No Smoking in My Team
The Tennessee Volunteers locker room buzzed with a strange mix of tension and disbelief. The air, thick with sweat and the faint scent of turf, had never felt heavier. Standing near the corner of the room, Damien Blackwell, the star quarterback, clenched his fists, his jaw tight. His teammates, usually the loudest voices in the room, fell silent, watching the storm that was about to break.
Coach Josh Heupel stood at the front, calm yet firm. His face, usually one of encouragement and strategy, was now lined with disappointment. His voice, normally smooth and steady, carried an edge. “Damien, I told you before. No smoking in my program. It’s not just about performance—it’s about respect for the game, the team, and yourself.”
Damien’s chest heaved with frustration. The Coach’s words hit harder than any tackle he’d ever taken. This wasn’t the first time Heupel had addressed the issue, but Damien couldn’t understand why it was such a big deal. He had been the face of the Volunteers for two seasons, throwing record-breaking touchdowns, leading his team to victory after victory. He was the star, the future of the program, and this was how they treated him? Like a kid being scolded for a misstep?
“I can do what I want, Coach,” Damien spat, his voice rising. His teammates shifted uncomfortably, but no one dared to intervene. They had all heard the rumors—Damien had a side to him that not even his most loyal supporters dared challenge.
Heupel didn’t flinch. “You can do whatever you want outside these walls, Damien. But in this program, I set the standards. I don’t care if you’re the best quarterback in the country. If you can’t follow the rules, you’re not going to be here. I won’t have players poisoning their bodies and their minds and think they can just walk it off. Not while I’m in charge.”
Damien’s eyes darkened. He’d heard the whispers, seen the looks his teammates gave him behind his back. They didn’t understand. To them, it was just a habit—a vice to calm his nerves before the big game. A little smoke, a little release before the pressure came crashing in. But what they didn’t know was that football was his only escape, the only time he felt truly alive. The pressure, the expectations—it had all started to get to him.
“Maybe I don’t need this team,” Damien muttered, his voice barely above a whisper but carrying the weight of a thousand unsaid words.
Heupel took a step forward, his eyes steady, unwavering. “Then go. You’re not bigger than this program. We’ll find another quarterback. We’ll rebuild. You think you’re irreplaceable? I’ve got a team of guys who would die to take your spot and show up every day ready to give their all. And they don’t smoke. They don’t have habits that make them weaker than they already are.”
Damien’s face flushed with anger, but something else flickered in his eyes—doubt, maybe even fear. His hand, which had been balled into a fist, now relaxed slightly. For the first time, he was unsure of his own future, of where he belonged.
“I didn’t ask for this,” Damien growled, his voice cracking. The facade was slipping.
Coach Heupel sighed, his gaze softening just a fraction. “I know, son. But you need to understand something. You’re a leader. Whether you like it or not, they follow you. They look to you for guidance. If you’re not setting the right example, you’ll drag them down with you. And I can’t let that happen.”
Damien stood there, the weight of the words sinking in. He knew Heupel was right, but the anger inside him was hard to shake. He felt like he was being cornered—his past mistakes held up in front of him, his choices questioned in a way they never had before.
“I’m not asking you to be perfect,” Heupel continued, his tone softer now, almost fatherly. “I’m asking you to be better. For yourself. For your team.”
The silence in the room grew heavy, but this time, it wasn’t suffocating. Damien stood still for a long moment, the tension between him and the coach palpable. Then, with a slow exhale, he dropped his gaze.
“I’ll think about it,” he muttered, his voice barely audible.
“Good. I’m counting on you, Damien.” Heupel turned to walk away, but before he left, he added, “Remember, it’s not just about winning games. It’s about winning in life.”
