Page 109 of The Backup Plan
When did you meet Jordan?
Cameron
The summer before my senior year of high school, when I came up for clinics. But that was only for a few weeks. He was going into his sophomore year.
Avery
That was his first year as a starter. Was he different when you first met him, versus when you actually came up to play?
Cameron
No. He always had the swagger, but he worked like a beast and he was a team guy. He loved the attention, but he was a public relations major and I think he understood how to manipulate it better.
Avery
Did he work with the crew who did all the social media posts?
Cameron
I’ll explain later. I can’t run sprints with an upset stomach.
She studied the printouts of the team’s social media posts from Jordan’s freshman year, featuring the previous quarterback, to the ones when he became a starter. Laying them in a grid over her bed, she followed his seasons: backup, starter, starter. Out of curiosity, she’d printed Cam’s posts as well, and added a row with those.
“Where are you?” Avery whispered. Cam’s encouragement, or permission, or whatever it was, wasn’t enough to lull her into doodling a humorous series of rumors. He was alive somewhere, safe enough to satisfy the police, and maybe watching his second-in-command lead the team he built.
“Who stole your dreams out from under you, Jordy?” she asked. “Cam didn’t want this. Nobody wanted this.”
October, Week 6: UND’s “Air Jordan” wraps up the game with 315 passing yards and three TDs today. Safety Lamar Quinlan’s interception sealed the deal against Iowa, lifting the blue-and-gold to 4-2 on the season.
October, Week 7: On this week’s podcast, QB Jordan Ackerman and DE Gregory Halsey, both juniors, talk about why they’ve already committed to stay at UND for a final season.
November, Week 9: Ackerman’s all smiles on the sideline with Coach Keyes as QB2 Cameron Porter takes the field in the fourth quarter, with UND up 27-3 against the Cougars.
December, Week 12: Jordan Ackerman spent some time on the sideline during the third quarter after a suspected head injury. Freshman backup Cameron Porter rallied the team for two drives and a field goal before Ackerman returned, but loss ended UND’s season with an 8-4 record.
New Year’s Eve: Cameron Porter leads the boys in blue to a fourteen-point victory over the Spartans in the Star Bowl while QB1 Jordan Ackerman takes a shot at play-calling with Coach Keyes.
January: On this week’s podcast, QB Jordan Ackerman and Coach John Keyes recap the season and talk transfers, red-shirts, and next year’s schedule.
March: On next week’s podcast, Jordan Ackerman sits down with the strength and conditioning coaches and talks off-season fitness for the football team.
July: It’s heating up at training camp as the freshmen settle in and await the arrival of the veterans tomorrow. Offensive captains Jordan Ackerman, Will Bennett, and Trevon Stevenson will be at the media tables at 9 a.m. signing gear before an open practice with the full team at 10:00 a.m. Community members are welcome at UND Stadium from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
August: UND is pleased to introduce Cameron Porter, the blue-and-gold’s QB1 for the coming season. If #13’s performance in the Star Bowl last year is any indication, we’ve got another winning season on tap.
After that, it was all about Cameron, and aside from one mention in the magazine, Jordan’s name was never mentioned. Even the completion record Cam broke in his first five starts wasn’t attributed to his friend. It was a school record, nothing more. Avery was surprised the social media posts were still up and unedited.
On a hunch, she clicked to the alumni website with the magazine spread. His name wasn’t there anymore.
She scrolled back through episodes of the UND Athletics podcast and found the episode from the previous October. Jordan’s voice sounded as deep and as blue as his eyes, languid and unhurried.
“Man, it’s a no-brainer,” he said, sharing a laugh with Greg Halsey, a friend of Justin’s. “I love this gig. I love UND and this team. I’ve got work to do to make it in the league, and there’s no better place to get better than right here. You can count on me to play here as long as I can.”
On the episode in January, his tone was decidedly more somber.
“Cam lit it up at the bowl,” Jordan said. “I’m so proud of that kid. I could bail now and you’d be in fine shape.”
John Keyes’ laugh was pinched and forced. “Good thing he hung onto his red-shirt status. We’ll get four good years out of him if he doesn’t sneak into the transfer portal.”