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Jack DeCotto made his way along the walkway, his shadow gliding across the concrete. Later that day, he would cast a different silhouette—one that was curved on top and bulky below, the outline of a machine. A machine whose time had finally come.
He paid little attention to distant glances, offering nods to those who acknowledged him and speaking only when spoken to. Simple gestures like saying "Hi," "Hello," "How are you?" and "Thank you" were enough to brighten someone's day. It was effortless.
DeCotto hadn't seen much playing time, but he knew that could change once the season began—especially if the season unfolded as he had planned.
He pushed through the revolving door of the Cathedral of Learning, a place his father had brought him years before. Jack always remembered the first time he looked up at the curved stone in the Commons Room, mainly because his father had been beside him. He wished he had something that would evoke a similar memory of his mother.
Tilting his face toward the four-story ceiling, Jack smiled. He wished his father could see what he was about to do, and he hoped that, wherever his father was, he could.
"What are you doing here?" Jack turned toward the voice. He was feeling too good to be irritated by the scrawny kid wearing an oversized Pitt T-shirt.
"I have class," Jack said.
The stick-thin figure in clothes too big for him walked alongside Jack deeper into the Commons Room. "You go to class? Well, I go to school here."
Jack maintained his normal pace, but the kid had to hustle to keep up. "Doesn't spring practice start today?" Jack stopped. "I have class first."
Jack's eyes narrowed. "I just told you that I do."
"I thought the football players didn't go to class."
Jack started walking again. "I go to school here. It would be hard to play football if I didn't go to class."
The kid chased after him, already out of breath. "So is this the year?"
"It's 2015," Jack said.
"I mean the year."
"That's what they tell me."
The kid stopped as Jack moved away. "Well," the kid said, "good luck."
Jack started moving a little faster. "If I don't get to my classes on time, good luck won't matter."
Key Analysis
Jack DeCotto's journey through the Cathedral of Learning serves as a metaphor for his anticipated rise in the football world. His brief interaction with the student underscores the misconceptions about student-athletes and the importance Jack places on his education. As spring practice begins, all eyes will be on DeCotto to see if this is indeed "the year" he fulfills his potential.
Originally reported by nbcsports.