| As I backed up from the center I realized that I was in | | | | back at him, "Hook 'em Horns," and told him he'd feel |
| trouble. Nothing but burnt orange Texas Longhorns | | | | better as soon as they gave him some pain meds. |
| jerseys in sight. I pumped the ball, got ready to let it fly | | | | Then they fitted me with a contraption that kept my |
| and the first guy hit me, low, from the side, right on my | | | | knee from extending. |
| knee. I felt the knee give, heard it pop and I hit the | | | | It wasn't long before we were both a little hazy and |
| ground. With two players on top of me, it took | | | | talking up a storm. "My name's Jeff." I said. He |
| everything I could muster to holler, "My knee, get off | | | | responded, "Mine's Dave." |
| me, my knee is out!" | | | | "Good to meet ya, Longhorn." |
| It seemed as if they took their sweet time getting off | | | | By the end of the night, both of us were released with |
| of me; the refs calling the team doc over to assess | | | | instructions to our parents about rehab schedules. We |
| my leg took forever. Fortunately, the doc was sure | | | | found ourselves in the physical therapy lab at the |
| that the leg wasn't broken, but my knee was toast. As | | | | same time every other day. While I worked on |
| they helped me hop off the field, using one leg, the | | | | exercising my knee, I shared with Dave about my |
| player that hit me apologized as he ran back to his | | | | Christian walk. Dave initially laughed at me, praying |
| huddle, "Sorry, man, hope you're ok." | | | | before I began my workouts. But when he realized |
| This was my senior year, I was being scouted by the | | | | how quickly my knee was growing stronger, he asked |
| pros - the scouts were here tonight and I get hurt. | | | | me to pray for him too before starting his shoulder |
| Could things get any worse? I laid there, with my | | | | sessions. |
| helmet sitting on my chest and the ice pack on my | | | | It only took three weeks for both of us to be back in |
| knee, being driven from the field like a big baby. Once I | | | | shape to get the 'go-ahead' to return to practice. |
| reached the locker room, the docs evaluated my knee, | | | | I took my place in practice, reaching for the ball from |
| gave me something for pain and then they loaded me | | | | the center, feeling more alive than I could remember. |
| into the ambulance. Riding to the hospital, I felt tears | | | | Sharing my faith with Dave strengthened my resolve in |
| welling up in my eyes so I turned away from the EMT | | | | living for Christ. But the second stringer, Will, was not |
| that sat at my side. I had the opportunity to get a | | | | quite as happy that I was back on the field. |
| scholarship and now that's gone. I had hoped that my | | | | It was later in the season that I got Dave's call, "Hey |
| future could be built around my football abilities. I was | | | | Red Raider, whazzup?" |
| so careful to avoid the gangs and drugs and to limit | | | | "Whatcha know, Longhorn?" |
| my friends to those that were good influences. | | | | "Jeff, I decided to read up on what you have been |
| Grandpa's favorite line was "Birds of feather flock | | | | telling me about - and, well... I'm going to be baptized this |
| together." I knew exactly what he meant and tried to | | | | Sunday, would you come?" |
| make the right decisions. What good was that now? | | | | "Dave, that's great, absolutely I'll be there!" |
| The docs checked me out and told me there was no | | | | As it turned out, I gave up my football dreams and |
| ACL damage, but that they needed to immobilize my | | | | went on to become a pastor. Later on, I officiated |
| knee for a few days, then they would look at it again. | | | | Dave's marriage. The second-string quarterback, Will? |
| Next thing I knew, right next to me, in the next bed, | | | | He went on to play for the Broncos and was in a |
| was a UT player, the one that blindsided me. He was | | | | small group study with me every other week. |
| in a lot of pain with a shoulder separation. He looked | | | | My witness stood stronger than I ever knew. |
| over at me and said, "Guns Up, huh Raider?" I smiled | | | | I was drafted by the right team after all. |