“After graduating early from high school, I carefully listened to the quarterback during my first play in college spring ball. My mind was on the very basics of football: alignment, assignment, and where to stand in the huddle. The quarterback broke the huddle and I ran to the line, meeting the confident eyes of a defensive end—6-foot-6, 260- pound Matt Shaughnessy. I was seventeen, a true freshman, and he was a 23-year-old fifth-year senior, a third-round draft pick. Huge difference between the two of us. Impressing the coach was not on my mind. Survival was. “Oh, Jesus,” I said. I wasn’t cursing. I was praying for help. Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray ( James 5:13). That day Matt came off the ball so fast. Bam! Next thing I knew, I was flat on my back, thrown to the ground. I got up and limped back to the huddle. Four years later...standing on the sidelines in my first NFL game, bouncing on my toes, waiting for my chance to go in, one of the tight ends went down. My time to shine! Where do I stand? Who do I have? I look up and meet the same eyes I met on my first play in college football. Matt Shaughnessy! ...”
Quote by Jake Byrne
Work
First and Goal: What Football Taught Me About Never Giving Up
Browse quotes and source details for this work. more
Author
You May Also Like
Source: Falling for the Ghost of You
Source: An Unlikely Warrior: A Jewish Soldier in Hitler's Army
“Nope, there wasn't any getting out of this. Real first name meant business.”
Source: The Nightmare Charade
“Fight your fight,' she tells me. 'Let someone else worry about theirs.”
Source: The Queen of Nothing
Source: The Queen of Nothing
Source: The Queen of Nothing
Source: Firethorn
Source: Poached: Inside the Dark World of Wildlife Trafficking
Source: The Purloined Letter
Source: Lady Midnight