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Today I had a call with fine folks from Wake Forest Athletics.
It reminded me of this one play when we (Nebraska) played at WF
The year: 2007
The quarter: 4th
The score: 20-17
The down: 3rd & 14
The situation: I snuck onto the field, didn’t know the play, got pancaked.
Story:
It reminded me of this one play when we (Nebraska) played at WF
The year: 2007
The quarter: 4th
The score: 20-17
The down: 3rd & 14
The situation: I snuck onto the field, didn’t know the play, got pancaked.
Story:
It was my second game, my true freshman year. I started on special team units, but hadn’t gotten on the field at linebacker.
I had the honor and privilege of backing up Bo Ruud, a senior LB.
He never came off the field.
But I always tried to get him to... take a break.
I had the honor and privilege of backing up Bo Ruud, a senior LB.
He never came off the field.
But I always tried to get him to... take a break.
So after EVERY play, I’d step to the edge of sideline, point to him, and do that little ‘tap the side of the helmet’ thing we all did to signal we needed to come out, catch our breath.
After denying my attempts for two games straight, Bo finally tapped his helmet to come out.
After denying my attempts for two games straight, Bo finally tapped his helmet to come out.
It was the fourth quarter.
It was 3rd and long.
It was a three point game.
And I ran on the field for the first time at linebacker. I was nervous as hell. But equally excited.
Then coach signaled in the play: “Ollie Pop”
It was a blitz...
I think.
I started to panic.
It was 3rd and long.
It was a three point game.
And I ran on the field for the first time at linebacker. I was nervous as hell. But equally excited.
Then coach signaled in the play: “Ollie Pop”
It was a blitz...
I think.
I started to panic.
So... I just picked a gap to blitz through.
It was the wrong gap.
Luckily another senior LB, Corey McKeon, grabbed me and threw me into the right gap.
Boom. I was in the right place.
Now... what the hell do I do?
It was the wrong gap.
Luckily another senior LB, Corey McKeon, grabbed me and threw me into the right gap.
Boom. I was in the right place.
Now... what the hell do I do?
As the play clock ticks down, I’m trying to remember this play from page 30 something in our playbook.
I decide my job is to occupy the play side guard so McKeon can loop around and get into backfield.
He succeeded.
As for me, well...
I succeeded in getting pancaked.
I decide my job is to occupy the play side guard so McKeon can loop around and get into backfield.
He succeeded.
As for me, well...
I succeeded in getting pancaked.
BUT.
We stopped em.
Wake Forest had to punt.
We ended up winning the game.
Not the way I imagined my first play at LB happening, but more epic than any other outcome could have been.
Here’s the full clip of me lining up wrong, getting adjusted, then getting squashed.
We stopped em.
Wake Forest had to punt.
We ended up winning the game.
Not the way I imagined my first play at LB happening, but more epic than any other outcome could have been.
Here’s the full clip of me lining up wrong, getting adjusted, then getting squashed.
