Senior Year Box Set

When we got back to Madison, we found an excellent German restaurant and enjoyed Wiener schnitzel, a breaded veal cutlet served with lemon slices. For dessert, we had enormous slices of Black Forest cherry cake. The dads got brave and drank boots of beer—huge glasses shaped like a boot. We all laughed when Tim’s dad got drenched. He made the mistake of drinking it with the foot of the boot pointed up. When it got far enough down for air to slip into the foot, it caused a tidal wave of beer to surge into his face. The other dads learned from his mistake.

◊◊◊ Sunday September 4

I woke up and smiled. It felt good to wake up on a recruiting trip and not be hungover or wondering if everyone was okay. After I got up, I sent the guys a text to get their butts downstairs so we could go run. I’d talked to Dawn, and she agreed to guide us. I warned her we kept a good pace, but she assured us she could keep up.

We met in the lobby and found she had fourteen girls with her. They were taking advantage of the hotel’s free breakfast when we saw them. The manager stepped out to stop me before I went in to talk to them.

“Are they with you?” she asked.

“Yeah, sorry. I didn’t know she was bringing so many people,” I admitted.

Dawn came out when Wolf told her I was having to talk to the manager.

“Hey, we’re the University of Wisconsin basketball team.”

“If it’s a problem, add it to my bill,” I said.

“If you put in a good word for us on social media, we can overlook it.”

I imagined she would write it off as free advertising.

“Sounds good. Thanks for understanding. Athletes see food, and they have to stop to partake.”

“I understand. Thanks for staying with us,” she said and left us.

“Sorry, I’m afraid they’re animals sometimes,” Dawn said as she pointed her chin at her teammates.

“It’s all good. Let’s go run. I need to be on campus for my tour at ten.”

Our hotel had a view of Lake Mendota, and it was a short run to the Pheasant Branch Conservancy. It was a beautiful, enjoyable run and gave us a chance to talk to more girls who could tell us about athletics at the University of Wisconsin.

“Hey, one of the girls told me there are some Frank Lloyd Wright homes here in Madison. Do you think we can take a look at them before we leave?” Tim asked.

“I don’t see why not. If I remember right, we’re done at three today,” I assured him.

I pulled Wolf over so I could talk to both of them.

“Hey, I want you guys to know that if you want to do something, we can do it. You don’t have to ask me,” I said, trying to be serious.

“You do control the car,” Wolf pointed out.

“Okay, if it’s something stupid I might veto it.”

“He’s always bossing us around,” Tim whined.

“I have pictures of you and Amy,” I reminded him.

“You sure you want to play that game? At some point, you might need us to cover for you,” Wolf reminded me.

“I don’t plan on doing anything I have to have cover for,” I shot back, knowing full well I was full of it.

“Puh-lease. All it will take is for someone to click an innocent picture that doesn’t look so innocent, and you’ll be begging us to tell Brook nothing happened,” Wolf said.

“How about this: we all have veto power,” I offered.

“Thank God. This way, he can’t drag us to some ‘art’ film or play,” Tim said.

“I’ve never taken you to anything like that,” I complained.

“There’s always a first time,” Tim said.

I just gave them the stink eye, and we finished our run. The girls climbed into their cars to go back to campus. Dawn gave me her number in case I had any questions. I think she wanted mine, but I didn’t need her boyfriend stalking me.

◊◊◊

The campus tour showed us that Wisconsin would be a comfortable place to go to school. It had everything you might want as a student. I think Dad wanted to go try out their golf course. I filed that away for subsequent trips. He might as well enjoy himself while he was doing this with me.

The next stop was with the academic advisors. We each got our own, and I wasn’t surprised when they had our academic records. I met a woman who was in her early thirties and seemed way too serious. She introduced herself as Barbara Cardona.

“Do you know what you want to take in college?” she asked.

“I have a variety of interests. I do know I want to take some business classes so I understand what my COO shows me,” I said.

That led to a discussion about my businesses, modeling, and acting. I then told her I might someday want to go into politics.

“Do you plan to get your law degree?” Ms. Cardona asked.

“I would like to have that option. And I might want to get an MBA as well.”

“I see you do well in school. Are you planning to focus on football or your education?” she asked.

Had she talked to Tami?

“Football is just a means to an end. I plan to use my education once I graduate.”