CHAPTER 15

TORTURE

Caleb awoke, startled, sweat pouring down his face, screaming his mother’s name. Oh how he wished this nightmare would stop, but how do you stop nightmares? Caleb got up from bed, snorted some coke, and went down to sit with Lavon for breakfast. He never thought twice about last night with Anni; it was pretty typical for him, after all.

He left his dorm and headed to CAU for football practice. As he walked down the hall of offices, he noticed Anni.

“Hi!” he nearly shouted. “How ya doing? That was a great BJ last night, thanks!” He could see that Anni was mortified—it looked like she wanted to crawl under a rock or pass out from embarrassment. She looked around quickly, then glared at him and mumbled something under her breath, turned around, and hustled to her office.

Caleb chuckled and kept going, finding his way to the coach’s office.

“Go to the tape room and get taped up,” Axom said. “We’re going to work on some receiver routes today. Oh, and from now on, just show up at the locker room.”

Caleb gave him a thumbs up and went to the taping room. Thankfully he remembered where it was. Inside was a guy doing all the mandatory taping on players’ ankles, but apparently he’d do whatever else you wanted taped up too. Afterward, Caleb grabbed his helmet, slipped his practice jersey over his shoulder pads, and walked out to the practice field.

He had already met a few of the guys that were there; most of them were receivers, with a few linemen here and there.

“Caleb!” Coach Axom shouted, seemingly from out of nowhere. “Get under center and take a few snaps.” Caleb nodded, watching the receivers as he jogged over to practice. Coach Hoenig, the receivers’ coach, had them warming up their legs, and he’d throw a few lob passes to them as they ran up and down the field.

Caleb took a few snaps from Jason Briggs, a fellow from southern California who was also a freshman. As the ball rocketed into his hands from the snap, Caleb’s eyes widened—this guy could pop the ball. He dropped a couple; he just wasn’t used to a fellow of this size snapping the ball.

“Guess it’ll just take some getting used to,” Caleb mumbled, a little frustrated.

“That’s why we’re here, Caleb,” Axom said. He apparently had the ears of a fox. “There’s a bunch of stuff that you aren’t used to, but it won’t take you long. Don’t get discouraged.” Axom pointed further back on the field. “I want you to take the snap and drop back 3 1/2 steps, looking downfield the whole time for your spot.” So Caleb took 10 or so snaps, practicing his footwork. He was setting up for another snap when Coach Axom blew his whistle. Everyone jogged over to him, so Caleb followed.

Coach Axom smiled and gave everyone a warm welcome. When all the sweaty players had rallied around, Axom said, “You’re here because you play football. The only reason you have a place to sleep, food to eat, and a free college education is because you are football players. The university is making an investment in you, and we expect you to understand one thing and one thing only—your whole existence here is dependent on you being a football player. Yes, your education is crucial, and we expect you to go to class, study, and pass. We expect you to graduate from college and become productive citizens with a college degree from a great university. But first and foremost, we expect you to be football players; to live it, breathe it, and become the best player you can become. You aren’t high school kids anymore; it’s time to mature to the next level.

“I know all of you have hopes for the NFL. The truth is, out of this freshman class, we have maybe two or three that will even get a chance at that. If you aren’t able to stand out on our football team, you darn sure aren’t going to make the NFL. You are at the highest level of college football at CAU, and whether you make it to the next level only time will tell, but I can tell you this: the only players I have seen go on to the NFL are utterly obsessed with football. So, where do you want to be in 5 years? It’s all up to you, and CAU will give you a pathway to make your dreams come true, whether it’s in the NFL or the education you receive here. But ultimately, it’s all you. Line up boys—your dreams start today!”

Needless to say, Caleb was pumped up and excited. He had only dreamed of the NFL, but now he realized it might be possible.

“All right,” Coach Axom said, taking Caleb by the shoulder as the other players dispersed. “We’re going to do some short button hook routes on either side. Throw the ball to a spot on the field 10 yards downfield to the sideline.”

The first receiver lined up, and Caleb dropped back and waited for the receiver to get there. When his man was in place, he threw the ball—a good pass. Caleb smiled.

The sharp shriek or a whistle interrupted Caleb’s satisfaction. “NO, NO, NO, CALEB!” Axom shouted. “You don’t wait on the receiver! You drop back and throw the pass. It’s the receiver’s responsibility to be where the ball is going to go. Let’s do it again.”

Caleb squared his shoulders and crouched. He took the snap, dropped back, and fired the ball to the point he’d chosen; the receiver stumbled as the ball hit him right in the back. Coach Hoenig’s voice carried across the field, shouting, “Boys, this ain’t high school ball, and that’s not a high school QB throwing! We didn’t recruit slow receivers. You can all run, now quit lollygagging down the field and run, dang it!”

Caleb chuckled to himself at Hoenig’s enthusiasm, then took the next snap and flung it to his spot. Receiver Lance Wood turned around just in time to catch it—it was a beautiful sight. In high school, he couldn’t throw hard because his receivers complained he threw it too hard and it hurt them. Caleb was never positive where they might run anyway, but boy, this was a different level of football! He had to admit there was still a bunch to learn.

This set of drills went on for over two hours, the same route and the same four receivers. Caleb was the only QB, and his arm was starting to get tired and sore. The receivers were gasping for air, and poor Jason Briggs’ back and shoulders were getting sore from all the snaps. Thankfully, Coach Axom finally blew his whistle and told everyone to come in.

Axom and Hoenig exchanged glances as the players gathered around. “Coach, these boys aren’t in very good shape, are they?”

Hoenig huffed. “No sir, Coach Axom, it’s about the worst I’ve ever seen.”

Axom nodded. “What are we going to do about it?”

Coach Hoenig grinned. “We’re going to run bleachers full-blown for the next 30 minutes.”

“Let’s go boys!” Hoenig shouted, and all the players groaned and headed for the bleachers. After about 20 minutes of bleachers, Caleb thought that Jason Biggs might have a heart attack—he was really struggling. Of course, he did weigh in at 280, so it took a lot of effort to move that body around. Lavon was doing okay; he just kept asking everyone, “When do we get to eat?” When those agonizing 30 minutes were over, Coach Axom told them to hit the showers and see the trainers before they left. They all jogged off the field plum worn out.

After Caleb had showered, he went in to see the trainer, John Duggar. Caleb hopped up on the table, where he got an ice pack wrapped around his shoulder. Duggar told him to leave it on for the next hour to help the swelling.

“And while you’re at it,” the trainer said, “go sit in the whirlpool for about 15 minutes, and come back and see me when it’s time to take the ice off.” Caleb took his time relaxing for that hour, and when John took off the ice pack, he said, “Go on over to the next room; you’re going to get a massage.”

Caleb had never had a massage before, so he was a bit uneasy about it. Soon enough, a big ol’ boy named Janneral came lumbering in.

“Lay face down on the table,” Janneral said. Caleb did as he was told, and the big guy started rubbing and pushing places on his neck, shoulders, and back. It was really hurting.

Amid the grunts and stings, Caleb managed, “Hey, back off a bit.”

“Don’t tell me how to do my job, boy,” Janneral said. “You’re a mess.”

Man, this is torture, Caleb sighed inwardly. After 30 minutes of anguish, Janneral let him get up. “Go back home and get some lunch and rest. Your body needs to recover from practice today. Drink lots of water. Rest is the best medicine.”

Caleb looked at Janneral and sighed, “With pleasure.” He dragged himself to his feet and wandered back to his apartment.