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[27/08/2021, Somewhere in the Air]
The chartered flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles had been smooth, but the tension amongst the Rainbow Warriors was palpable. The buzz of conversation rose and fell like the gentle swells of the Pacific, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in the air. It was August 27th, 2021, and the journey to the mainland had been rather smooth for the team. Since the climate wasn't all that different from their Island, the team was excited to start the year off right.
Head Coach Todd Graham paced up and down the aisle of the plane like a man rehearsing a sermon, his gruff voice occasionally barking out directives or simply engaging in conversation with his players. The past months of preparation boiled down to this moment of truth and he was excited to lead this team that he believed had a good chance to go far this year. As the plane hit the runway at LAX, the players craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the California skyline. Tomorrow was the opening match of the 2021 NCAA football season, and they were to face UCLA at the Rose Bowl.
Their opponents were a team undergoing a renaissance of sorts. The UCLA program had been rocked by the Watterman Sports Centre construction scandal, a filthy web of embezzlement and fraud that tore apart the athletic department's credibility. The fallout had been swift and merciless, dragging everyone from school officials to boosters into the harsh glare of the media. Their prestigious football program, once a powerhouse in the Pac-12, had been left shattered, vulnerable, and desperate for redemption.
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The bus ride from LAX to their hotel in Pasadena felt like a procession, as the players eagerly looked out of the window. Despite the climate being similar to home the atmosphere wasn't in the slightest bit similar. Hawai'i had more of a holiday feel just like Jamaica where you wouldn't see how the islanders lived past the glitz and glam of the visitors.
LA despite having some of the same elements, seemingly didn't have that filter of where you'd only see the good. They had spotted quite a few street performers along Santa Monica Boulevard along with the occasional beggars. Street activists also littered the Boulevard protesting over one thing or the other but what really caught the boy's attention were the hot girls walking about in bikinis.
"Yo Chev dem girls here be getting busy," Calvin one of the team's wide receivers commented from one of the seats in the bus leaning forward to poke his head over the seats in front.
Chevan already annoyed by his friend's antics all throughout the ride here quickly used his hand to push him back to his seat and responded. "Bro, don't you got a girl back at the island."
"Look I love Kaia and looking doesn't hurt right?" He responded with a cheeky smile as he pointed at a girl in a red bikini top and a colourful wrap skirt.
The girl had all the right assets and looked like a goddess straight out of the imagination of horny college boys. When she walked her hips swayed and the perky peaks bounced ever so slightly quickly mesmerising the boys. "That my friend is why most of you will die alone," Jacob a junior suddenly exclaimed with a haughty tone instantly setting off a bomb.
"Oi, what's that supposed to mean," One guy clearly hurt since he had been struggling to hold onto a girlfriend despite being an athlete exclaimed. Turns out that just because you play the most important sport in America doesn't make girls suddenly forget about looks. Sure, some would hit and even date for like a week or two, but it wouldn't go past that first period.
"I get gal easy you know," Another exclaimed as he proceeded to take off his shirt and flex his Greek god-like physique.
"You also get STDs easily you know," another quickly retorted causing another burst of laughter from the group.
"Ignore that boy he's been cuffed up since freshman year, in high school. He wouldn't know how to find it if you drew him a game plan." Another voice resounded in the now ruckus bus instantly igniting a wave of laughter and cheers. "Oh, and Zack you better get tested, I wouldn't be surprised if your one inch'er falls off one day."
"you boys are just jealous of my anaconda," he loudly retorted and looked like he was considering pulling his pants down to prove his valour.
"More like Ana-no-Conda stroke game weak do you want some juice afterwards looking ass boy," Another boy loudly exclaimed as the bus erupted in laughter once more, echoing through the aisles as Coach Graham finally turned around from the front seat, his signature glare cutting through the noise.
"Alright, settle down!" he barked, and the boisterous energy immediately dropped a few notches. "You boys keep your heads in the game, yeah? Plenty of time to flex your social skills after we put a hurt on UCLA tomorrow."
The boys exchanged glances, snickering but nodding in agreement. The hotel came into view as they made their way through Pasadena, the iconic Rose Bowl looming like a monument to football glory. A few of the who were playing here for the first time craned their necks to get a glimpse, already imagining themselves on that field, hearing the roar of the crowd as they broke through the line or made a game-saving tackle.
Coach Graham took a deep breath as they pulled up to the entrance, giving final remarks to the team. "Go get settled into your designated rooms. Remember why we're here, boys. We worked too damn hard all summer to let this slip through our fingers. UCLA's rebuilding — that means they're hungry, but it also means they're vulnerable. Don't let the stories fool you — they still got ballers, and they're gonna come out swinging. That means it's time to get serious and get the job done."
With that, the team poured out of the bus, grabbing their bags and filing into the hotel lobby. A few fans in Hawai'i gear gathered around, offering words of encouragement and asking for autographs. Unlike in high school when teams travelled fans actively travelled with their team to show support.
D1 Football had a special kind of pull to people living within the states, especially for those supporting college teams and professional teams. Thus, despite the school year not officially starting around 10,000 Hawaiians made the trip to the city of angles. Thus, the players made sure to thank and greet each fan they met in the lobby acting politer than church kids.
As they made their way to their rooms, Chevan pulled his playbook out, sprawled out on the bed, and started going over passing routes and coverage schemes. Calvin flipped through his own notes, half paying attention as Zack and a couple of the linemen started a Madden tournament in the adjoining room. They were addicted to the game to the point it became a compulsion for them to at least flex on their friends each day.
Coach Graham made his rounds, knocking on doors and reminding them about the curfew. He could hear the muted sounds of laughter and trash talk coming from the Madden tournament, but he let it slide — the boys needed to unwind before the pressure built back up tomorrow.
Later that night, after dinner and a brief team meeting, the players filed back to their rooms to settle in. Chevan lay on his bed, headphones on, zoning out to some reggae while strolling through social media. The hype for the game was already buzzing — ESPN analysts debated whether UCLAs rebuild would prove successful or if Hawai'i would take advantage of their vulnerabilities.
As midnight crept closer, the hotel quieted down. In the dim glow of his phone screen, Chevan caught a notification from his mom back on the island: "We're all proud of you, baby. Go out there and show them what Hawai'i's made of." He smiled, typing back a quick "Love you, Ma. Gonna give it my all. " Despite already being in his sophomore year his mother still made sure to text him or call before each game.
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To Be Continued...