A father sat with his son in a Michigan basement decorated in maize and blue.
They bonded over soccer video games. One of his features a story in which he takes a 7-year-old boy to his college dorm room, where letters from fans fill his mailbox and the college newspaper announces the championship. , a list of Heisman candidates adorned his computer screen. If he plays well enough, his name could be on there.
kAmxE H2D?'E C62=]qFE H9@ H2D E@ D2J :E 4@F=5?'E 36nk^Am
kAm“*@F[ H6’5 2=H2JD ;@<6[ 3642FD6 96 H2D 2 3:8 <:5[ E92E ‘w6J[ >2J36 J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 @? E96C6 D@>652J[’” D2JD E96 72E96C[ q:== $H2CE@FE]k^Am
kAm%@52J[ >@C6 E92? 2 564256 =2E6C[ E92E f\J62C\@=5 — k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4>F49:AA6H2D]4@>^DA@CED^7@@E32==^C@DE6C^3C2J56?\DH2CE@FE^e_dbQmqC2J56? $H2CE@FEk^2m — 😀 2? @776?D:G6 =:?6> 2? 2E r6?EC2= |:49:82?[ =:G:?8 E96 DE@CJ >@56 😕 C62= =:76]k^Am
kAmr@F?E=6DD G6CD:@?D @7 E92E 82>6[ ?@E >256 😕 @G6C 2 564256[ 4@==64E 5FDE 😕 32D6>6?ED 2=@?8D:56 A92D65\@FE 82>:?8 DJDE6>D] xE'D E96 :?6G:E23=6 72E6 @7 @=5 5:D4D[ 82>:?8 42CEC:586D[ #rp 4@??64E@C H:C6D 2?5 E96 =:<6] v:G6 :E 2== 2 8@@5 3=@H[ E9@F89[ 2?5 E96 5FDE 4=62CD E@ C6G62= 2? 6?5FC:?8 4F=EFC2= A96?@>6?@? E92E[ 😕 E9:D >@56C? H@C=5[ 😀 @? :ED H2J 324<]k^Am
kAm|~#t %wp} y&$% p 'xst~ vp|tk^Am
kAmu@C 2 86?6C2E:@? @7J@FE9[ tp $A@CED’ 4@==686 7@@E32== 82>6D 7F6=65 E96:C 2DA:C2E:@?D 😕 E96 DA@CE] uC@> E96 62C=J G6CD:@?D 😕 E96 `hh_D E@ E96 :>>6CD:G6 6IA6C:6?46D 😕 E96 a___D E92E C6G@=FE:@?:K65 4C62E6\2\A =2J6C >@56D[ E96 82>6D 3642>6 2 >FDE\92G6 7@C DA@CED 2?5 G:56@\82>6 72?D]k^Am
kAmpD E96J 8C6H >@C6 A@AF=2C[ 9@H6G6C[ D@>6E9:?8 6=D6 8C6H[ E@@i E96 49@CFD @7 G@:46D E92E D2:5 4@==686 2E9=6E6D 56A:4E65 😕 E96 82>6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^86?6C2=\?6HD\53`4bf_235a`c`5726`ce3g_2dc7_gedQmD9@F=5 36 86EE:?8 A2:5k^2m]xE H2D 2 ?@E:@? E92E D66>65 AC6A @DE6C@FD 😕 E96 DEF56?E\2E9=6E6 6C2]qFE 2D @A:?:@?D >@CA965[ :E DE2CE65 E@ >2<6 D6?D6]k^Am
kAmq67@C6 a_a`[ 4@==686 2E9=6E6D H6C6 ?@E 2==@H65 3J E96 }rpp E@ AC@7:E 7C@> E96:C 3C2?5[ 4@>>@?=J <?@H? 2D E96:C ?2>6[ :>286 2?5 =:<6?6DD — @C }x{]k^Am
kAm%96 G:56@\82>6 56G6=@A6C EC:65 7@C J62CD E@ 5:776C6?E:2E6 :?\82>6 C@DE6CD 7C@> C62=\=: 76 A =2J6CD]“”F2CE6C324< }@]`_” C6>6>36CD E9:D 4=62C=J]k^Am
kAm“x C6>6>36C H96? ×H2D:? E96 82>6]~3G:@FD=J 😕 9:89 D49@@= 2?5 2== E92E J@F H2?EE@ 36 😕 E96 82>6[ 3FE E96? H96? J@F 86E E@ 4@==686 J@F’C6 😕 E96 82>6[ 2?5 x’> }@] `_ 7C@> q2J=@C[ 367@C6 }x{[ 2?5 x 2> }@] `_[” #@36CE vC:77:? xxx[ @?6 @7 E96 82>6’D a_`b 4@G6C 2E9=6E6D 2?5 E96 a_“ w6:D>2? H:??6C[ E@=5 %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD]k^Am
kAm“p?5 E92E'D >J ?2>6[ ‘”F2CE6C324< }@] `_ 7C@> q2J=@C[’” 96 D2JD] “qFE”[ x’> =:<6[ H9:E6 H:E9 2 3FKK 4FE 7256 2?5 ?@ 2C> D=66G6 @? >J 2C> 2?5 x’> 7C@> %FD42=@@D2[ p=232>2] %96J 4@>A=6E6=J EC:65 E@ 492?86 E96 492C24E6C ;FDE D@ E96J 5@?'E 92G6 E@ A2J E96 8FJ]~C D2J[ ‘~9 ?@[ E92E’D ?@E 9:D ?2>6[ :>286 2?5 =:<6?6DD[ 96’D ?@E 6G6? E96 C:89E 4@=@C]'qFE 6G6CJ3@5J q2J=@C H2D]”k^Am
kAmtG6?EF2==J[ tp $A@CED 82G6 FA] p?5 D@ E96 7C2?49:D6 D2E 27E6C :ED =2DE G6CD:@? 😕 a_`b[ 5@C>2?E 7@C “ J62CD]k^Am
kAmx%'$ qprz[ u~# #tp{ %wx$ %x|tk^Am
kAm$@4:6EJ 92D 492?865 2 =@E D:?46 E96 a_`_D] $@ 92D $H2CE@FE'D 32D6>6?E[ ?@H 564<65 @FE 😕 >2C@@? 2?5 8@=5]k^Am
kAmv2>6CD' G@C24:@FD 2AA6E:E6D 7@C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^62\DA@CED\4@==686\7@@E32 ==\c7fg6`hghb66`3be`2`b`637dbe22c25Qm:>>6CD:G6 DA@CED G:56@ 82>6Dk^2m 92G6 ?@E 492?865 2D >F49]p?5 H:E9 E96 }rpp'D 564:D:@? E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^f__g`466`g`2ccf636hffafcc`3d6d_hQm2==@H 4@==686 2E9= 6E6D E@ AC@7:Ek^2m 7C@> E96:C 3C2?5[ E96 E:>6 925 4@>6]k^Am
kAmtp $A@CED 😕 a_a` 2??@F?465 :EH@F=5 36 C6G:G:?8 E96 7C2?49:D6]%9C66 J62CD =2E6C[ E96 82>6 😀 D4965F=65 E@ 36 C6=62D65 E9:D DF>>6C H:E9 2 7F== C6G62= AC@>:D65 😕 |2J] s6E2:=D 92G6 366? 76H D @ 72C[ 3FE A=2J6CD’ ?2>6D 2?5 =:<6?6DD H:== 36 C62=]k^Am
kAm“x A6CD@?2==J 36=:6G6 E92E }rpp 7@@E32== 😀 E96 8C62E6DE 82>6 6G6C >256[” vC:77:? D2JD] “p =@E @7 <:5D 8C@H:?8 FA H:E9 E96 82>6 H2?E65 E@ 36 23=6 E@ D66 E96>D6=G6D 8C@H 2?5 56G6=@ A :?E@ E9@D6 A=2J6CD E96J H6C6 4C62E:?8]”k^Am
kAmtp $A@CED 92D @776C65 u@@E32== q@H= $F35:G:D:@? A=2J6CD 2 >:?:>F> @7 Se__ 2?5 2 4@AJ @7 tp $A@CED r@==686 u@@E32== ad E@ 36 762EFC65 😕 E96 82>6]k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^62\DA@ CED\4@==686\7@@E32==\?:=\7h6e767b`2agb5f4_3c56g4ga` 4dcb7aQm|@C6 E92? `_[___k^2m A=2J6CD 92G6 2446AE65]k^Am
kAm%96 82>6 H:== D66< E@ 5:776C6?E:2E6 :ED6=7 7C@> @E96C @776C:?8D 😕 E96 >2C<6E — DA@CED 7C2?49:D6D E92E 92G6 925 E96 25G2?E286 @7 E:>6 E@ 6G@=G6]%96C6'D 2 5:776C6?46[ E9@F89i }@?6 @7 E9@D6 92G6 E24<=65 4@==686 7@@E32==]k^Am
kAm”':56@ 82>6D[ 2D A@AF=2C 2D E96J H6C6[ E96J’G6 ;FDE 6G@=G65 D@ >F49 32D65 @? 9@H D@4:6EJ 92D 6G@=G65 2?5 92G:?8 D@ >2?J 5:776C6?E >@56D 2?5 @AE:@?D[” D2JD }:4@=6EE6 p5F2>2[ E96 D6?:@C 2DD@4:2E6 5:C64E@C 2E }@CE962DE6C? &?:G6CD:EJ’D r6?E6C 7@C E96 $EF5J @7 $A@CE 😕 $@4:6EJ]k^Am
kAm~&% (x%w %wt ~{sk^Am
kAmtp'D a__e 4@==686 7@@E32== 82>6 H2D >@?F>6?E2= 😕 E96 DA@CED G:56@ 82>6 C62=>]xE H2D E96 7: CDE E@ 4@>A=6E6=J :>>6CD6 82>6CD :?E@ 2? 2E9=6E6'D =:76]xE 925 2 <:==6C D@F?5EC24<]!6C92AD :ED @?=J DE@CJ >@56 C:G2= 😕 E96 62C=J a___D H2D }qp q2==6CD]k^Am
kAmxE 2=D@ H2D AC@3=6>2E:4[ :?4=F5:?8 2 762EFC6 E92E — =:<6 >F49 6?E6CE2:?>6?E 7C@> 6G6? C646?E J62CD A2DE — 5@6D ?@E DE2?5 E96 E6DE @7 E:>6 H6==] X? E96 4C62E6\2\A=2J6C'D 5@C> C@@>[ 92?8:?8 7C@> E96 4@C?6C @7 E96 4@>AFE6C D4C66?[ H2D 2 H2==6E\D:K65 A:4EFC6 56A:4E:?8 2 H@>2?] pD E96 A=2J6C A6C7@C>65 36EE6C @? E96 7:6=5[ E96 56A:4E:@? D9F77=65 E9C@F89 AC6D6ED] %96 H@>2?'D 3@5J EJA6 D@>6E:>6D 3642>6 E9:??6Cj 96C 3FDE[ 92:C 4@=@C 2?5 D>:=6 492?865]k^Am
kAm“x C6>6>36C D66:?8 E92E =:<6 H96? x H2D 2 <:5 2?5 6G6? E96? x H2D =:<6[ ‘(9J 5@6D E96 8:C=7C:6?5 86E >@C6 2EEC24E:G6 :7 J@F H:? >@C6 82>6Dn’” D2JD t=: |@FD6C[ a`[ @7 #FDD6==G:==6[ p=232>2] ``x H2D =:<6[ E92E 5@6D?’E >2<6 2?J D6?D6]"k^Am"
kAmtp $A@CED ;6EE:D@?65 E9:D 762EFC6 😕 =2E6C 65:E:@?D]xE 25565 2?@E96C E92E 925 82>6CD A:4< 2 >2;@C 2?5 <66A E96:C v!p FA E@ 4@>A6E6 @ ? E96 7:6=5]%96 56G6=@A6C 92D >256 DEC:56D 😕 :ED 6BF:EJ E9C@F89 @E96C 82>6D[ DF49 2D :ED AC@76DD:@?2= D@446C 7C2?49:D6 E92E ?@H :?4=F56D 76>2=6 A=2J6CD 2?5 :ED ?6H6DE 8@=7 82>6[ H9:49 2D<D 82>6CD 7@C E96:C AC@?@F?D H96? E96J 4C62E6 A=2J6CD]k^Am
kAm“v:C=D 2C6 82>6CD[ E@@[” p5F2>2 D2JD] “(6 D66 :E 😕 >@G:6D 2?5 @? %' D9@HD ?@H H96C6 A6@A=6 2C6 3C62<:?8 E9@D6 DE6C6@EJA6D 2?5 H6 E2= < 23@FE E92E :? @FC EC2:?:?8D 2== @7 E96 E:>6]xE'D 23@FE 6IA@DFC6]”k^Am
kAmtp $A@CED D2JD :E 😀 @776C:?8 76>2=6 2E9=6E6D @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ 36 :?G@=G65 H:E9 E96 82>6 E9C@ F89 :ED 2>32DD25@C AC@8C2>[ H9:49 A2JD 2E9=6E6D E@ AC@>@E6 :E]k^Am
kAm“x 6 C:89E ?@H E92E H@F=5 46CE2:?=J 3=@H :E @FE E96 H2E6C[ :E H@F=5 36 H@>6?’D 4@==686 32D<6E32==[” vC:77:? D2JD] “r2:E=:? r=2C<@? E96 4@G6C]*@F 8@E 2== E96 8:C=D @G6C E96C6 H:E9 p?86= #66D6 2E {$&]{:<6[ E92E 82>6 H@F=5 >@A E96 7=@@C]"k^Am"
kAmv:G6? E96 82>6'D 2DA:C2E:@?2= 762EFC6D[ :E’D 62DJ E@ H@?56Ci (96? E96 ?6H G6CD:@? 4@>6D @FE[ H92E AC6E66?D H:== A=2J :E[ 7:?5 :?DA:C2E:@? 2?5 6?5 FA @? 2 4@==686 7@@E32== 7:6=5 2 564256 7C@> ?@Hn (92E 5C62>D @7 a_ac — 6>365565 😕 H92E H:== DFC6=J 36 E96 >@DE :>>6CD:G6 :E6C2E:@? @7 E96 82>6 6G6C — H:== 7F6= A2E9D E@ 2E9=6E:4 DF446DD 2?5 56=:G6C E@>@CC@H’D 2DA:C2E:@?D 😕 9:\C6Dnk^Am
kAmu@C |@FD6C[ 8C@H:?8 FA 😕 p=232>2 2D 2 %6??6DD66 72? H2D E@F89] tp $A@CED' 4@==686 7@@E32== 82>6D 82G6 9:> 2 DA246 E@ =6E @FE D@>6 @7 E92E @C2?86 😕 2 D62 @7 C65 ]{:<6 q:== 2?5 qC2J56? $H2CE@FE[ E96 82>6 2=D@ 82G6 9:> 2 492?46 E@ 3@?5 H:E9 9:D 72E96C]k^Am
kAm“x 3@E96C >J 7C:6?5D 2== E96 E:>6[” 96 D2JD[ 42==:?8 E96 G:CEF2= H@C=5 9:D “#@>2? t>A:C6]” “%96J'C6 =:<6[ ‘sF56[ J@F’C6 ?@E 2 C62= 7@@E32== 4@249]' p?5 x'> =:<6['%9:D:D:>A@CE2?EE@>6[2==C:89En'”k^Am['%9:D:D:>A@CE2?EE@>6[2==C:89En'”k^Am[2==C:89En'”k^Am[‘%9:D:D:>A@CE2?EE@>6[2==C:89En’”k^Am
