If someone were to interview Lance, asking him what the most important lesson he had learned since entering the world of football as a complete rookie back in April, his answer would be: the atmosphere of the game.
Whether it was his former experience as a cross-country runner or as a mixed martial artist, the feeling was always different. Especially in cross-country running, where he often had to battle alone against solitude.
But football? It was entirely different.
The sight of 100,000 fans roaring at Bryant-Denny Stadium needed no explanation. Even in daily training, he could feel the town and university's fervor, with cheers and shouts constantly ringing out. For someone used to the sounds of wind, water, and rustling leaves while running cross-country, it felt like he was constantly startled by the noise.
His roommate, Hunter, gave him a valuable piece of advice—
Noise-canceling headphones.
Hunter wore them to look cool, always admiring swimmers or soccer players who donned headphones before they hit the field. But Lance took his advice to heart to actually block out the noise. Now, he had gotten used to the comfort of wearing them regularly.
Today was no different.
After hearing from "Mr. Know-it-all" Humphrey that the AT&T Stadium attendance might set a new record, Lance made sure to bring along his trusty pair of noise-canceling headphones.
He put them on early, ignoring the loud commotion outside the bus. But even through the vibrations in his seat, he could sense the feverish energy outside.
Compared to the team scrimmage and the preseason game, Lance was surprisingly calm today. Over the past four months, he had been continuously training through the McCoy and Peterson templates, experiencing different stadiums and home fields. The accumulation of virtual game experiences wasn't entirely useless.
They had arrived.
Lance waited a moment, but noticed that the other players were all sitting quietly in their seats, not moving. He turned back to glance at them.
With so many players, the team had to split into groups: two buses for the offense, two for the defense, and special teams scattered across all four buses. Some teams even needed five buses. The coaches had their own bus, which occasionally carried some special team members or key players.
At that moment, Lance didn't see the usual antics of Humphrey, and his neighbor Clark was nervously swallowing repeatedly. Without giving it much thought, Lance stood up, ready to be the first to step off the bus—
After all, there were still three buses behind them, waiting to unload.
Clark's eyes went wide with worry, and he nervously called out, "Lance!"
"Ronnie!" Hurts called out.
Clark quickly shut his mouth.
Lance gave Hurts a knowing look, then reassured Clark with a nod before continuing to walk forward as the bus door opened.
Rustling sounds and hushed murmurs followed behind him, along with giggles and whispers. The excitement and mischief in the air were unmistakable, and it didn't take a genius to figure out—
The veteran players were about to "teach" the rookies a lesson.
Clearly, a prank was in the works.
Lance had wondered before why, up until now, the team still addressed him as "rookie." Even the freshmen just entering college had their share of pranks. Given Lance's lack of football experience, it was obvious that he was a true rookie. So why hadn't they pulled any stunts yet?
Now, it all made sense. They had been waiting for the right moment, and today was the day.
Lance remained calm. He wasn't one to be easily rattled.
Following Hurts' and the others' eager glances, Lance noticed that their target was the media crowd ahead, the swarm of cameras and reporters.
But compared to Lance, the young players on the offense bus were just as jittery.
For years, the Crimson Tide had been the talk of the NCAA. Last year's championship win was a bit of a surprise, especially since the media focus had been on Derrick Henry. Now, faced with so much attention, the younger players were understandably nervous.
Lance, on the other hand, stepped off the bus with remarkable calm.
Suddenly—
A flurry of reporters, microphones, and cameras rushed toward him. In no time, they had surrounded Lance.
His impressive height immediately stood out. In the team, his 6'1" frame (185 cm) was considered average. But now, he stood tall above the crowd.
"Excuse me!"
A microphone was practically thrust into his face, as if the reporter was preparing for a duel. Samantha Ponder, a lead football correspondent for ABC, tiptoed to get the first word in.
Samantha, who was married to NFL quarterback Christian Ponder, wasn't intimidated by football players, no matter how tall or imposing they were. She had long been accustomed to the height and size of these athletes.
The young man in front of her wore sunglasses that hid much of his face, along with headphones that nearly engulfed his head, leaving little of his expression visible.
But there wasn't time to analyze further. With so many players to interview, Samantha had to work fast and get straight to the point, or risk the entire segment falling apart.
"What are your expectations for the new season? How do you see the team's chances of defending the title? With Derrick Henry gone, can Lance shoulder the responsibility for the team's ground game? Can he live up to Henry's legacy?"
Lance tilted his head slightly—
So, this was the prank they had been waiting for?
There was no need to turn around. He could imagine the entire team pressed against the bus windows, watching the scene unfold with eager anticipation.
Not just the first bus, but the second as well, with Humphrey's head bobbing up and down, trying to get a better look.
It seemed that Humphrey, the gossip king, had sniffed out something.
Lance, however, remained unfazed. With a calm expression, he gestured behind him and said, "He's back there."
Then, he calmly put his headphones back on and continued walking.
Smooth and effortless.
Samantha didn't question it and didn't stop him. Instead, she turned her attention back to the bus doors, preparing for the next player to emerge.
As for Lance?
He walked away without hesitation, slipping back into his own world. The fans on either side of the player tunnel surged like waves, their cheers and screams growing louder and louder, enveloping his figure.
The world, it seemed, bowed at his feet.
Amidst the chaos, a sense of quiet grandeur emerged, reminiscent of the poignant solitude of Will Smith and his dog in I Am Legend.
This moment, a true masterpiece.
Humphrey: Damn, he pulled it off again.
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