Page 3 of The Backup Plan

Hayden

We’ve got the cleanest locker rooms in the country. You could do lines off these benches.

Marshall

WHAT.

Hayden

What?

Cory

Malik’s back home in Louisiana for the year. He had the worst case and was septic at one point. The boy is out of strength and needs the year off. I just talked to him yesterday.

Cameron

You’re call-at-home buddies with your arch-rival’s quarterback?

Hayden

Ex-quarterback.

Marshall

Sir, it’s been a week.

Hayden

It was a joke.

Cory

Malik’s a great guy who does a heck of a job at something very few people can do. That’s why we’re here. We’ve cornered a niche market, and we respect each other.

Marshall

Please note, Hammy remains unproven.

Hayden

Watch me handle it even though we got gutted. A bunch of our guys made the same call Malik did—save the year and hit the transfer portal. My O-line is half fresh.

Marshall

Haha, turnstile tackles. You’re doomed, man. See you in concussion protocol.

Cory

Trash talk is not actually the point of this chat, despite what these two bozos say. Hammy, change the name back or I will.

Hayden Hamilton has named the chat

“QB1 Emotional Support Dawgs.”

Cory

You are about to make me cuss.