When I started this journey a year and a half ago, I had no idea where it would lead. As I ran and work out under the hot summer sun my mind would wander as endorphins were slowly released the more I ran and suffered under that sun. I could see myself running effortlessly under footballs floating out of klieg lights as defensive backs zeroed in like torpedoes in the night. All positive thoughts, all visuals of a triumph of the spirit and the fulfilling a dream. Last night the dream came true... Just before the game began, our last regular season game, our team captains lined up to meet the oppositions captains at midfield, I notice there were only three captains and not the usual four. Than I heard Allen Roc Rosen say, Lynch, come on. Almost at the same time, Coach Givens, says, Michael, your one of our captains tonight. So, I walked out to midfield, knowing my feet were really not touching the turf and represented my team as one of their captains. I hug Allen and the Coach Givens when I returned to the bench and thanked them. The Jacksonville X Men all had lion hearts, but were short on numbers and lack the talent we had. As the game progressed we scored one touchdown after another. I had been on the field for five extra points as a blocking back.Then I heard Coach Givens call my name as our offense took the field and he told me to go in as the Y receiver. As we huddled our quarterback, Josh, called the play-Pro set right, bubble screen to Y, a pass to me. The ball was snap, and just like I had seen it a hundred times in my mind, the ball left Joshs hand in a perfect spiral coming out of the stadium lights. It hit me in stride, I feathered it into my hands and turned up field to be met by a defensive back, masquerading as a mack truck, who exploded into me driving me out of bounds. I had caught a pass in competition for the first time in 40 years. I could hear my teammates cheering me on as I walked back to the huddle. The next play our running back went off tackle to the other side for a touchdown. Now, I am on the extra point team and just before we line up the I tell the holder there is no one on me after they rush from the outside. Mike Peterson, a fearless football player, says we are going to fake it and he will throw to me. As I line up for the first time that night, a defensive back, moves outside of the end. Now someone will cover me if I break out. The ball is snapped I block, release and run right at the defensive, who now has to cover me or try and make the tackle on Mike, who is running for the corner of the end zone. He goes for Mike and now is right between the both of us. I instinctively, raise my hand to give Mike a target as I run for the far corner of the end zone. Mike, in full stride throws the ball right over the defensive back outreached arms into mine. I gather it in and look down to make sure my feet are in the end zone and I see the back end line a yard away form my right foot, I am in bounds. I have caught a pass for a two-point conversion. As I run to the off the field I am embraced by one after another of my teammates, even Coach Givens, comes out on to the field to hug me. Once again my cleats are not touching the turf... I am floating. I will never forget last night. The love of my teammates and coaches and the wonderful fans. The visions and memories of last night will be with me forever and they will never dull, nor fade away.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Mar 2014 16:27:09 +0000
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