American winner takes all

Chapter 205 Thanksgiving Game Day (12)

As the referee blew the full-time whistle, Alabama finally defeated Mississippi State 23-17.

At this time, Eugene began to walk into the field. Under the protection of many local police officers, he walked to the middle of the field and shook hands with the opponent's head coach Jackie Sherrill. At the same time, Ethan was also surrounded by police officers. Multiple cameras showed Aim at Ethan and make a Kazkaz sound.

Just like before, Ethan saved the team and pulled Alabama back from the death line with his personal ability at the last moment.

As for the other Alabama players, there wasn't much excitement on their faces. They just felt lucky and scared. If it weren't for Ethan, they might have lost the game.

"Someone was sleepwalking in this game. In terms of performance in this game, we did not perform better than the players from Mississippi State. In this current state, let alone defeating Florida in the last round, we will face the next Our opponent, Auburn University, is in trouble." In the locker room, Ethan changed his previous silence and began to say to the players in the locker room.

"However, this is also a new opportunity for us. It is not too late for the problem to be exposed..." Ethan looked around at everyone.

There is no need for Ethan to say anything about what needs to be done next. Naturally, he should prepare well for the next game against Auburn University.

At this time, Eugene, who was standing next to Ethan, also took a step forward and began to talk about the training arrangements during this period.

On the way back, Ethan told Eugene about another thing...

On the second day after the game against Mississippi State, which was the Monday afternoon of the new week, when the team’s training began, an uninvited guest appeared in the indoor court.

"Hello everyone..." Standing in front of everyone, Mary looked a little embarrassed.

The team members unanimously welcomed Mary's arrival and started clapping and whistling.

"In the future, I will serve as the leader of the Crimson Tide football team and handle problems for everyone before and after the game..." At this time, Mary was already wearing the iconic red and white jacket of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

"How did you convince Fisher?" Mary found Ethan during the training break and asked.

During the day on Sunday, Mary received a call from Fisher and the supervisor of the admissions office. On the phone, the two expressed their hope that Mary could be transferred to the football team as a team leader.

Ethan did not respond immediately, but pointed to Eugene who was standing not far away.

Naturally, it was impossible for him to convince Fisher, but just because he couldn't convince him, it didn't mean that others couldn't be convinced either.

As the head coach, Eugene has a high say in team-related positions.

"I see... Now you're satisfied, but I'm going to be tired." Mary sighed.

Of course, the salary of the Crimson Tide team leader is higher than that of a small admissions office clerk, and correspondingly, the work content increases.

From the players' personal lives, ensuring attendance, and preparations for away games, the team leader is more like a housekeeper. Almost everything needs to be monitored from the inside out, from small to large.

"It's better than doing nothing." Ethan's words announced the end of Mary's fishing life.

The chat with Mary didn't last long, and soon Ethan heard a bold male voice coming from behind.

Turning around, it was offensive line coach Jim Warren Fuller.

"Ethan, I heard you are looking for me?" Jim Fuller said with a smile, showing two rows of white teeth when he smiled.

He was born powerful and tall, with exceptionally broad shoulders. Even in his prime, his body was still very strong. When Ethan first competed with the coach, he had a one-on-one match with Ethan in five-a-side flag football. of confrontation.Of course, it was impossible for Ethan to take serious action against him at that time, but he could also feel that his physical fitness was much better than that of his peers.

Jim Fuller serves on the coaching staff as offensive line coach.

Compared to the defensive team with a brilliant record, the Crimson Tide's offensive line is often overlooked by people. This is something Ethan knows very well as a quarterback.

The Crimson Tide's offensive line looks like a group of large-tonnage strong men, but in fact it is very brittle and can break when touched, especially when the physical strength is exhausted in the middle and late stages of the game. Mississippi State chooses not to use the offensive line incorrectly. There were only a few pressure tactics, and most of the time the offensive line did not provide Ethan with the protection he deserved.

"I didn't call you." Ethan smiled and shook his head.

"But you need me." Jim Fuller shook his head.

From the special teams coach to the defensive coordinator, from the quarterback coach to the running back coach, most of the special coaches have taught Ethan his "unique skills". Now it is his turn.

As for the agreement between the coaching staff and Ethan, of course it continues to exist...

"Your rush is very fast and full of power. Ivey taught you how to dodge the opponent with the simplest and most convenient steps. As for me... I will teach you another more straightforward way to break through..." Jim Fuller bumped his fists.

Obviously the more straightforward way of breakthrough he is referring to is on the level of strength...

This is quite attractive to Ethan, after all, his biggest advantage is his body.

"The forwards will use a half-crouched posture before charging. At the moment of kicking the ball, the legs will be the first to exert force, and then the force will be transferred to the waist, and finally the upper body. For forwards, more of the whole body will be used. Strength, rather than simply pushing the opponent away with your arms..." Jim Fuller began to give Ethan a live demonstration.

In preparation before starting, he squatted half-squat, with his feet evenly spaced from his shoulders. At the moment when he exerted force, he was like a beast coming out of the cage. His feet exerted force first, then his whole body, and finally his arms. The weight of the body is arched forward.

"The key point is the use of the whole body's strength, which is 'charge' rather than 'push'. There is an essential difference between the two." Jim Fuller talked about the key point.

Ethan tried it a few times and felt the benefits of this way of exerting force. He often achieved better results with less force.

The next step is to integrate this action into your own charging process. After training for a whole afternoon, assistant researcher Mickey Conn announced that today's training is over.

"Wait a minute, Ethan may need one more project." Jim Fuller raised his hand at this time.

"I propose that several main defensive players form a formation to stop Ethan." Jim Fuller said.

There were whispers among the players. You must know that Alabama's defensive team is fourth in the country. For college offensive players in the United States, Alabama's defensive team is an insurmountable wall.

Jim Fuller not only suggested that Ethan face the defensive team head-on, but also in a one-on-one format. In other words, Ethan would not have any helpers.

"What is Jim Fuller doing?" Sean, who was standing next to Ivy, turned his head at this time and looked at Ethan who was not far away.

"This is something special." The running back next to him said at this time.The players who had finished training were already preparing to leave. Following Jim Fuller's shout, they immediately changed their minds and prepared to stay and see the Alabama defensive team that Ethan could handle.

As for the defense... Fernando Bryant, Deshia Townsend, and linebacker Dwayne Rudd looked at each other.

The three lead Alabama's defense and are all aware of each other's strengths.

The three of them certainly didn't think Ethan could complete the breakthrough.

Although at the beginning of this season, Dwayne Rudd went one-on-one with Ethan.But that's just one-on-one, and there is still a big difference between one person taking on the entire defensive team.

Facing the challenge launched by Ethan, the three of them felt that Ethan was overestimating his capabilities.

"Do you think one person can take on the entire defense line alone? Very good, then please try." Dwayne Rudd responded immediately.

Other defensive team members also echoed.

Ethan looked at the defensive team who were all looking at him, as well as the other players standing nearby and watching.

He felt a little wronged, but he never said this. It was Jim who initiated the challenge unilaterally.

I just rushed the duck to the shelves.

"Ethan, it's too late to refuse now, otherwise you will be embarrassed later." Mary also came to Ethan at this time and said with a smile.

I don't know if she is really persuading, or if she is mocking her in a weird way.

Ethan even saw all the coaches surrounding him at this time.

"You have to have confidence in Ethan!" As the initiator of this special challenge, Jim Fuller shook his head.

Then he announced the rules for this special challenge.

The Alabama defensive team is scattered throughout the entire half, leaving only seven defensive players, and their positions should be dispersed. If Ethan can successfully brake, it will be considered a victory. As for Ethan, the way to win is to bring the ball into the zone. middle.

About 5 minutes later, Ethan looked at the main defensive force waiting not far away and reluctantly launched a charge...

After another five minutes, the expressions on the faces of the onlookers who were still chatting and laughing changed, especially the coaches, who somewhat couldn't believe what was happening in front of them.

"This is outrageous." Curley expressed his amazement.

"Special players always bring special scenes..." Woody said with a smile. What happened in front of him made him sweat.

As for the younger onlookers, they had already rushed forward, surrounded Ethan, and talked about the details just now.

At this time, Ethan turned around and looked at the several main defenders who were trying to stand up in a very embarrassed state.

In fact, even he himself did not expect this result...

"Next week, Auburn University will be able to taste nuclear weapons!" Mary also cheered.

·
The game against Auburn will be played on November 11, the day before Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a unique and representative holiday in the United States. It plays an important role in the hearts of the American people. People reunite with their families to celebrate the holiday on Thanksgiving Day.There are a series of celebrations surrounding the four-day Thanksgiving holiday, including dinners, games, outings, parades, shopping...

Canada and the Greeks also have similar festivals, but it should be called "Harvest Festival". Canada is grateful to its ancestors who settled here before, and the Greeks are grateful to Demeter, the goddess in charge of fertility, agriculture, and marriage.

As for Americans, they are grateful to the native Indians who selflessly helped them back then.

On Thursday in late November 1621, the Pilgrims and 11 Indians gathered together. At that time, white people and Indians gathered around the bonfire, eating, chatting, singing and dancing. The entire celebration lasted for three days.The Pilgrims thanked the Indians for teaching them hunting, fishing, and growing corn, allowing them to colonize the New World.

Later, these white people who had gained a foothold with the help of the Indians took up arms, armed themselves, and began to systematically drive out and massacre the Native Americans, from the Great Lakes, to the Mississippi River, and further west to the Rocky Mountains.During this period, the white people signed border agreements with the Indians several times, then turned around and established settlements on the Indians' territory, relying on this "reclamation" strategy to gradually encroach on the other side's territory.

It’s not so much “Thanksgiving” as it is “Hell’s Joke Day.”

Of course, this does not affect the United States regarding this as one of the most important holidays of the year. In 1863, Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. He "expressed regret" for the suffering of the Indians and "pleaded for the intervention of the Almighty Hand." ".

The implication is: We have expressed repentance to God, what more do we want from the Lun family?

The Thanksgiving holiday begins on the fourth Thursday of November every year and lasts until Sunday. During this time, Americans get together with their families and enjoy turkey and pumpkin pie. Businesses will also start discounts and promotions at this time, which will last until Christmas.

The most important one is the Friday after Thanksgiving. As the beginning of the Christmas sales season, businesses often choose to go big on this day. This is the origin of "Black Friday".

In addition to traditions such as turkey, pumpkin, green beans, and cranberries, there is another tradition-football.

Don't think that football is just an insignificant supporting role. In fact, as "Thanksgiving" proclaimed by Lincoln, it was not recognized by the southern states at first, and they refused to have a holiday on this day.

And it was the emergence of Thanksgiving game day that allowed American southerners to find some "festive atmosphere."

In a sense, football even maintains unity at the federal level.

Today, from high school to college to the NFL, intensive football games are held during the Thanksgiving holiday.

At the high school level, this is known as "Turkey Game Day," with hundreds of high schools holding scheduled matchups before and after.

In the NFL, the Thanksgiving holiday game is also the highlight, often a strong confrontation, which is similar to the NBA's Christmas game.

But if we really want to say that the most watched holiday game is the rivalry between universities, the tradition of Thanksgiving football rivalry was initiated by Princeton University and Yale University.

The most important game in college competition is undoubtedly the "Iron Bowl" between Alabama and Auburn.

(End of this chapter)