The stadium fell silent.
In an instant, the reporters felt like they had been ambushed.
They were attacked! They were caught off guard! They were set up!
Not only did they know nothing about Lance as a running back, but they also knew nothing about him as a person. They thought they were entering a straightforward battle of wits, but it turned out that Lance had brought a machine gun, mowing them down one by one. The unprepared reporters were utterly defeated, with no chance to fight back.
Brutal, absolutely brutal.
The atmosphere turned slightly awkward.
But would the reporters back down?
No way!
The next one would step up as soon as one fell. Without even realizing it, they united in their cause—bullying an eighteen-year-old rookie, a young player facing professional media for the first time.
"May I ask, what do you think of the Trojans' offense?"
"This season, the Trojans' offense is highly anticipated, with talents like Sam Darnold, Ronald Jones, and JuJu Smith-Schuster—all considered potential first-round picks in the future. This team is regarded as one of the most exciting in the NCAA and is expected to bring surprises this year."
"How do you think they performed?"
Who?
That was Lance's first thought, but those names were so unfamiliar to him that it didn't matter. He could view them as a whole.
Lance believed that facing the Crimson Tide's powerful and skilled defense, the young Trojans' offense hadn't collapsed—at least they weren't shut out. They fought until the end, which was not bad. For a young team, that kind of fight and spirit is invaluable.
So.
"Not bad," Lance said.
Looking into Lance's clear, bright eyes and his sincere expression, the reporters felt like a storm was brewing in their minds. Could they curse out loud?
The Crimson Tide treated the second half like a warm-up game, rotating more than half of their starters. They calmly finished the game, allowing the Trojans to score only a field goal. The young, inexperienced Trojans' offense was scattered and had crumbled.
Yet, what did Lance say?
Reporters: Savage.
"Lance, what do you think of JuJu's performance?"
Lance: …
He blinked, clearly not sure who the reporter was talking about. But the reporter assumed Lance didn't understand why JuJu was being brought up.
So, the reporter explained, "In a post-game interview, JuJu said you were outstanding, leaving a strong impression, and that you were undoubtedly the MVP of the game."
Lance raised his chin slightly. "Thank you," he said, realizing what the reporter was getting at.
The reporters: And then?
The reporters eagerly awaited more, but Lance innocently looked back at them, his eyes asking: So what?
At that moment, the atmosphere became awkward.
The reporters picked up on the cue and didn't press further. Instead, they went along with it, asking, "So, who do you think was the best player for the Trojans today?"
Lance: …
A bit stumped, he really couldn't remember any names. For heaven's sake, he was being honest.
When the reporters didn't get an answer, and Lance remained silent, someone couldn't hold back and threw out a guess, "Sam Darnold?"
Lance sighed with relief and nodded immediately. "Yes, him, Sam—" he paused, "Yes, Sam did well. Great job."
After saying that, Lance even pumped his fist a bit, as if cheering for "Sam," smiling awkwardly but politely, with a look that screamed corporate diplomacy.
The reporters exchanged glances, momentarily unsure of how to respond. Finally, a reporter from the Houston Chronicle broke the silence.
"Lance, according to the records, you only started playing football during spring training in April of this year, is that true?"
"Yes."
"You mean to say, before that, you had never played football or even watched football? You had no knowledge of it?"
"That's right."
"Wow."
The Texas reporter was visibly surprised, his shock poorly concealed. He seemed unable to believe what he was hearing, as if he had just seen an alien. "So, as a complete newcomer, you stepped onto the football field and delivered a solid performance in today's game. How do you feel about football? Do you think you can adapt to this sport?"
The Houston Chronicle is Texas's best-selling newspaper, with a reach comparable to the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.
The reporter's question was well-crafted, starting and ending with seemingly standard inquiries but striking at the heart of the hottest topic. Still, there was a hint of mischief in the question, as if probing for something more.
The inquisitive gazes landed on Lance, making his skin prickle ever so slightly.
Lance thought to himself, Is this what it feels like when people see a panda? Big and precious.
A hint of a smile appeared in Lance's eyes as he met the reporter's gaze directly, confidently sizing him up in return.
"So far, so good," Lance replied.
Finally, he didn't just say "not bad." That meaningful look in his eyes and his confident smile gave those few words a powerful resonance.
Confident and calm, with a touch of flair.
So, was Lance really a once-in-a-lifetime football prodigy?
Just then, Coach Burns arrived, acting like a mother hen protecting her chick, shielding Lance from the reporters. He shooed the press away, sternly saying:
"The players are not accepting interviews."
"If you have questions, ask the coach."
"Please do not harass my player."
Burns gestured for Lance to head back to the locker room while he stayed behind, blocking the path and allowing the other players to head in as well.
Though the reporters were disappointed, they had already gathered enough material. They grudgingly backed off.
But it was more than enough.
The day had already been filled with standout moments, one after another, leaving the reporters unsure whether they were more surprised by Lance's attitude toward JuJu or his confidence in the Crimson Tide. However, in the end, nothing could surpass the two golden quotes Lance had left them with.
One, "Not bad," and the other, "So far, so good"—
Instant classics.
Simply winning wasn't news. The Crimson Tide were the reigning champions, after all. Wasn't a win expected?
Even a 55-3 score—well, okay, that was a bit extreme, but given the Crimson Tide's strength, it wasn't entirely shocking. The real surprise lay in Lance's response.
Not bad.
The Crimson Tide played "not bad," and the Trojans "not bad" either?
Everyone was speechless.
People who didn't follow football might think this was just standard talk.
But those who did follow football had no idea who this No. 23 on the Crimson Tide was. It wasn't uncommon for an unknown player to suddenly shine in a game, but having an Asian player be that standout? Now, that was something else.
Something very unusual.
Wait, he just started playing football in April, and he's already saying, "So far, so good"?
This…
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