Setting: Middleton
Practice Field
Time: 10:00am, Tuesday
The peaceful silence of the Middleton practice field was interrupted by the thunderous sound of 87 pairs of cleats running across the field. A cold 48 degree air surrounds the players.
The Mad Dog football team, now with three starters out, were putting the horrible memories of Game 2 behind and focusing all their attention on Game 3. Coach Barkin understood that he didn't want to overwork his players at all, yet he didn't want his team to make the same mistakes as they did in Game 2.
Coach Barkin began his players with the usual set of stretches and pushups before everyone branched off into their position practice.
Among the 87 players that were still active on the team, Ron was the one that the Mad Dog Nation still pinned their hopes on for their best chance to upset the Tigers. He continued to outmanuever the practice defense with his running abilities. Number 7 still had one other thing on his mind besides football .... Kim. He still dreamed of fulfilling the promise that they made to each other to win Game 3 in Middleton Stadium and he still envisioned that kiss with her at midfield. Right now though, football took up the majority of his mind right now.
The practice continued to last for two and a half hours before Barkin blew his whistle to assemble his players to the media room to look over the film of Game 2. It was painful for the players to go over the film, to see every single turnover and miscue that they had made, to see every open hole the Mad Dog defense allowed, and, worst of all, to see the haunting image of Ron screaming underneath that towel. But they had to suffer through it so that the mistakes wouldn't be made. Even Ron couldn't bare to watch the horrifying images creep into his mind.
As the film concluded, Barkin addressed his players. "Not bad, today's practice wasn't bad at all. The running game, the secondary, defensive line, and the offensive line, once again got the most praise from me. However, we still need to work with our receivers and linebackers. We cannot continue to allow rushing yards to the Tigers. NOT IN OUR HOUSE!!! IS THAT CLEAR?
"SIR, YES SIR," All 87 Mad Dog players echoed in unision. After doing the team prayer and the Mad Dog Chant, some of the players departed to the weight room while the other players prepared to head out to the parking lot to discuss what should be the best strategy to contain that Tiger running game.
Ron was about to head out the door when Coach Barkin tapped him on the shoulder.
"Stoppable, I need you in my office. It's very urgent." Barkin said in a concerned manner.
"Yes, sir," Ron obeyed the head coach's command as he made his way out of the door to Coach Barkin's office. Ron was concerned by this. Was it because of my poor performance in Game 2? Oh, man. did i break any team rules? WHAT'S GOING ON?!?! All these thoughts flowed into Ron's head, drowning out the image of Kim for a moment. Both Ron and Coach Barkin made their way from the media room to the athletic offices.
Ron took a seat in the head coach's office as Coach Barkin sat behind his front desk in his chair. Trophies of past Mad Dog victories surrounded him.
The star tailback had a scared look on his face, fearing that he might be in trouble. Sensing this, Barkin laughed at Ron's expression.
"I can see that look, Stoppable." Barkin said with a couple of chuckles. "You're not in trouble for anything, Stoppable. You're one of the best damn players that I've seen to play the game. We hit a few little rough edges last night."
Barkin then congradulated him on Ron's song, "Nice blues song, Stoppable. It really touched my heart. So, this afternoon, instead of running 20 laps around the track, I have cut it down to just eight."
"Thank you, sir. I was trying to capture the sadness and hardships of our team in that song, Coach Barkin." Ron said as he breathed a sigh of relief that he was still on the team.
"Besides, the reason why I called you in here, Stoppable, is the issue of leadership." Barkin responded as he stood up from his chair, hands behind his back. He turned behind Ron's back for a moment.
"You know that Eugene Thompson, our star middle linebacker, suffered a broken leg?" Barkin stared out to the Middleton suburbs through the blinds.
"Yes, sir." Ron understood Barkin's statement. To show concern for their fallen leader, he asked the delicate question, "How bad it?"
Barkin sighed and lowered his head. "Stoppable, it's going to take Thompson six months to recover from that broken leg. Our football team captain is out for the series, and I need someone to take his place."
"I understand, Coach Barkin, sir," Ron nodded his head in agreement. He knew how Eugene was such a vital player to the team's defense. It would be an empty hole without him giving signals to the defense, making sure all their assignments are covered. Eugene also made sure that, as the team captain, he keeps the team pumped up with that Mad Dog school spirit, before, during and after a game, win or loss.
Barkin then noted a gleam in his eye. He then turned his full attention back to Ron, "Say, Stoppable, weren't you once the Middleton Mad Dog mascot?"
"Yes, sir. I was the Mascot for my entire freshman year and for the first half of my sophomore year." Ron responded. He thought again back to those Friday nights when he was the mascot of the team, spraying that banana cream around his face as Kim, Bonnie and the entire squad watched.
Barkin's face then turned in a stern manner "I also heard that you quit being the Middleton Mad Dog last year. Is that right?"
"Yes, sir." Ron responded to the Mad Dog head coach. His happy look quickly turned angry. "It was Veruca who killed the Middleton Mad Dog. She whined and complained about my banana cream foam and my constant barking and growling. So, as the cheerleading captain, she stripped all meaning of the Mad Dog, my Mad Dog, and transformed it into a bland abomination."
Barkin suddenly exclaimed. "Oh yeah! Now I remember! We used to be 6-1 on the season before losing three of our last five games, including the playoff loss to Meridian. Yeah, that Veruca was a horrible choice for cheerleading captain. Good thing she's locked away in the county jail."
Ron agreed with Barkin as he folded his hands. "Yeah, good riddance to her." He blew a sideways raspberry before turning his body back to Barkin's attention.
"Anyways, Stoppable," Barkin continued, "you have been the best junior football player I've seen in a long time. You have been the hope and inspiration to this team, first as a mascot, and now as a football player. You have a lot of firey determination, heart and courage inside of you. You have a lot of leadership potential in you. You have shown good sportsmanlike conduct, on and off the field. You are the heart and soul of this football team. If you know how to pump up a Mad Dog crowd, you can certainly know how to pump up an entire football team."
Ron was opening his mouth. "You-you mean I'm the-I'm the ....." he stuttered.
"That's right, Stoppable, you're our new FOOTBALL TEAM CAPTAIN!!!!!!" Barkin proudly proclaimed in his happiest mood yet to Ron.
Ron was shocked and excited at the same time. He never felt such a joyous occasion sweep over him like this before. It felt like that all the troubles of his past simply melted away in front of him as Barkin announced a new leader of the football team, Ron Stoppable, the first junior football captain in all of Mad Dog history. He, at last, was on top of the Middleton High food chain.
"Now, go on, Stoppable and celebrate. I think Possible is waiting for you." Barkin said as he sat back down in his desk, organizing his papers
"Boo-yah," he exclaimed as he raised his fist in the air in triumph. He ran across the hallway, out the fieldhouse doors and into the empty parking lot next to the football field. Ron continued to dance in triumph on the lot. He can't wait to tell Kim the good news that he is the new football captain of the team.
Little did he know that his new football captain status would soon face the competition of attraction between two cheerleaders, Camille and Kim.
