Chapter 835: United and Strong
"He's a madman."
"You're just finding that out now? The first team has been saying it all along. He's a training freak. Other than J.J. Watt, he's the one. He's practically a superhuman."
"My God, I can't believe he still has the energy to practice throwing after a whole day of training."
"What I think is even more terrifying is that his passing accuracy is still so consistent after a whole day of fatigue. My God, I feel sorry for those cornerbacks and safeties."
"Hehe, here's the hottest news: This is just Bambi's training volume on a day off. If it's a regular training day, the amount and intensity of the training will be even higher."
"Oh, Jesus Christ!" "God!" "Unbelievable!" "You must be kidding!" "I think this is not normal!"...
Next to the practice field, the players from the second-team offense and defense gathered together, chattering and discussing. In their back-and-forth conversations, they unknowingly became closer. This kind of collective sense of a team's cohesion was not present during normal practice.
Today's practice was more focused and purer. It was completely centered around the playbook, which was undoubtedly a new experience. However, the physical and mental exhaustion was no less than that of a regular high-intensity practice.
As they were talking, Lu Ke had already finished all his training for the day. He slowed down and returned to where the players were gathered. He picked up his water bottle and took a big gulp, looking at his teammates. The air was still filled with a lingering sense of restlessness. The deliberate silence was too abrupt and hard to ignore.
"What, were you just talking bad about me?" Lu Ke then raised his water bottle and poured it over his head. It was early autumn, and with the heavy sweat, steam immediately rose from his hair. In the setting sun, it looked vibrant and energetic, as if he wasn't tired or exhausted at all.
Everyone looked at each other, and finally, Mario was the boldest and most direct. "They were just saying that today's practice was like a game, and you were the final boss. All of us united to fight the boss."
"Hey! Mario!"
"We didn't!"
The protests from all sides only highlighted their guilt. They all avoided looking Lu Ke in the eye, which made Lu Ke laugh heartily.
"Sorry, if this were a game, all of you would be terrible. My God, you probably wouldn't ever be able to beat it," Lu Ke didn't mind and joined in on the joke. "Wait, what kind of game are you talking about? A Nintendo game? Or some kind of specific strategy game? The final bosses in some games are too ugly, and it doesn't fit my image."
This... probably wasn't the main point, was it?
Everyone looked at each other again. Finally, Hampton couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing, and then everyone else followed suit.
Mario looked at Lu Ke with an eager expression. "Huh? You know about Nintendo? I thought only our generation knew about it."
"We're probably around the same age, right? I was born in '89, and I also played Nintendo when I was a kid." Lu Ke sat cross-legged next to Mario. The practice was over, and it seemed no one was in a hurry to leave. They just lay there, chatting.
Mario pointed to himself. "I was born in '86. My seventh birthday present was a Nintendo. My God, I lived in a very, very small county, and a Nintendo was a rare thing back then. All my friends were so jealous." As he spoke, Mario's face lit up.
"Me too. I still have a habit of collecting Nintendo game cartridges, but it's getting harder and harder now. I have to look for most of them on Japanese websites," Lu Ke said enthusiastically. Then he saw Mario's eyes light up. The passion from deep within his heart made Lu Ke slightly stunned, and then he also got excited.
"Wait, what are you guys talking about? Why did I hear 'Nintendo'?"
"Games? Are we still talking about games?"
Surprisingly, the topic of Nintendo resonated with all the players, not just with Lu Ke but also with each other.
Today was an extra practice, not an official team practice. Now they had a topic that belonged to them, and that kind of excitement and joy of a small group held the players together tightly. The atmosphere gradually started to relax, and the conversation became more and more imaginative. All kinds of topics led to more discussion.
"Bambi, is there really no shortcut to learning the playbook?" After getting a bit more comfortable, Hampton opened up and asked out of curiosity.
Jenkins, Mario, and the others sitting nearby all perked up their ears.
Lu Ke laughed. "I wouldn't use the word 'shortcut.' I'd rather say 'learning method.' Everything has a learning method. As long as you master the right one, things will become completely different."
"Learning method?" Mario was the first to complain. "Aha, I knew it. It must be that Ivy League stuff. What about us kids who aren't good at studying? In the NCAA, I had to work very, very hard to meet the grade requirements every semester."
The others nodded in agreement.
"No, no, no, that's a misunderstanding," Lu Ke waved his hands repeatedly. "People always have some biases, just like how outsiders have biases about football. Learning is the same. When you really understand it, it's not like that."
"Bullshit!" "Nonsense!" "Liar!"
Amid the boos, Lu Ke spread his hands. "So, do you still want my opinion?" Instantly, everyone shut up and looked at him with anticipation.
"First, you need to combine rote memorization with game footage to bring the rigid plays to life. Even if you can't find the right game footage, you can use tactical diagrams to visualize it, like a tactical map. Our memory needs a more vivid and relatable connection. Simply memorizing a bunch of numbers and codes is too much of a torture."
Seeing everyone's approving looks, Lu Ke's smile widened again.
"Second, you need to learn to help each other. You can organize your own tactical meetings, watch game footage, discuss specific plays, and then understand the playbook. If you have any problems or uncertainties, mark them down, and then you can ask the coaches or your teammates.
Of course, the offense's tactical meetings are also always open. Although we discuss similar content, the methods and angles are different. The reason I like tactical meetings is that I need different perspectives: from the wide receivers, the tight ends, the running backs, and even the defense."
Lu Ke said his thoughts step by step, and then Mario added, "Is that why you hold second-year tactical meetings at your house every week?"
"Yes. Besides that, we also have offensive line meetings. Now, all these meetings are open to rookies." Lu Ke spread his hands in a welcoming gesture.
Everyone looked at each other and exchanged glances. Finally, Bruce concluded, "So you're saying there are no shortcuts, and the only way is to spend a lot of time? Huh, why do I feel like you said nothing?"
Amid the laughter, Lu Ke shrugged nonchalantly. "That's what I think a good method is. Hard work always pays off. To refuse to put in the effort but want to stand at the peak, I think... maybe only Randy Moss can do that."
Just like that, Lu Ke roasted Moss, and everyone burst into laughter.
As the conversation went on, the second-team players gradually realized that Lu Ke had come here specifically to practice with them. For a starting quarterback, this was an extra practice outside of his regular training. But Lu Ke still came to help, because the team needed them to step up, and the team needed them to work harder.
In addition to being moved, they also realized that if they wanted to earn a spot on the team, they not only had to work harder but also had to unite. Staying in place and feeling sorry for themselves would never get them anywhere.
The second-team offense immediately invited each other to form a temporary tactical meeting group, hoping that they could work together to improve.
Only time would tell how effective this group would be.
A good leader is not only able to bring direct results with their own ability but also able to subtly influence their team through their actions, slowly moving them in the right direction. After a long and difficult journey, they finally reach the finish line of victory.
"Guys, let's go to a bar and relax tonight. After a whole day of such hard practice, we have to relax. What do you say, anyone want to join me?" Mario raised his right hand high, setting an example and making a call to action.
But no one responded.
To be more precise, everyone didn't even realize it themselves. Their first reaction was to look at Lu Ke. Maybe it was out of politeness, maybe it was out of respect, but for whatever reason, their eyes all landed on Lu Ke.
Mario was the same. When Lu Ke didn't answer immediately, he couldn't wait to complain, "Wait a minute, you're not one of those athletes who don't even drink beer or wine and live a life like serving God, are you? But the problem is, even the Pope is allowed to drink!"
Lu Ke raised his right fist and said, "Let's challenge it tonight. What do you say? Do you accept the challenge?"
Mario looked back at his teammates. "Ho ho ho, Bambi has issued a challenge." Then he did a Popeye pose. "Of course, I accept the challenge!"
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