(September 2nd, 2021)

Jayson: So I tell them, "Listen here my goofy opp, one of two things is going to happen- You might, MIGHT lock me up and that's only if I have a bad break on this route. But what's really gonna happen is that I'm gonna use my God-given speed, take you to Cinna-Burn Island. Six plus one on your head" Turns out that would be a backbreaking score that helped us win that state title.

Olivia: Interesting. Is that what put you on this path though?

Jayson: With football or something else?

Gymnast Olivia Dunne walks out of the classroom with Jayson Butler who had been waiting a fair seven minutes for her class to end. They interlaced their hands, walking out of the complex where both of their latest lectures had recently concluded. Things between these two student athletes had been progressing well and after awhile a casual relationship had sprung up between the two. They weren't exactly ready to label each with exclusivity and the territory of boyfriend and girlfriend. Olivia and Jayson just enjoyed spending time together when they both didn't have practice or classes taking up their schedules.

Olivia: I guess both while we're on the topic.

Jayson: Well I already told you about how and why I came to Michigan due to my dad being a former student and all. As for football, I have my brother to thank for it, I kinda always grew up idolizing him since he's older and my only brother. I realize that it sounds cheesy.

Olivia: No it's actually kind of adorable. Brothers trying to outdo one another? It's a classic tale, Chase had that history making season not even a full season ago and he's being looked at as a new face of the league. Big time pressure, I don't envy it.

Jayson: Yeah, but if anyone can handle it. So, how did it feel being a National Champion, are you ready to defend the crown?

They enter a quaint little restaurant in the South Quad and grab something to eat before the wide reciever is due for a film study and half-pads practice before the first game of the year against the lowly Western Michigan Broncos of Mid-American Conference or MAC for short. Olivia, just as mentioned as part of the gymnastics had won a national championship at the lesser known but criminally underrated Four on the Floor Gymnastics and National Championship.

Olivia: Honestly I haven't given it much thought. I look and see that championship ring and all I see is how I can possibly earn a second one. What about you, I know you were angry with how you never got a crack at what do we call them?

Jayson twirls his food as he burns with an unreadable hunger but more at her question rather than the delicious spread in front of him.

Jayson: You're right. I was in a dark place after they shut the season down. Ironically enough, I was one the lucky few on the team that didn't get sick. But while we're confined to stew in our own failures and illness, That Damn Team Down South was able to get into the Playoff. I mean, hey at least they got their fucking bells rung by Alabama. For us, this a clean break Liv. These seniors need to go out with a bang, beating those wussy ass Buckeyes is the least we underclassemen can do for them.

Olivia puts her hand on top of his.

Olivia: Just don't put too much on yourself, alright? Just go out there and have fun. You're only a college student for so long. Goodness, I sound like my mom.

Jayson: You know, you know so much about my family but I rarely hear you talk about yours. What are Momma and Pop Dunne like?

Olivia: Oh boy, do I have a lot of stories to tell you. Let's start with my sister Julz-

(September 4th, 2021. 9:45 A.M.)

Tailgates were popping up all around Ann Arbor, didn't matter if it was on campus or not. The Michigan Marching Band was performing down Hoover Avenue and were on their on way to South Main Street just as buses began to release all the players from their confines. They were dressed all in their program issued suits, some wearing earbuds or headphones as they were greeted by the Wolverine fans and hopefuls, eager to get the taste of last year's bitter and underwhelming season erased from their brains. Jayson enters behind Hassan Haskins as he bumps several little boys and girls fists all the while listening Polo G's Chosen 1 as they players entered the locker room with his brothers in arms. In the meanwhile Chase, Alexis, their now one year old daughter Arabella wearing a Wolverine Maize onesie with a block number 85. Bella had her dad's eyes and her mother's free flowing hair with a light skinned complexion. The couple had been walking through a tailgate, enjoying the atmosphere as they waited for kickoff and the football duo's mom, Aaliyah to get some cotton candy for her grandbaby.

(10:30 A.M.)

Chase: I'm not going to lie, it's weird somewhat. Being a dad at twenty-two and seeing your baby brother playing in front of the fans. It's like....

Alexis: It's happening too soon, right.

Chase: Yeah, don't get me wrong. I'm happy where I am Lex, got an adorable daughter, I'm a world champion. But it feels like Jay's growing up in front of me, way too fast.

Alexis: You're sure he's just not a constant reminder that we're all getting old as shit?

Chase: Hah, that too. I know it won't be long before he decides he wants to go pro or not. But I want him to enjoy college life too, it's something I really didn't get to do as much since I had to essentially fight and claw to establish a legend.

Bella: Uncra, uncra!

Alexis: You see Uncle Jay somewhere, sweet girl? Where is he?

Bella: Up! Up!

Chase doesn't at first understand what his daughter is saying but smiles when she alludes to seeing her uncle on one of the screens in a bar as he goes through warmups having switched from suit to practice gear while his actual gear awaited him in the locker room.

Chase: I see! Is that your big, bad Uncle Jay?

He tickles her relentlessly, earning giggles aplenty as a voice rang throughout the town blocks.

Voice: ATTENTION, ALL WOLVERINE FAITHFUL! THE BIG HOUSE, IS NOW OPEN! Please enter Michigan Stadium in a calm and orderly manner and remember. Hail to The Victors!

Aaliyah: Alright, sorry you guys! I had to travel like two blocks just to find a concession stand- is she okay?

Alexis: I'm fine.... I just have to contain my Ohioan. All for Jay, right? I may have graduated from Akron but it's one of those Columbus native things. Thank you, Aaliyah.

Aaliyah: My pleasure, sweetheart. Are you having fun, Bella?

Bella: Mhm! Thwank you, mee-maw!

Chase: Alright, daughter fed. Mom is back and girlfriend is fighting her inner demon... let's go watch our guy play, yeah.

(Gotta split here to update Jayson's gear selection for the season. Colors will change depending whether he's playing on the road or in the Big House)

Riddell Speedflex: (Stickers will come often after victories, special occasions the sort of thing)

(Nike Pro Strong Leg Sleeves)

(Nike Pro Combat Dri-FIT
Football Playcoach)

Jordan Football Arm Sleeves (Will usually wear one; Dependent on the Weather.)

Nike Handwarmer (Dependent on Weather)

Jordan Football Gloves (Often changes the colors. For example, one glove will be Maize colored and the other is going to be blue.)

Nike Headband/Cooling Tie

Nike Men's Pro Hyperstrong Football Shorts

(And now back to your regularly scheduling programming.)

There was about ten minutes left on the clock as the Wolverines players had now been in the process putting their pads and protective gear on, Jayson who had actually in the recent gotten some tattoos decided to hide them for now. Of course after getting the OK from his mom he underwent nearly seven hours of excruiating pain under the ink needle. This is a few months back but he looked at the designs as the Jordan sleeves now covered a majority of his arms as he then proceeded in grabbing his wrist coach. Next would come his protective compression shorts followed by leg sleeves, socks, cleats and finally his headband and Speedflex helmet. After a stirring speech to kick his players in the ass-

Jim Harbaugh: With that being said, LET'S GO! SEASON STARTS NOW!

Everyone roared, snapping their helmets and exiting the locker room. Helmets were being slapped as the Wolverines filed out of the famed yet claustorphobic tunnel with the first thing registering in the minds being either the Michigan Marching Band playing the world-famous Fight Song, the overbearing James Earl Jones.... yes that's James Earl Jones delivering a riveting and bone-chilling hype video.

The players enter to a raucous and thunderous Michigan Stadium as the band hits its apex....

PA Announcer: AND NOW WOLVERINES AROUND THE WORLD, HERE COME THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES!

Jayson and his teammates escape the tunnel, in between the cascades of the bands, cheerleaders and dance team as they touch "M Go Blue" Banner, seldom fireworks firing out over Michigan Stadium. As the pageantry finally died, captains for both sides traversed the midfield for the coin toss. After being told the Broncos had deffered to the second half, no doubt the nerves of playing in the Big House getting to them, Jayson made it to the endzone, many of his fellow students going crazy seeing the 85 adorned. He smirked, paying honor to them and getting them ever so berserk.

PA Announcer: Western Michigan's Nick Mihalic set to kick the ball for the Broncos. Jayson Butler is set to return the kickoff for Michigan.

The crowd gets even loud, salivating at the opening kickoff which is boomed but not enough for Jayson to actually field it which he does, as he then gets tackled after placing the ball at the 28-yard line. It was then his offensive teammates got on the field and with Cade McNamara leading the charge it was go time. After receiving a set play, he lines up to the far left looking at the ref who let him know he was on the line properly, the long time QB calls out his cadeances, snapping the ball and handing it over to Blake who rushes up the gut of the Western Michigan d-line for a decent little five-yard gain, scampering out to the thirty-three. The offense looks over to sideline, the coaches doing their physical signals to let them what the next play. Jayson opens his wrist coach to get in tune with his receivers and head coach as he slips his mouth guard back in. And right out of the gate, Cade found his guy for an 11-yard gain. After some interchanging of the key personnel and a couple of big handoffs to Hassan Haskins, another a pass went to Jayson who had now been in the slot running a corner route which was helped by him lulling his defender to sleep as after getting through the secondary Jayson ripped off a massive 27-yard gain off the tight spiral before he was dropped from behind, still receiving a thunderous ovation.

Aaliyah: GO SON!

Chase: LET THEM HAVE IT LIL BRO BRO!

Jayson would proceed to get and do a dance, signaling the referees and chain-gang to move the chains. After a couple of time-churning runs by the duo of his roommate and Haskins, the Wolverines were already in the redzone.

Cade: On the ball, we've got Split Backfield with Jay and Blake, Jay you run the wheel route and I'll fake handoff to Blake and fake zone read. On two, on two.

BREAK!

Michigan Play by Play: Unique set up by the Wolverines with Corum and Butler spearheading the backfield with McNamara. Here's the snap, fake handoff to Corum and Cade will step back to pass!

Jayson in the meanwhile breaks out the play hitting the exact route ordered to him by his coaches and relayed by his field general as he threw a high arcing ball where only the receiver could make the play.

Michigan Play by Play: And it is.... CAUGHT BY BUTLER IN THE BACK OF THE ENDZONE AS HE BEATS THE DEFENDER TOUCHDOWN MICHIGAN!

The band began playing the school's fight song as he jumps into the student section with some teammates to celebrate the squad's season opening touchdown and amidst the crowd he sees a familiar but comforting.

Jayson: Hey there, fancy seeing you here.

Olivia along with Elena and some of their common friends who slap his helmet and shoulder-pads as pom poms flew around. The gymnast smiles as he gets down off of the barrier.

Olivia: As if I'd missed the first game of the year. Nice catch.

Jayson: Trust me you haven't seen anything Livvy. We're just getting started, catch you later.

He then gets off there, as the special teams gets set up for the extra point while he receives fist bumps and a Gatorade for his troubles as the scoreboard lights up to 7-0 in favor of the home team. After a quick three and out, the Michigan offense returned from the sidelines after about a six and a half minute break after the Broncos' punted the ball away, another quick touchdown was produced as after a couple of jailbreak screens, Blake himself popped off a 14-yard touchdown, making 14-0. It all seemed like a blur to the quote on quote Texas Tornado but eventually the third quarter rolled around after another six receptions, he had already surpassed the one hundred yard mark with another touchdown as the scored blossomed to an opponent deflating 40-14 in favor of the homestanding winningest program in college football history. By this time, most of the starters had been pulled, Jayson included as the reserves got their rightful shine. J.J. McCarthy, one of the best freshman from the last recruiting cycle threw a bomb to pretty much end the scoring as Jayson did one of the most famous sideline antics of all-time. He grabs the skybox phone looking at the camera directly.

Jayson: LOOK YA'LL I'M CALLING THE PRESIDENT! Mr. President, listen, listen, listen! We need the National Guard, we need the Army, we need the Navy Seals! SPARE AS MANY MEN AND WOMEN AS YOU CAN BECAUSE WE ARE KILLING THE BRONCOS! Call your dogs and send the armed forces at once! They coming my people! AHAHAHAHAHAHA, NOW PLAY THAT GOOD SHIT!

Cade: No, no call Batman!

Jayson: No, see we callin' the National Guard! TEN MINUTES, OPP PACK IN THE AIR! OH SHIT, THEY CALLING BACK! LIKE I SAID, PLAY MY SHIT RAHHHH!

END OF CHAPTER X/TEN... I actually meant to release this Friday but was shellacked with babysitting duty.

Stats:

Receptions/Targets: 8 REC/12 TGTS

Receiving Yards: 114 YDS.

Touchdowns: 2 TDS.

Rushing Attempts: 2 Rushes

Rushing Yard: 17 YDS.

Touchdowns: 0 TDS