Page 114 of Scored

Super Bowl Opening Night began hours earlier with the appearance of NFL legends and Super Bowl MVPs. Around the floor were activities for fans and players alike. The real reason for our being here was the twelve AFC podiums with the names of players and one for Coach Tilson at various places around the room.

The players without a podium were to walk around for an hour and answer questions from the magnitude of journalists. This celebration used to be called media day. However, for the last ten years, it has been this star-studded prime-time event—Super Bowl Opening Night.

The lights and cameras were blinding and the roar of the fans reverberated through the center. Behind barricades, fans cheered and screamed our names. Troy and I looked at one another with a grin. While I had more years in the league, this was a first for both of us. Scanning the crowd, I was amazed to see Lexington’s amber worn by so many.

Troy Dennison, Malik Johnson, JD Downing, Kylon Lewis, Kai Flores, Dijon Ortiz, Jamir Bennett, Todd Wood, Marshal Holt, Pat Starks, Coach Tilson, and I moved to our designated podiums.

Reporters were already gathered around mine. “Griffin Graham, I’m Jackie Avery from local Fox 11. After so many years in the league, what does it mean to be here, on the world stage?”

“It means everything to me.” I looked around at the crowd. “I want to savor every moment.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “How do you feel about being back at SoFi Stadium?”

I laughed. “It’s a fantastic facility.”

“You know what I’m asking. You spent a season here.”

That was a road I wasn’t going to travel. “I’m happy to be here again as a member of the Lexington Coopers. This team is special.” I turned toward the crowd and raised my voice. “And we’re going to win.”

The fans cheered.

The questions continued.

“Are you going to play on Sunday?”

“How does it feel to play behind someone as young as Troy Dennison?”

“Would you have liked playing against your brother and the Vikings?”

“What is it like dating the owner of the team?”

On that one, I smiled and shook my head. “Maeve Hubbard is a fantastic person inside and out. Her love of the Coopers is evident in everything she does.”

“Do you talk football in private?”

I grinned. “We talk about all sorts of things.” I winked. “Next subject.”

Once our time was up, we were escorted back into the guarded hallways and exited, climbing back on our bus. Back at our hotel, we all went into a large ballroom. Each player had a table. More journalists were present as we found our table with our swag bag. It was filled with Coopers Nike apparel including special-edition Super Bowl appearance hats, quarter-zip shirts, and more.

“Some of us are headed out to the patio firepit,” Matt Spencer said to me. “Do you want to come with us?”

“I’m bushed. I think I’m headed up to my room.”

“Enjoy tomorrow.”

“Our last day of freedom,” I said with a grin.

It was after ten when I opened the door to my hotel room. The lights of Los Angeles glistened below. On one of the bedside stands, the small light on the hotel phone blinked in the darkness. Picking up the receiver, I pushed the button to hear my messages.

“You have one message. Message one. Room 1625.”

Alarmed, I looked at my cell phone. There were no missed calls or text messages. Nevertheless, I knew the voice on the message.

Something was wrong.

Vee wouldn’t call me to her room if there wasn’t.

Leaving my swag bag on the floor, I hurried out of my room and took the elevator up two additional floors. The doors opened to multiple armed police officers and security.