It had been an unbelievable football season.
True to what he had predicted in a pre-season interview, Ryan went on to break numerous records, one of which was running over 2,000 yards in his senior year.
He just knew it was his time. He was ready and he delivered.
Yep. It had been one incredible ride. And all of Michigan City was there to watch and support a phenomenal season of high school football.
When the season ended, we figured there had been enough talk, interviews, stats, (ie; proof) of his proficiency on the field, that some college somewhere would want him as their running back - or at least make him second or third string and give him a chance to prove himself.
He was even on the University of Miami's recruiting roster. Surely someone would be pleased to have a running back of his calibre on their team. Even the paper had stated he had outperformed James Alridge and he was going to Notre Dame on a full scholarship.
Surely someone would pick him up.
Somebody.
Anybody?
Hmmm.
But nothing happened.
He attended recruiting visits with his buddies, we drove to numerous colleges to talk to coaches and check out programs, we made phone calls, sent out information.
And although being chosen to play on the North v South game was a rare opportunity for him to shine one last time with scouts in the stands, well... one or two short plays in four quarters ain't gonna get you noticed.
There were too many running backs to showcase and Ryan never got his day in the sun.
He had so much loving support in the stands that day it was overwhelming. It was a long haul to Indy and the heat was unbearable but no one complained as we were all unified in our belief in him and were there to watch Ryan do what he did best - perform.
But he never got the chance.
I'll never forget sitting around the parking lot afterwards. It was the polar opposite of the festive air we had all been feeling for days prior to that game.
Now, everyone was dead quiet because everybody knew.
That was it.
As we tried to pass along half-hearted words of encouragement, Ryan said what we had all been feeling:
"It's over".
And he broke down. Badly.
It was like in an instant all of his dreams were becoming nothing but memories.
Surely someone, would still pick him up.
Somebody.
Anybody?
Hmmm.
When nothing happened, I took matters into my own hands. I wrote cover letters to every coach in the midwest filled with stats and sent a DVD along just so they could see for themselves.
The only response I got back was from Coach Weiss at Notre Dame. "We cannot offer Ryan a scholarship, but if he decides to attend Notre Dame, I promise he can try out for the football team."
If only I'd had 25,000 for tuition, he'd be playing for them today, I guarantee it.
But I didn't. And there was no way to get a loan.
Back to the drawing board.
Hmmm.
When school drew to a close, Ryan graduated along with everyone else and watched as his friends, one by one left for college. Almost everyone (at least everyone that chose to go) left - except for him.
And suddenly he was faced with another choice.
He could either stay and work to save enough money for tuition and walk on the damn field somewhere one year from now and prove his worth, or go home.
He decided to stay.
But I could no longer support him. As it turns out my huge law school scholarship of almost 90,000 didn't come with a stipend. That was for books and tuition alone over a three year period. I still had to survive while attending school. And there was another catch.
If I fell below a 3.0 GPA in my first year, I would lose the whole thing.
Now I'm used to getting A's in college, but I hadn't been in school in ten years. And this was first year law - it has a notorious reputation for being brutal.
But I had other worries on my mind. Too many to count. Once again, there was too much at stake.
And once again, we took up the challenge but had to disperse for financial reasons.
We each stayed with a separate group of friends.
I got a job in the computer lab in the law library while Ryan worked construction. And we both worked at the same restaurant on weekends. I was a server, he was a bus boy. It was really the only time we had to connect.
But it was a far cry from what he imagined he would be doing in the fall of his first year after high school. He was also exhausted and demoralized. And so was I.
Then, somewhere in October, he got a call from Indiana State - they wanted him for track. Now, they couldn't offer him a scholarship either, but if he could pay for one semester of tuition, (which started in January) they were prepared to guarantee him a full scholarship the following year.
All he needed was about six grand.
Yes indeed... things were looking up.
NEXT - PART V - The Wheel of Fortune
