Eyes full of excitement and anticipation focused on Lance, with eager gazes almost melting him under their intensity, brimming with curiosity for what he'd say. Yet, despite being surrounded on all sides, Lance remained calm and composed, giving an unexpectedly straightforward answer.
"Oh, this isn't something I'm considering right now."
What?
The reporters were briefly stunned, thrown off by his response. Not considering it? What did he mean by that?
This brief moment of shock gave Lance the perfect opportunity to slip away, walking off with ease as if passing through an empty space. The reporters, finally snapping out of their daze, hurried after him like a tidal wave crashing down.
From a distance, Burns and Saban saw the scene unfolding.
Burns had been preparing to step in and help but saw Lance suddenly pick up the pace, calling Humphrey and Hurts along to escape. Humphrey, following the two, ran while yelling in confusion, "Wait, why am I running? Someone tell me, why am I running?"
As he questioned, he continued to run.
In no time, the three young players had ditched the reporters, leaving a few out-of-breath journalists struggling to keep up, huffing and puffing as they stood there, gasping for air.
Burns chuckled, "Looks like they didn't need help after all."
Saban allowed a small smile, "No, they still need a little help."
Burns: ?
Saban didn't leave him in suspense. "We've just won nine straight games. There are three regular season games left, then the conference championship, a bowl game, and potentially the national championship. The media frenzy is only going to intensify. I'm worried about how these young men will handle the mounting pressure."
Burns instantly understood.
Just look at last season for context.
Last year, the Crimson Tide had entered the season with high expectations as the third seed, but an early loss in the third week took the pressure off early. Meanwhile, Clemson Tigers, seeded twelfth, went on an undefeated run, climbing to the number one spot, with all of North America's eyes fixed on Deshaun Watson and his team. After a perfect 14-0 season, they headed into the national championship final.
The pressure had been entirely on Clemson's shoulders.
And everyone knew how that turned out: the Crimson Tide toppled the top seed to claim the championship.
This year, the Crimson Tide had switched places with Clemson, with the pressure mounting even further.
Since the start of the season, Alabama had kicked off as the top seed and defending champion, but only they knew the full extent of the challenges they faced. With the departure of Derrick Henry and the impact of injuries on their running backs, the team had been under immense pressure to prove themselves.
Now, after another series of victories, the cracks were beginning to show, especially in the hard-fought win against Louisiana State.
Today, the Crimson Tide managed to maintain their unbeaten record thanks to Lance's outstanding performance, but going forward, the pressure and the challenges would only continue to escalate. The last thing they needed was to fall into the same trap Clemson did last year—dominating the season only to lose the most important game.
Given this situation, the last thing they needed was for the media to stir things up even more.
Burns looked at Saban, "What's your plan?"
Saban took a deep breath. "Ban all interviews. Every single one."
Burns was stunned. "Nick! You realize this will make us a target for the media."
Saban nodded. "I know. But that's my decision. If they have any complaints, they can take it up with me. I'll personally speak to the university president."
In other words, Saban was willing to be the bad guy himself.
Saban turned to Burns, "This is the digital age. Taking away the players' phones won't work—they'll definitely still see what's online. But I need your help to make sure they ignore the media. I don't want them paying attention to any news, whether it's praise or criticism."
"Burton."
Just saying his name was enough. After working together for a decade, they understood each other perfectly.
Burns raised his hands in mock surrender, smiling. "No problem. You'll be the bad guy, I'll be the enforcer. The kids will fall in line."
Saban didn't mind, his expression cold and resolute, displaying the ruthless decisiveness of a seasoned coach. "Burton, keep a close eye on Lance."
Burns furrowed his brow. "You're worried about him? Well, he is in the spotlight now. It's our fault for pushing him into the limelight too early."
To Burns' surprise, Saban shook his head. "No, I'm not worried about his composure in front of the media—he's handled himself well. I mean on the field. Lance has likely learned a lot from today's game. If he comes to you for guidance, I want you to spend extra time with him."
Burns chuckled. "Of course."
Saban lowered his voice, almost talking to himself, "Maybe we've really unearthed a gem. I don't want our greed or haste to ruin him."
Burns heard him. "Nick, do you think he should enter the draft next year?"
Saban didn't answer right away, instead lapsing into deep thought.
The draft—that was indeed a significant question because declaring for the draft would mean going pro and stepping into a higher level of competition.
Despite what the reporters thought, Lance's response had been entirely sincere—
He truly hadn't given it much thought.
At least, not yet.
The season was only halfway over, and Lance had no point of reference. He didn't know how Derrick Henry had performed last year, as he hadn't paid much attention. He believed his own performance had been impressive enough to meet the expectations of the university president, but the season wasn't over yet, was it?
And the more he observed, the more convinced he became that Burns and the university president had some sort of arrangement. Whether their goals were being met remained unclear.
Though it had started as a mere transaction when Lance joined the football team, he had come to appreciate Burns' dedication to his development. Even Saban had shown genuine care. They didn't treat him like a mere tool but had invested in his growth, step by step.
If possible, Lance wanted to help Saban and Burns achieve their goals, too.
So, for now, the draft wasn't something Lance needed to think about.
Still…
The idea of entering the draft, facing elite competition, challenging his limits, and pushing himself intrigued him. Lance was curious to see how far his training in the football system could take him and how many top-tier opponents he could face.
Just imagining the sound of helmets colliding, the tactical battles, and the intense matchups got his blood pumping.
But there was no rush—no need to rush into anything. Draft and pro considerations would come later. This was something to think about long-term.
While Lance was taking things slow and steady…
Over in the professional leagues, the winds were already shifting, even quicker than the media—
The fact was, once general managers saw the media's growing interest in Lance and the possibility of him declaring for the draft next year, the entire league took notice.
If any team waited too long to pay attention, they'd already be several steps behind their competition.
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Powerstones?
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