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At 6:00pm on November 5, 2011, Derrick Brodus went through his regular Saturday afternoon routine.
1. Ensure there are plenty of snacks.
2. Curl up on the couch to watch the Tennessee Volunteers play football.
But Brodus wouldn’t watch this game from his living room.
He’d end up watching this one in person. In pads. In the game!
At 6:10pm that afternoon, the freshman’s phone rang. Upon answering it, Brodus heard the frantic voice of a member of UT’s coaching staff. Brodus – the team’s walk-on, freshman, third-string kicker – was quickly informed that he was needed at the stadium…pronto! In fact, he was told that a police escort was already en route to the frat house to get him!
Brodus’ head was swirling. Why him? Why were they sending a police escort for a third string kicker? Brodus knew that the Volunteers’ starting kicker, Michael Palardy, had injured himself at practice on Thursday, but there was still Chip Rhome, the team’s back up kicker. What happened to him?
Brodus was told that Rhome pulled a muscle during pregame warm ups. That meant the Volunteers had a decision to make: a third string, walk-on, freshmen kicker…or no kicker. For head coach Derek Dooley, the decision was a no-brainer.
Without knowing where Brodus was, or what condition he was in, the coach gave clear orders: “Let’s get an APB (All-Points Bulletin) out on Brodus.”
Knowing how college guys can get on game day, some wondered if Brodus would even be sober. Coach Dooley’s response indicated his desperation. “Hey — an intoxicated Brodus is better than nobody. Get him. Just get him here. Give him a Breathalyzer.”
Fortunately for his teammates – and thousands of Volunteer fans – Brodus was not only sober, but in rare form. During the game, he made all three PATs (point after touchdown) and even nailed a 21-yard long field goal that put the Vols up 24-0 at the half (which wound up being the game’s final score).
Prior to Saturday’s game, Derrick Brodus had never worked with the first or second string and wasn’t even listed on the team’s depth chart. But for his last-second effort, Coach Dooley rewarded Brodus with the game ball.
Like Coach Dooley, the Apostle Paul knew the importance of being ready at a moment’s notice. That’s why the ancient coach gave this instruction to his first stringer, Timothy:
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage– with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:1-2)
Get ready!
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Topics Illustrated Include:
Athlete
Coach
Football
Help
Injury
Prepared
Reward
Sports
Surprise
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
