Drew Wilborn Prosper

I think I should personally apologize for a couple of posts and not call this "realistic," at least insofar as it seems meant to be. Please remember that this is fantasy. Realistic is a much less flattering phrase – and I guess it helps when your team is winning!

I wrote my way through the first week of November – when UMass beats Nebraska and when Iowa State beats North Dakota. Wow, that was an amazing week. And before anyone can lay claim to the number of undefeated teams on a Saturday night, I knew that those particular teams would feel the presence of football within a week or so. I asked those of you who watch Thursday night football all the time how you found them. It's almost like you are looking for new music in the supermarket. If you have kids, chances are high that they are keeping score. They are playing Madden. You've seen those guys in their boxcaps and baseball mitts. They aren't making noise. Neither are they showing up on local TV. Unless you are a college graduate with four years of work experience in radio, you don't think about these things. Not here. And I'm guessing that you didn't know some of them. For myself, I was amazed at all those kids and their anticipation and excitement. They just played. I heard the announcers talk about how much they hated to settle in for another football game. They thought they had worn themselves out. And if they had a losing record, oh well, too bad too bad. This was the first one, right? Last Friday night, the Spartans held off Wisconsin 30-7. What else does this kid need? A letter from his mom? That thing in Florida? He probably has a pair of skinny jeans. At least he looks like that. And unlike most football players, he doesn't have to count on his teammates for a paycheck. This is what happens in real life. Everyone wants to be the quarterback. The player who makes the kick. That's everyone. Except this guy, of course. This guy doesn't care about getting paid. He's got his name written in the _Spartan Record_, and more than anything else, thinks he is the best thing that ever happened to a school. On his college recruitment, his father told recruits, "Talk to Coach Prosper. Don't ask me for $300." He ended up signing withUMass.