Estelle discreetly avoided Richie since their study hall encounter. In their shared English and Calculus classes, she normally sat next to Richie. Entering both classes late, she seated herself at the back of the class. At lunch, Estelle was noticeably absent. In the afternoon, Richie was called out of one of his core classes by the assistant principal to meet the head basketball coach from a prestigious East Coast college. Richie, by now, was on the college coaches' radar for both football and basketball, and to date, he had received over thirty inquiries. Fueling his recruitment in the two major college sports was his athletic skill set and GPA. As a sophomore, he had first attracted the attention of college football recruiters as a big-armed quarterback with speed who directed one of the few undefeated teams in the football-rich state of Pennsylvania. The consensus of those in the football know was that he would only get bigger and better over time. He was a blue-chip recruit in the making. Then, as fall turned to winter, college basketball recruiters saw the same athlete from a basketball perspective. A smart, unselfish point guard with height, who could shoot, pass, and play defense, subjugating his abilities to the all-important team concept while leading his undefeated basketball team towards the state tourney. Now a Junior, he was recognized as a five-star recruit, who was coachable, and could play both football and basketball in major Division One conferences.
During Richie’s sophomore year, he or his parents hadn’t set up any formal ground rules for his college athletic recruitment. Evident now since the start of his junior year to Richie, his parents and Coach Allen, who the family trusted, these athletic scholarship offers and requests for meetings would grow in intensity during the remainder of his high school career; Therefore it would be mandatory to establish recruitment rules and procedures to insure the recruitment process didn’t overwhelm the dual purpose athlete.
Rapidly walking down the school’s hallway to an unscheduled recruitment meeting, Richie reflected on the downside of being recruited by big time sports institutions. He knew he would eventually have to choose between football and basketball, because the coaches who divvied up the full-ride scholarships demanded absolute commitment to their sport. Waiting in one of the school’s administrative offices was Dave Hansen, the assistant principle. A former reserve college basketball player under Greg Collins, today’s recruiter, Hansen was a gangly six feet five inches tall and had a short torso on top of long legs. He looked a little like a grasshopper, which was why he was called ‘Hopper’ behind his back. As the assistant principal, he was also the high school disciplinarian. His round head perched on top of a long neck housed a closely cropped crew cut, which looked remarkably similar to the one on the visiting recruiter.
Coach Collins was a respected head coach of a perennial top-ranked college basketball program playing in a major Southeastern Conference. Richie's height, Collins was trim, fit, and powerfully built. Unlike Dave Hansen, who wore a sports coat and tie, he was casually dressed, sporting a red and white basketball warm-up jacket over a white golf shirt, grey slacks, and black Converse low-top sneakers. But what drew you to the man was his remarkable features, which included a square jaw that jutted out and high cheekbones that seemed to be chiseled into his face, and inquisitive baby blue eyes. He gave the appearance and had the reputation of being a no-nonsense head coach. Richie guessed he was in his late forties, and according to Hansen, he only recruited elite athletes for his basketball program. His presence at the school was confirmation of Richie’s basketball talent. A reserve on Coach Collins' national championship teams, he and Hansen had remained friends over the years, and it was Hansen who had touted Richie to Collins as both a basketball player and a true student athlete.
While surreptitiously keeping an eye on the wall clock behind Hansen’s desk, Richie sat down politely listening to Coach Collins' recruiting pitch, having previously heard other dual football and basketball college recruitment presentations. When the opportunity finally presented itself, Richie spoke up, “Coach, I have a question?”
Coach Collins, anticipating Richie’s query, having heard it from a majority of the recruits he was pursuing, answered exuberantly, “The current gymnasium seats 6,000, but by the time you are a sophomore and are eligible to play, the new field house will have been built. It will seat 14,000 with 7,000 seats designated for students. Collins glanced at Hansen, who was beaming.
“That’s great, Coach.” Then quite out of character for the old Richie, but not the new one, Richie continued, not mincing words, “How many negroes are on your current team?”
Without hesitating, Coach Collins said, “None.”
Richie, unwavering, asked his next question, “How many negroes are there on your freshman team?”
Coach Collins, this time, slowed down his response, realizing he was standing in racial quicksand before answering,” None.”
Richie, taking a deep breath, confidently asked the next and most telling question. “I know you’re in the midst of recruiting next year’s freshmen class?” How many Negroes have committed to play for you?
Coach Collins first looked towards Hansen, whose eyes were downcast, then back at Richie before answering forthrightly, “None.”
“I see.” Then, looking directly at the big-time college basketball coach, while ignoring the assistant principal whose demeanor had gone from enthusiastic former player to concerned alumni, Richie took in the measure of Collins. Slowly, Richie’s facial expression changed from tense to relaxed as he delivered an " I’ll never play for you smile before saying,” Well, Coach, I want my teammates defined by their contribution to the game and not by the color of their skin.”
Expecting a response and realizing none was forthcoming, Richie suddenly stood up and announced, “I just forgot, I’m supposed to meet Coach Allen before my next class. Not sure what it’s about, but I got the message while I was in Spanish.” Looking first at the assistant principal, Mr. Hansen, who was uncharacteristically subdued before turning towards Coach Collins and locking eyes with the legendary coach, “Nice meeting you, Coach, hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to play against you some day.” And with that, Richie bolted for the door.
Fortunately, the assistant principal’s office was in close proximity to Estelle’s locker. Richie, moving swiftly, arrived just before the bell rang signaling the end of classes and French class for Estelle. She spotted Richie chatting with some classmates as she approached her locker. She was more confused than angry at Richie and had chosen to limit her contact with him until she could sort things out. But seeing him standing there, the first love of her life, with that relaxed smile on his face, made her realize how much she missed him, and she hoped that his physical presence in front of her locker was confirmation of his missing her.
Richie was the first to speak, jokingly asking. ‘You on a hunger strike or have you tired of your lunch mates?”
“Coyly, Estelle responded, not all of them, just one.
“I see. I’m guessing the same one who pretended to be reading his English assignment in study hall the other day while you were trying to engage him in a serious discussion. That one?”
I believe you’re correct, Sherlock. How should I say it in French, oh, Éviter l'évidente, the meaning being, he was avoiding the obvious, our relationship.
Richie immediately countered in Spanish, “Mucho miedo lidiar con eso. Then, putting his large hands out to his sides, palms up, he translated, “Too afraid to deal with it.”
Opening the combination on her locker, Estelle took her time before responding. “Do you ever think he’ll find the courage?”
Richie closed her locker and came up very close to her, then looked Estelle straight in the eye. “I think he found it.”
Not another word was said as they headed toward the study hall. It was there that Richie told Estelle about the planned ‘switcheroo’ deception.