I’m where I’m at today.
Background
I was born and raised in a little town named Woodville. See, in Mississippi, everyone knows each other, everyone knows who’s going out with who, who’s going bankrupt, who’s on drugs, and so on and so on. So just imagine the buzz that my family received when I was nationally ranked on Rivals as a number twenty-seven football athlete. Did I let this go to my head? Hell yeah. Am I proud of it? No. You see, God works in mysterious ways. He makes you notice things that you don’t want to notice…and when you pretend like you don’t hear him, he yells at you. I was at a party celebrating our playoff berth with a win against the Centreville Tigers, our deadliest rival. Of course I was MVP, and I knew it. Four touchdowns can do things to a boy’s ego you know. Well, I was just a junior in a normally senior after party, and I had a little too much to drink, and also a little too much to eat ( if you know what I mean). Well, God knew that he couldn’t get to me by hurting me, so he went after me by taking away what I loved most in this world. I got into a fight, with some guy who’s name I don’t even remember. We were both drunk and both of us ended up knocked out. Someone called my dad to the hospital I was stationed. I wake up in the bed, I see my friend, Elijah, with a frown on his friend. I asked him what happened to me, and he tells me of my stupidity. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine” I said. However, I wasn’t fine, because he punched me in the heart harder than Mike Tyson when he told me my father had died going 100 trying to get here to see me. To make matters worse…we got blown out in the first round…damn.
High School
I needed an outlet. My senior season…I was ready to bust some heads… I needed this bad. First game of the season against a scrub team, you already know I exploded. 10 catches, 200 yards, 10 tackles, 2 interceptions… it was like taking a painkiller. We went 10-0 that season and it was cakewalk. God reached me, I realized that if I had been more humble and not have started any crap at that party, Dad would still be here, in those stands, cheering me on. My mom died when I was two, so now I lived with my grandparents. Last year I hated visiting them. It smelled like old people and I thought I had better places to be. I’d smack myself if I could go back in time.
During our undefeated run, I had a school record 1700 yards receiving and 14 Touchdowns on offense. On defense as a safety/corner, I had 87 tackles 6 interceptions 2 forced fumbles and 6 sacks. I made the Mississippi All-State team on both sides the ball. However, my most impressive stat would probably have to have been a 150.0 humble rating. It’s suppose to be a joke…I’m a football player not a comedian people, spare me.
Now it’s time to grab what I had been drooling over since my freshmen year; A state-championship ring. We knew that Preston High would be our toughest game ever. They had a bruising back and an even more unrelenting defense. It would take all 50 guys on the team working 100% percent to come out with a win here. Preston was about to boot the ball. Why was I so nervous? I’ve did these a hundred times in my career. In a matter of fact I thrived in returning the ball. 5 Touchdowns this year says it all. However; that was then and this was now. I ran up the middle and wham! I got popped and the ball came out, the guy behind scooped it up, touchdown, Preston. That set the mood of the game. We ended up losing, 38-17. The old me would’ve blew up on everyone but myself. The new me however, used it as another way to become even more down to earth. Life isn’t my playground anymore… it’s war.
College
The whole town came to see where I would sign. They’ve never had a high school player go to a D1 college before. Well, that was about to change. There were three hats on the table in front of me: The Miami Hurricanes, the LSU Tigers, and the Ole’ Miss Rebels. It didn’t take me but a second to pick up the purple and yellow cap and place it firmly on my head. This was it. I’d be the first one in my family to go to college in two generations. LSU, ready or not, here I come.
LSU didn’t bother redshirting me, they made me one of Jefferson’s go to guys from the get go. I worked hard in the weight room, hard on the field, and hard in studies. Les was a great coach. I looked up to him. He painted this picture of success right in my head, and almost made it seem easy. That was mistake number one…thinking it was a downhill run from there.
Gameday baby, and no one was anticipating it more than I was. A season opener against a #3 ranked Oregon squad. As soon as I stepped on a field, I noticed one thing and one thing only. Death Valley was loud. This was like David and Goliath compared to our bleachers back in Woodville. I lined up at the slot. The ball snaps. I run a streak. Jordan lobs it up to me. I’m wide open. The balls lands in my chest, and slips right through; Incomplete. I was baffled, what the hell just happened. I shrugged it off, and went back to the huddle. No one said anything, but I could feel the tension. Two plays later, it was 3rd and 12. I ran a slant, caught it 5 yards in, turned out, and saw a Duck come in and blew me up. Fumbled again…what had happened? I was on a different level now. Les didn’t even say a word to me…I didn’t play another down in that game. We went on to win it, 40-27. I didn’t play the next 4, I started getting upset with myself…started back drinking…washing down the pain…and then I made my last mistake. I was at a bar, minding my own business…and then this guy, I think he was a Bama’ fan, called me “fumblits”. That set me off, and I punched him. Then I had to face time for assault charges. LSU expelled me, pretty much telling me I wasn’t worth the trouble. There I was…a failure. Nowhere to go, and no one to console me but my grandparents.
A New Light
Here is the final chapter of my story. I got an offer to join a couple of semi-pro leagues. The one that stood out most to me was the Virtual Nation Football League. They had a couple of guys who I looked up to in that league, including legends such as Stropko and…friends. Well any who…this was my last chance to succeed. I couldn’t screw this one up. If this didn’t go well it was over for me. So I made a promise…to my grandparents, to my hometown, to my mom, and to my dad, that I would make it, that I wouldn’t fumble my chances…of being the man I wanted to be when I was there with my dad…throwing the ball…that I would show my dad that he was right about me being special.
PROS:
-Speed: I have excellent speed and acceleration. My best 40 time was a 4.35
-Drive: I have a drive to be the best that I could be, and I will go through anything to complete this drive.
-Intelligence: I’ve been playing this game all my life. I know just about every position like the back of my hand.
-Versatility: I can play a variety of positions on both sides of the ball.
CONS:
-Fumble Prone: This sticks out to a lot of people when they look at me. I must admit, I fumble a lot.
-Hands: I plan on fixing this in due time, but when you look at me you must take in consideration that my hands are not up to par with what I want them to be.
-Clutch: I don’t know how to say this…but um…I think I tend to choke. I don’t know why…but I can assure you that it wont happen again. [/CENTER][/color]
