The Express Page #3

raise everybody's game.

He'll probably be the best...

running back they

face all year.

I got you.

Third, that's just

the way I want it done.

Jack Buckley, right tackle,

sophomore. Call me JB.

I was a defensive end

in high school. Philly.

But I think they're

gonna move me to tackle.

What we up to?

Three miles?

Don't know.

Never count.

You hear a train?

Why?

Is it making you nervous?

No, I'm not nervous.

Can we get off these tracks?

Yeah, I'm sorry.

I'm just used to it.

And when you use your meal...

voucher in the

student union...

Right.

...stay away from

the meatloaf.

What else?

- Girls.

You'll find a Negro polar bear

before you find a Negro coed.

Good morning, sir.

Beautiful day, isn't it?

I swear, sometimes you feel

like you're on the moon here.

Yes, yes,

that's her sister.

Sarette, what did Petey

say about that broad?

Yeah, it's her little sister.

I don't know about

our team yet,

but theirs is in

mid-season form.

At least her sister is.

Coach wanted to see me?

He's in his office.

Knock.

You wanted to see me, Coach?

Mmm-hmm.

Davis, my system is simple.

Conditioning,

teamwork.

And on my team, I expect every

player to know his job.

Know his place on the field.

Quarterback, running

back, lineman.

That way, nobody

steps on anybody's toes.

Same holds true

off the field.

I'm not sure how

you mean, Coach.

Well...

There are some lines that some...

people don't care

to see crossed,

just like there are some toes

that shouldn't be stepped on.

And I expect my players

not to cross those lines.

Now, you must have a

girlfriend back home, right?

Good-looking fellow like you.

You might want to

keep in touch with her.

You're a smart kid, Davis.

I don't have to spell

it out for you, do I?

Anything else, Coach?

No.

May I go now?

Yes.

We call that,

'The white girl speech,'

and don't worry,

we all get it.

That's funny. I don't

remember seeing...

that in the campus

brochure, JB.

Avatus Stone.

Avatus what?

Avatus Stone.

Quarterback. Negro.

First one Schwartzwalder

recruited here.

What happened to him?

He got run off.

What do you mean,

'Run off?'

One night, just

disappeared. Gone.

And then Jimmy

Brown shows up,

and all Jim hears is,

'Don't be like Avatus Stone.

'Whatever you do, don't

be like Avatus Stone.'

Wait. But what did he do?

Did he kill somebody?

Worse. He dated a white girl.

Majorette, blonde.

Schwartzwalder wouldn't

even give Jim...

a scholarship until

sophomore year.

Made him prove himself.

Yeah.

Just goes to show, Coach likes...

winning more than he

dislikes Negroes.

A little.

See you at the room.

Hey.

Excuse me,

Hound Dog.

Would you look at that, boys?

If it isn't enough they let a...

freshman dress in

the varsity locker,

now they went and anointed him...

the second coming

of Jim Brown.

What's your problem, Lundy?

My problem is I was

raised to believe...

you should have

to earn things.

That's not all you were

raised to believe, now was it?

You got a big mouth, JB.

Yeah, I do.

How about the next play, Ben?

This'll be strong load

right, 42 shovel pass.

We can use this third short.

Strong load right.

- Right, 42 shovel pass.

What you got there, Davis?

It's this jersey, Coach.

What, something

wrong with it?

Yeah, I...

What is it?

Too big? Too tight, what?

Oh, no. Not at

all. It's just...

Then what is it?

Somebody made a mistake.

They gave me

the wrong number.

Mr. Davis, I put that

jersey in your locker.

Are you accusing me

of making a mistake?

No, sir.

- Well then, what?

Coach, I'm...

I'm not Jim Brown.

God, I hope not.

And, God, I hope so.

That is your number.

The day you're not up to it,

I'll take it away as

quick as a hiccup.

Now, get out of here.

Tight right, 34 right dig.

On one. On one. Ready.

Break.

Offense, I want to see

you fire off the ball.

Fire off the ball.

Red?

- Sir.

Are you in or out there?

Strong left,

strong left.

Strong left. Why don't you

watch the sweep, right there?

Sir.

- Ready?

On one.

God damn it.

Lundy, you got

yourself planted.

Get off your heels

and get after it.

That was embarrassing.

Davis looks good.

Looks good, Ben.

Five, three,

cover two. Ready?

Break.

Double tight, double tight.

Watch the sweep left.

Watch the sweep.

That was a cheap shot.

Oh, he's gonna get a lot worse...

than that before

he's done here.

You've got something

to say, 44?

You all right?

- Yeah.

You can't let him treat you

like that and not say nothing.

That's all right. I do

my talking on the field.

Hey, hey. Come on.

Hey, come on.

All right, all right, all

right, all right, all right.

Don't ever make me

look bad again.

Back to the huddle, Lundy.

You got away with a lot

back in high school...

'cause you were bigger

than everybody else.

Those days are done.

You got it?

- Got it, Coach.

Good block.

Now listen up.

If you practice half-assed,

you will play half-assed.

Now, we have Boston

College in two weeks...

and I would like not to get

blown out in our own stadium.

Now play football.

Let's go. Good work.

Surprise, surprise.

Will you look at this?

They're saying Pete Dawkins...

is gonna take

home the Heisman.

Well, he rushed for over

has almost as many

receiving yards, JB.

He's gotta be real good.

Yeah, well, he's

definitely real white.

This thing's

like a love letter.

JB, look.

What?

Hey.

Negro polar bears.

Who knew they

traveled in pairs?

Ready?

- For what?

You're not ready. Come on,

let's go. Which

one do you like?

Which one do you like?

The one on the right.

Good evening, ladies.

Good evening.

I'd like a Pepsi.

- The same.

And could you bring us

some of those deviled eggs?

You don't even be

eating no deviled egg.

I'm so sorry.

- You go to Syracuse?

I didn't know.

Yes, we go to Syracuse,

but if you'd like,

we can jump in the

kitchen, whip...

you up some grits

and gravy, ma'am.

Get them, Ernie.

I'm Gloria.

This is my friend...

Sarah.

She's visiting from Cornell.

Gloria and Sarah. Okay.

I'm Jack Buckley,

but you call me JB.

JB.

- JB.

And this is my friend, Ernie.

How do you do?

Very well.

So, what are you

guys studying?

Well, a little bit

of everything.

Math, basic literature...

We're on the football team.

And that.

Oh.

I don't really know

too much about football.

Neither does he.

All kidding aside, Gloria,

would you care to dance?

All right.

So, Sarah, what

are you studying?

I'm majoring in education,

with a minor in

social sciences.

Oh.

And you?

What are you studying?

Just some basic courses

right now, some math,

some English.

Look, I know what

you're thinking.

That since I'm not here

because of my grades,

or my money,

that I'm not

a serious person.

You're wrong.

So, you know what

I'm thinking, do you?

Fine, Mr. Serious.

What am I thinking right now?

Rain still coming down...

steadily here at

Archbold Stadium.

The last chance

for the Orangemen.

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