This Agreement is entered into on this 27th day of September 2024, between the University of Texas at Austin and Blue Walker Bishop.
It was followed by paragraphs of legal terms like compensation, performance expectations, use of player’s likeness, etc. But the most important thing I gathered was that they were going to pay him more than UK. A lot more.
Blue put his mouth right next to my ear. “My dad thinks that now that I got a concussion I won’t go in the draft this year. So I should take this deal because they’ll pay more. And they’re ranked higher.”
“What’s that?” Coach Whitlock looked over his shoulder, eyebrow rose in an arch.
I held up the document so he could only see the blank green back and waved it like it belonged to me. “Just trying to decide about the contract Daisy gave me.”
“Oh, gotcha.” He turned forward and started talking to the other coach again.
Blue pulled his phone out and texted while I read.
Blue
What should I do?
I pulled out my phone.
What do you want to do? Do you want to go to Texas?
Blue
No. That’s like a bazillion hours from you. Five is already too many.
I held in my laughter and my blushing.
Forget about me…
He jammed an elbow in my ribs and scowled.
Blue
Never.
Okay. Fine. If I didn’t exist, would you want to go to Texas?
Blue
I don’t think so? I don’t know. How am I supposed to decide that right now? I don’t know if I like it at UK. I don’t know if I even have any friends other than Stilts. I don’t know if anything anyone is saying to me is even true.
My lips twisted as I thought.
I don’t know enough about football to help. But I know someone who knows legal stuff and football and specifically your career.
I looked up at him and whispered, “Are you okay if I text my uncle Holden?”
His eyebrow raised. “Can we trust him?”
“With our lives.”
Then he mouthed the words,do it.
I tapped on Holden’s name in my messages and sent him a quick breakdown of what I knew. Thirty seconds later, he responded.
Uncle Holden
Hmmm. I wouldn’t sign anything right now.
