Standing Up For My Values
I was an eighteen-year-old freshman on a football scholarship at the University of Central Oklahoma. On my second day of practice, Coach asked me to go up against Matt, a senior defensive tackle and all-American the year before, in the “Oklahoma Drill,” an intense, one-on-one contest in which you fight to push your opponent backwards three yards. Playing a best-of-five-rounds match, we went at it.

In round one, Matt basically lifted me off the ground and planted me straight on my back. After composing myself, I resolved not to waste this chance to prove my toughness, to myself and the team. Refocused and with newfound determination, I fought Matt to a standstill in round two, which ended in a draw. In rounds three and four, I actually beat him, to the surprise of many. Needless to say, I was pumped.

By now, Matt was furious. He was swearing and spitting up a storm and kept referring to me derisively as “son.” Using that as motivation, I steeled myself for the fifth and final round. As expected, it was a battle, but I won it and the match. Matt couldn’t believe he’d been defeated, and, truth be told, neither could I. In the locker room after practice, Matt congratulated me and offered me a twelve-pack of beer. When I asked him to make that a twelve-pack of Gatorade, he made fun of my request and broadcast it to the guys in the locker room. Many of them laughed, and so did I. Undeterred, I thanked him for trying to be kind but insisted I would not accept any alcohol, then walked out of the locker room, feeling like a true winner.

The next day before practice, Matt apologized to me in front of the other guys, then handed over a twelve-pack of Gatorade. From that day forward, Matt was my close friend and mentor. He later thanked me for standing up for myself and my values.

By Drew Brazier