The following is a short story (related from memory for I no longer have the draft) that I wrote a few decades ago...and I bring it back a couple of times a year during the high school football season....but with the election this year it almost slipped my mind:
1962
Tommy Wilson was beat and worn out as he walked into the apartment where he and his mother lived. She had been holding dinner late every night so that Tommy could go to football practice and then work for two hours at Spinoza's Market.
"Welcome home Johnny U!"
"I'm on special teams mom...Johnny Unitas is a quarterback."
"Oh, well excuse me...any new bruises today?"
"Yeah, my right shin."
Tommy was a senior at Catawaga High School in Buffalo, New York and he was going out for football for the very first time. He was on a mission. You see, Tommy was in love with Mary Burns whose family had moved to Buffalo the year before from Tennessee. Her father was an airline pilot and this is where the job was. Tommy and his mom did not have a lot of money. He would have wanted to buy a ring or a necklace for Mary so that everyone would know that she was his girl. What he finally decided on was going to take a lot of effort. He wanted to make the football team and earn a varsity letter, then put it on a sweater and give it to Mary. All the guys who had lettered had given lettered sweaters to their girlfriends. He had to not only make the team but play in 10 quarters to earn that letter. The coach told him that the only way he would get into games was on the kickoff teams and that only if he proved that he could tackle. Tommy had given more effort than anyone on the team, flying down the field and literally throwing his body at the opposing players. Working at Spinoza's would earn him the money for the sweater that would cost $37.50. That was the plan anyway.
Mary: "Tommy, I'm really worried about you. You get hurt almost every practice and you work so hard at the market after that. Are you sure that you want to do this? You know football doesn't mean that much to me."
Tommy: I have to do this Mary. Football will be over in December and I can slow down."
Tommy hadn't told Mary about the plan or the importance of others knowing that she was his girl. Mary was a Christian girl from the South who always talked about the "Lord." Tommy didn't understand half of it. He never talked this way about God and didn't know anyone else who did.
Mary: Tommy, the Bible says that you must be "born again." You should think about what that means and try to understand it!"
Tommy: Mary, I believe in God. I may not be perfect, but who is....except maybe you?"
Mary: "You know I'm not perfect Tommy. I'm far from it since I know the Lord and still cannot live as I should."
Tommy: "Well, you seem pretty close to perfect...in everything...to me."
Tommy's coach was not particularly happy that Tommy expected to win a letter. This was his second year as head coach with the Flyers and he was determined to succeed and make coaching his profession. Catawaga had never had a winning season. They were 0 and 10 the year before he came and 4 and 6 in his first year. Come "hell or high water," as he would constantly remind them, they were going to have a winning season this year and that meant 6 wins. The assistant coach, Mark Offen, was a 'coach' second and a history teacher first. He admired the spunk of this lightweight senior, who for some reason just had to win a letter....and his efforts probably stopped Coach Thomas from cutting Tommy.
Coach Offen: "Are you alright Wilson?"
Tommy: "Yeah coach. I forgot to hit with my pads and not my head."
Coach Offen: "Sit down for a while."
Tommy: "Do I have to coach? I feel OK."
Coach Thomas came over as Tommy headed for the sidelines.
Coach Thomas: "That kids going to kill himself and get us all in trouble."
Coach Offen: "I'll keep an eye on him. He'll be alright."
Tommy liked to take Mary up to this new hamburger joint on Union Road called McDonalds. It was only 19 cents for a burger and that was all he could afford on his budget. Mary carried a Bible with her at all times and liked to sneak in about ten minutes of Bible reading every time they were together. Tommy was glad he didn't live in the South for they took religion all too seriously. The next day would be the first game and Tommy didn't know if he would get in, for the coach gave no clues. He was not on the field for the kickoff when the game started nor for the two others in the first half. Catawaga was winning 21 to nothing when they took the field for the second half. Coach Thomas barked out orders and yelled Tommy's name for the kickoff team without even looking for him. Tommy's first experience in a game was not encouraging. He ran down the field and was belted by someone twice his size, but he had one quarter in for his letter. He was not called on for the final quarter. The next week was a grueling week for practice. Tommy hit every opposite colored practice jersey he had a chance to hit. Coach Offen patted him on the back but Coach Thomas never acknowledged him. The Flyers were 1 and 0 going into the second game. Again Tommy did not play in the first half. For the kickoff starting the second half his name was called and he flew down field and hit the first jersey he saw, who flew into the ball carrier enabling his teammates to make the tackle. Tommy had contributed! He was in on the kickoff again and this time the kick was real short. Someone in the middle had picked up the ball and Tommy had a chance to hit the ball carrier for the first time. Just as he was about to make the tackle he was blocked hard and thought he heard his finger snap. The trainer wrapped it up and the doctor later said that it was separated and would keep him our of football for three weeks at least. Tommy now had three quarters of the ten he needed but half of the season was over when he was given the OK to play. The Flyers were 3 and 2 so the coach was not on the warpath as he had been. The 6th game saw Tommy get in to play but only in the 4th quarter. He now had 4 quarters of game play with 4 games left.
Mary: "Tommy, you played really well last night. You hit that big number 70 real hard!"
Tommy: "But I didn't move him Mary. I can't expect to get a letter if I can't help the team."
Mary: " Is that what this is all about...a letter? Why is it so important?"
Tommy: "Well...uh...I just have to win one....that's all."
Tommy had a fairly good week of practice but did not get in the 7th game at all and they lost. The team was 4 and 3 and Coach Thomas hardly even practiced Tommy the next week. Tommy thought he heard Coach Offen mention his name to Coach Thomas once. He couldn't hear what was being said but could tell neither coach was happy. Game 8 went well from the start and the Flyers were up 30 to 0 at the half. There were 10 quarters left and Tommy needed to get in 6 of them. It seemed impossible but he kept on giving everything that he had. He was on the kickoff team starting the second half and Coach Offen slapped him on the back with encouragement. Tommy ran down the field fast but not as fast as he had been, for he had to have an idea of where the ball carrier was. The runner picked up about 20 yards when he found himself charging straight at Tommy who lowered his head and dove for his legs. the runner went down and Tommy's teammates were slapping him on the helmet, but it had cost Tommy for he felt his finger hurting again but did not tell anyone. The Flyers put their 3rd team in for the 4th quarter but their was no scoring and no chance for Tommy to get in. The next week was the opposite. Tommy got in on the first kickoff but the Flyers were down 28 to 0 at the half and he did not get in. There was one game left and Tommy needed all 4 quarters! He was actually learning the game with one game left in his career. The team now had 5 wins and 4 losses with one game left and had to win it for the winning season. Tommy thought it was impossible to get in for all 4 quarters. Coach Offen told him to make the plays and he'll get in. It seemed as if he had talked to Coach Thomas or something. He was in on the first kickoff and hit one blocker and knocked him down. The runner came next and Tommy latched on to his legs for the tackle. Catawaga was losing 28 to 27 in the last quarter of the season and the Flyers could not move the ball, nor could the other team. He had played in the first 3 quarters but there were only 5 minutes left in the game, then 4...3...2 minutes left. Williamsville, their main rival, had the ball on their own 10 yard line with a one point lead and only 15 seconds left on the clock. Tommy had tears in his eyes. He looked up in the stands and saw Mary looking at him and smiling. She pointed up to the sky and Tommy knew what she meant..."the Lord was more important than football." Tommy began to feel guilty that his team was going to lose, his coach was not going to reach his goal, but the only thing he cared about was himself. The game was just about over and Coach Thomas angrily called out Tommy's name. Tommy jumped up and looked at him. The coach told him to go in for Davis in the defensive backfield! Tommy had only played that position in practice when they needed a body. He started running out on the field and everyone was yelling to him that he needed his helmet. He reached the defensive huddle. He now had his 10 quarters in! Why would Coach Thomas do this, especially as they were about to lose? His teammates were oblivious to this. They only had one more play on their mind. The quarterback took the snap and handed off to the fullback who broke through the line coming right at Tommy. Tommy ran straight at him and hit as hard as he ever hit anyone. Tommy was knocked on his back but heard shouts. He had caused a fumble and everyone was running after the ball. One guy fell on it only to have it squirt out and towards Tommy. Tommy picked it up and ran towards the goal. He was hit short of it but before he fell was hit from behind by a teammate and then another. He felt his feet hit the ground and pushed one more time in the scrum with players in front but more in back. He fell but held on to the ball and could still hear yells. What had happened? The referee was pulling players off until he saw Tommy and raised his hands signaling a touchdown! Everyone was pulling at him, slapping him, yelling at him. He had scored the winning touchdown. The team beat their rival and finished the season with 6 wins and 4 losses. Tommy was in a bit of shock. As he walked back towards the sideline he saw Coach Thomas and Coach Offen talking. Coach Thomas was just smiling and shaking his head up and down.
Mary: "Tommy, you were unbelievable! You were the hero, and you'll get your letter!"
Tommy: "Mary, I'll tell you later why I had to have that letter."
Two weeks later was the football banquet where the varsity letters would be given out. Everyone has two tickets for the dinner to give to parents. Tommy's mother and Mary would be at his table. the Flyers colors were white and red. Tommy had bought the white wool sweater at Anderson's Department Store and was ready to have the letter put on the day after. Tommy's mom had picked up Mary in their 1957 Ford Fairlane and met Tommy at the banquet who had gone early for instructions on the ceremony. Tommy was the only senior to be given a varsity letter for the first time, a 10 inch red "C"." Coach Thomas said a few words about every player that came up to the podium. When he came to Tommy, he had this to say, "Quite frankly, I never expected Tommy Wilson to earn this letter. It is nearly impossible to earn a varsity letter as a senior without ever having played a down of organized football. In fact, I'm ashamed to admit it, I was a little bit annoyed at his determination. But Coach Offen had faith in Tommy's abilities, abilities that I did not see. He nearly twisted my arm to get him in all four quarters of that last game. Come up here for your letter Tommy. You deserve it as much as anyone on this team." Tommy was red faced and looked to Coach Offen and smiled as he returned to his table. He gave his varsity letter to his mom and held Mary's hand tight.
Mary: "Well, Tommy, I'm so proud of you and you have that varsity letter that you wanted so much!"
Tommy: "Mary. I never told you why I wanted this ... letter so bad. All of the other guys have something to give their girls to show everyone that they they are their girlfriends. They give nice rings and most have cars to drive them around. They take them to the prom and I can't afford that. I worked for that letter to put on a sweater and ask you if you would wear it for the rest of the year. I would be so proud to see you in it, knowing that you are showing everyone that we are in love with each other."
Mary: "Tommy...I had no idea that you felt that way. I'm in shock...and I have to tell you what came to my mind as you told me. Tommy...everyone will one day stand before God and He will look at them to see if they belong to his Son Jesus. And do you know how He will know? All those who have trusted in Jesus, and in Him "alone" to save them....they will be dressed in white...the righteousness of Christ! We will stand before God after a lifetime that is filled with sin, yet the Father will not see that for He will only see what Jesus has done. That is why Jesus came here to be one of us, to live the perfect life and pay for our sins. Tommy, if we trust in anything we do then we are pulling back that robe...that sweater...of righteousness to reveal our sin. God may have given you this determination to win a varsity letter to demonstrate this to you. When we are "born again" we see this."
Tommy could not say a word. The Mary that he loved so much was the Mary that loved Jesus so much. He sometimes felt jealous over this. How wrong he had been. For the first time he understood what Mary was trying to tell him. He felt that God must love him to tell show him this. He had doubted before because he had grown up without a father. Tommy felt tears forming in his eyes and turned his head. His mother was returning to her seat. She had his sweater in her hands and the varsity red letter "C" was sewn on. She had secretly brought the sweater with her and returned to the car to sew it on. Tommy looked lovingly into his mother's eyes and took the sweater and turned back to Mary. She had stood up to remove the little vest she was wearing. Tommy offered her the sweater and she carefully put it on. As she sat down and said "Thank you," Tommy looked at her with wet eyes and said "Maybe we can both put on something white tonight with the letter "C"? They held hands as the principle turned the microphone on and said:
"Well, the Supreme Court recently ruled that God cannot come into our schools. Maybe someday we will have to comply...but not tonight. Heavenly Father. Thank you for this night, and for the food we are about to eat...."
