"Don't tell me," his mother suddenly interrupted, catching Wyatt off guard by that, knowing how curious his mother can be at times. "I want to know it along with the rest of the people this afternoon," she added with an excited smile while Wyatt made a face remembering the event that will occur this afternoon at the high school.
Wyatt had skipped the early signing period without signing any letter of acceptance with any university, causing bewilderment and expectation about which university would be the one to take the best prospect of this football class.
Seeing the traffic that this news generated, ESPN did not miss the opportunity and they got in contact with him and Katy High School to be able to do a special broadcast which would be transmitted at a national level covering what would be the most anticipated decision of this year.
"The truth is that I didn't think a simple decision would escalate to this," Wyatt said, expressing the doubt he had about that, knowing that the decision he chose would define the future of his career as a professional.
Seeing the doubts his son had in that moment, a maternal smile appeared on the face of Wyatt's mother; although the whole world saw her son as the best quarterback of his generation and the best prospect in general, she only saw the little boy who could not live without a football between his hands and watching NFL games on Sundays.
Once she was close enough, she planted a kiss on her son's forehead while she had a look of love in her eyes. "Whatever you choose, you know that your father and I will be there for you," were the next words she said.
Those simple words somehow made all the tension in Wyatt's shoulders disappear while a smile appeared on his face, knowing that no matter what he chooses, his parents would be there to support him.
"Woof," a bark was heard under the table, calling the attention of both people in the kitchen.
"And of course Max as well," said Wyatt's mother now, getting slightly on her haunches and scratching the head of the canine who moved his tail like a happy metronome for the attention he was receiving.
"It seems someone is more spoiled than me," Wyatt said, seeing the canine who had monopolized his mother's attention in that moment.
Max, at barely 2 years old, was a very intelligent and energetic dog who could not be still for a second without calling the attention of the first person in the room.
"It seems someone is restless," Wyatt said, effusively scratching Max's head while he headed straight toward the door, not without first grabbing the frisbee that was on a small table next to it.
As soon as Max's eyes fixed on the circular-shaped object that Wyatt was holding, he immediately ran toward him and began to spin around him, demonstrating the joy he felt in those moments.
"Ok, ok boy, let's go," Wyatt said, laughing toward his faithful friend while he opened the door and Max went out like a kite without a string in direction toward the field outside the house.
"Woof Woof," Max barked in direction toward Wyatt upon seeing how he did not move in the slightest.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Wyatt said, going outside and forgetting for a moment everything that revolved in his mind in those moments. Now he was not Wyatt Sterling, the star high school quarterback that many universities sought to obtain; he was just a boy who enjoyed a quiet morning playing with his four-legged friend, but the tranquility he was feeling in those moments was not the same as what was being lived in rooms full of men with tablets and analyzing graphs.
Clemson, South Carolina
In a room full of chalkboards and football tactics, several men were found discussing tactics and lineups along with brewed coffee that was already cold and a pizza box at the back of the room; an important discussion was being generated.
"I'm telling you the formation is wrong," grunted one of the offensive coordinators in direction toward his partner who insisted on using the shotgun formation. "It's a mistake, an I-formation suits us better," he replied with frustration on the surface.
"And I'm telling you that with the I-formation we waste Watkins," argued the other coordinator, being just as angry as his partner.
"He just came out of an injury, we can't expect him to perform well and much less risk ourselves in the Chick-fil-A Bowl," was the quick response from his partner.
Upon not reaching an agreement, both their gazes landed on the person who was sitting at the head of the table, who watched that with an imperturbable look as if he were accustomed to seeing this class of scenes daily.
"Gentlemen, do not forget who the head coach is," said the voice in question, causing both coordinators to shut up and pay attention to the person in question.
The person in question had an imposing presence with a round face and perfectly combed hair, wrapped in a gray suit with a Clemson pin and an orange tie; his presence in that room instilled respect toward all his coaching staff.
It was Dabo Swinney, who has been in the position for 4 years in which he managed to win the ACC championship last season along with 2 division titles (2009, 2011) and a record of 40 wins and 21 losses; he had converted Clemson into a total power that had nothing to fear from the SEC teams, especially against the Crimson Tide of Nick Saban.
"Listen, in the LSU game we cannot be overconfident about anything; they have a record almost as good as ours at this moment," Dabo said while he pointed to a chalkboard on which one could see the data and information they had of the Louisiana team, with their 10-3 record in the center of everything.
Despite that, Coach Dabo had confidence that his team could win the game without any problem, but even so, he asked a decisive question toward his defensive coordinator. "Marion, how are the boys doing?" Dabo interrogated in direction toward an African-American man with slight overweight sitting at the corner of the table.
"All good, they already know what to do against Beckham Jr.," Marion added with a smile, letting Dabo know that he had everything covered on that side.
"In any case, we have to keep him watched; his threat can be greater than Landry's if we leave him without good marking," Dabo reiterated toward Marion, who simply nodded, planning to have another video session with his cornerbacks and the rest of the defensive team after this meeting.
After that, Dabo simply nodded toward everyone while he decided to change to a more important topic that would decide the future of the team and the direction in which the team would go.
Pressing a button, the image on the room's projector changed to show the list of LSU players and moved to show a young brunette with a firm gaze and at the side his name and other physical data and statistics of the season.
"I imagine I don't need to explain who he is, right?" Dabo said with a smile, seeing how the room fell into a silence and murmurs began to be heard.
"In a few hours we will know his decision," added the person sitting next to Dabo, who was Chad Morris, Dabo's right hand and the quarterbacks coach.
"I know, and I know we are not the only ones waiting for the broadcast," Dabo followed, changing the tab to show the logos of the other 4 schools to which Wyatt had made official visits.
University of Alabama (SEC)
University of Georgia (SEC)
Stanford (PAC-12)
University of Texas (BIG-12)
Clemson University (ACC)
"Let's discard Texas; Brown retires next season," Dabo added quickly, eliminating Texas from the equation. "That leaves us with Alabama, Georgia, and Stanford," he said afterward, rubbing his chin and thinking.
In theory, eliminating the Longhorns from the equation, the probabilities of Wyatt choosing the Tigers increase, but they do so equally for the others, having only a 25% probability that he would choose them, but also the possibilities that he chooses another program after all; 2 of his 5 visits were to SEC teams, something that clearly indicated Wyatt's preference for going there.
"Chad, you were the one who had the most contact with him; how did you see him?" Dabo asked his friend, wanting to know what he thought and the real possibilities they had to take the best recruit of this year.
"We had a long conversation," Chad shared about the meeting he had with Wyatt when he came to see the facilities and the university campus. "He seemed very interested in the facilities and in the team's performance," Chad shared, without holding back anything of what he had talked about with Wyatt that weekend.
"Besides, since he will graduate this December, he will arrive at the team he chooses in an early manner, preparing with more time than other prospects of his class," Chad said, sharing a key detail since the early entry had great advantages for a player and more for one who plays Quarterback.
In a position in which one must memorize an extensive playbook, form chemistry with teammates, and take decisions in seconds, having more time allows him a better adaptation and conditioning in comparison to those who enter in August.
"We will discover that in a few hours," was the last thing Dabo said, returning to concentrate on the Bowl game they had coming up against LSU in Atlanta, although without being able to stop thinking entirely about the Quarterback who had almost the whole country waiting for his decision.
The same conversation that the Clemson staff had had, the other 4 universities had had with their coaches, hoping to be able to know in a few hours if they would have the best Quarterback of this class for the next 3 years or if they should start thinking about who else to recruit.
A few hours later
This time we return to Texas, in a truck in which 3 people were sitting who did not talk in the slightest but in a comfortable silence, with background music being the only sound.
"We are about to arrive," said the man at the wheel with his gaze fixed ahead on the building they were heading toward.
Once they arrived at the doors of Katy High School, Wyatt got out through the passenger door dressed in a black suit for the occasion, being quickly surrounded by the students who had come to see the event.
"Luck, Wyatt!" shouted one of the people closest to him.
"Please choose Texas!" shouted another, wanting to continue seeing Wyatt's performances.
"Alabama awaits you!" shouted another person who was clearly a fan of the Crimson Tide.
Under the shouts of the crowd, Wyatt and his family entered the gymnasium where the ESPN team had already placed a table in the center with several cameras pointing and 5 caps neatly placed in order on the table.
"Ready, kid?" said a voice behind the Sterling family, belonging to a small man with glasses and a distinctive bald head.
"Always, Principal," Wyatt said in direction toward the principal, who simply laughed under his breath. "After this will come the delivery of your diploma; I hope you are also ready for that?" he asked, this time more serious.
"I am always ready," Wyatt responded seriously toward the principal.
"I always liked your direct character, Wyatt; never let that change," was the last thing the principal said while he took a step to the side and let the production team proceed to do their work, lightly applying makeup to Wyatt and placing a microphone over the suit.
After that, the person in charge of the broadcast approached to give him some guidelines along with the journalist in charge minutes before being live.
"And on air in 3, 2, 1," the person in charge said, then raised his thumb and the camera light turned on and they were live.
"Good afternoon everyone," the reporter began with a professional tone in direction toward the camera. "Today we are at Katy High School in Texas and next to me is the current number 1 prospect and the one who will make an important decision today, Wyatt Sterling," the presenter finished saying, pointing toward the young man sitting at her side, provoking cheers from the people present in the gymnasium.
"Tell me Wyatt, have you already made a decision?" the journalist inquired with a smile in direction toward Wyatt, who had a nervous smile in that moment.
Breathing deep to calm the nerves, Wyatt began to speak. "The truth is that yes, I have been thinking about it for a long time and I think I already made a decision." Immediately after, Wyatt swept his gaze over the 5 caps that were lined up on the table and without any hesitation he grabbed one.
The chosen cap was an orange one with a tiger's paw as a logo, and in the moment Wyatt put the cap on his head, the chaos began.
Authors thought's
What did you think of today's chapter? Give me your opinions and thoughts.
Also, which team do you think Wyatt will go to?
Don't forget to subscribe to my Patreon to get more than 10 chapters in advance! https://www.patreon.com/c/merchant17
For everyone subscribing to my Patreon: if you're using an iPhone, avoid doing it through the app! Apple charges a commission, and you'll end up paying more. It's better to subscribe through the website instead.