The 2013 Season

March 2013

Zach was a little nervous. He was getting ready to make a speech to the senior class at his high school. It had also been a year since Dave's death. His speech would talk about how his life had changed and how Dave had helped with that.

"Davey is my hero," Zach started. "That may sound like a funny thing to say about your little brother. You see, he taught me in life there are only two ways you can be running: to God or from God. And I spent so much time running from God. And I'm pretty fast."

This remark got a few chuckles, and Zach continued, "And looking back, it wasn't his death, but the way Dave lived his life. How he never gave up on me, and not only showed me love, but the truth. That's what turned me around. And the moment I did, Jesus was there with his arms wide open."

Zach paused, and then finished, "I just want to encourage anyone who feels like they're running in life, to stop, turn around and embrace who's chasing them. 'Cause I'll tell you what: He loves you. He loves you like crazy."

The months went by, and soon it was August. Zach had recently had his birthday, and Ginger's was coming up. The 2013 season was now only a couple weeks away as well. For Ginger's birthday, Zach was planning to take her to dinner. And there was something else he was planning as well. The week before, he had sat down with Ginger's parents and had asked their blessing to propose. They quickly agreed, seeing how much Zach had changed over the past year and that she would be in good hands with him.

At the dinner, Zach and Ginger sat down and quickly made their orders. After dessert, Zach knew it was time.

"Hey, Ginger?"

"Yes?"

"You remember, that night I first had dinner with your parents, and we had that argument afterwards?"

"Yes, I do."

February 2012

Zach and Ginger left her house. Dinner had not gone as well as Zach had hoped. He had been asked a lot of hard questions. And he thought Ginger looked off.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked.

Ginger sighed and said, "Zach, I really like you. I guess I didn't realize how you felt."

"What, about God?" asked Zach. "I thought that was between me and him."

"Yeah, but it's important to me," said Ginger. "You know that."

Zach sighed and said, "I get it, all right? I do. I get the whole Jesus thing. And I did it for a long time. But things happen, and people change-"

Ginger shook her head and interrupted, "God doesn't change. Zach, he loves you, whether you want him to or not."

Zach was now getting upset, and yelled, "I can't just snap my fingers and make everything okay. But then again, I don't have a huge house and nice things and perfect parents..."

"You just trust him," said Ginger, getting upset herself. "He's gonna meet you wherever you're at."

"Really?" said Zach sarcastically "It's that simple? Man, I've just had the switch turned to off the whole time, the one that says, 'Trust God.' I'm an idiot. I should just turn it on. Then I can be good enough for your little club."

Ginger was very offended. "You know that's not what I'm saying, Zach."

"It sure sounds like it," said Zach. Realizing that their argument wasn't getting anywhere, he stopped himself and told Ginger, "You look cold. You should probably go inside."

"Yeah."

"Okay."

Ginger sighed and said, "Thanks for coming tonight, Zach," as she went back into her house.

Zach was a little stunned. He wondered if this argument had cost him his relationship before it had really even started.

"Anyway," said Zach, "I really thought that argument had ended our relationship. I think I only managed to get the guts to apologize because of Dave."

"Dave? Really?"

"Yes."

February 2012

"You never told me how things went with Ginger," Dave told his brother.

Zach was embarrassed by the argument. So all he said was, "Well, that's because I haven't quite figured it out yet."

"You want to talk about it?" asked Dave.

"Nope."

"What'd you do?" Dave asked knowingly.

"What'd I do? Nothing," Zach insisted.

Dave wasn't buying it. "You sabotage your own relationships. You know that."

Zach was caught a little off-guard. Dave normally wasn't that outspoken. "Oh, no, I don't," he said defensively.

"Look," said Dave, "you just don't want to wait too long and lose her, man."

"Maybe I do," said Zach, though deep down he knew Dave was right. "I'll admit, man, I guess I have some things I can work on, but...we all do."

"Well, you have a little more than others."

Zach was coming to a realization. "If I let her go, I'm an idiot, aren't I?"

"I'm gonna assume that's a rhetorical question?" Dave snarked.

"Shut up," said Zach. Changing the subject, he said, "Come on, let's go. One last race before state this weekend. Loser does the dishes."

"All right," said Dave, jumping up. As they left the house, Dave added, "And, for clarification, yes, you are an idiot."

"So, anyway," Zach continued, "it was Dave who got me to realize my idiocy."

"You're not an idiot, Zach."

"If I had let you go, I would have been." Zach took Ginger's hand and said, "I almost lost you once. I don't ever want to lose you again. I never want to let you go." He got out the box and got down and said, "I want us to be together forever. Ginger, will you marry me?"

Not even bothering to wait for an answer, Zach continued, "I know we're young and if you need to think about it for a bit, you can take all the time you need..."

"Yes!" said Ginger, giving Zach a hug.

Zach beamed. He had never been this happy.

After dinner, he called Nanny and his father. They had known his plans, and he needed to let them know.

"She said yes!" Zach exclaimed into the phone.

Zach and Ginger set a wedding date for April 5, 2014, seven and a half months away. They figured there was no need to wait super long.

Zach, though, had other things on his mind. On August 31, he would play in his first real game. Florida was ranked number 10 in the nation, and they would be playing Toledo. Zach was ready for this moment, as it was something he had dreamed of his entire life.

As he was walking through the tunnel, Zach realized he had a surprise visitor. It was none other than Florida legend Tim Tebow.

"Hey, Truett. Welcome to Gator Nation, man."

"Thanks, brother."

"Congratulations, man. I love your story. Keep it up, all right?"

"Yes, sir."

"Just stay strong."

Florida ended up beating Toledo 24-6, and it was a solid, if unspectacular, victory. Zach had contributed, and felt good knowing that he helped them get a win.

A week later, Florida would end up losing to in-state rival Miami. This was a game they should not have lost. They outgained and outplayed Miami, but had turned the ball over five times. Zach was disappointed by this, but figured these games sometimes happen and that this would just be a blip on the season.

September 21, 2013

"Hey, Zach," said Ginger. Florida had just beaten rival Tennessee to go to 2-1 on the season.

"Hey."

"What's the word on Jeff?"

"I don't know," said Zach. "But it looks like he broke his leg."

"That's not good."

"No, it's not," said Zach. "If he broke his leg, he's done for the year. But Tyler did well, though, and we won. We should be in good hands."

Zach seemed to be proven right with back-to-back wins over Kentucky and Arkansas. But little did he know that the Gators would go into a downward spiral after a loss to LSU.

Another loss to Missouri dropped them out of the rankings, and after a defeat against Georgia, the Gators suffered a humiliating defeat against usual bottom feeder Vanderbilt. The whole team was getting frustrated, and Zach was stunned at how quickly the season had spiraled out of control.

Another loss to South Carolina hurt, but the Gators would suffer the ultimate humiliation by losing to 1-AA Georgia Southern. And that game had featured a further humiliation when two Florida linemen blocked each other instead of the opponent. And then, right after Thanksgiving, a blowout against archrival Florida State sealed the Gators' worst season since 1979.

"How did this season turn out the way it did?" asked a distraught Zach after it was all over. "It started with so much promise, and..."

"It's okay," said Ginger.

"And losing like that to Florida State...I mean, it was Jameis Winston this and Jameis Winston that. If I never hear that name again, it'll be too soon."

"Oh?" said Ginger, wanting to tease him a little. "What name? Jameis Winston?"

"Yes," said an annoyed Zach. "That name."

"Jameis Winston. Jameis Winston. Jameis Winston," Ginger teased, several times in a row.

"That's enough."

"Jameis Winston. Jameis Winston. Jameis Winston."

"I said, that's enough."

Ginger then stopped. She could see that she had tortured him enough and had had her fun. "Sorry."

"It's okay."

2013 had not been the year Zach or the Gators had hoped for. But what would hurt most about 2013 wasn't the losing season, the loss to Vanderbilt, or even the humiliation against Georgia Southern. No, what would hurt most about 2013 was seeing Florida State win the national championship.