“Good luck.”

That’s what I heard all day Wednesday from professors, hall mates, friends and even my mom. Tryouts for the CMU football team were here. It was the biggest job interview I’ve ever had, as someone called it. I was going to need a little more than good luck.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday are my longer days when it comes to classes. The whole day dragged on. Sitting through class for six hours, I pretended to be clued in and listening to my professors on the outside. Inside, I was freaking out. After working out with the red-shirt players all fall, along with going to practices and games, I knew most of the guys on the team. When I compared myself to those guys, I asked myself, “What are you thinking?”

The time finally arrived. It was time to get out of my head and just show the coaches what I could do.

The 25 or so guys that had shown up for the audition lined up on the south goal line of the practice field and listened to wide receivers coach, Coach Miles and tight ends coach, Coach Damron. They were explaining to us how the “combine” style tryout would go. We started out doing group stretches. While we did that, Coach Damron counted us off in groups.

After the stretching was over, each group split up and went to one of the four stations. I was in group one.

“Group one, you’re on the pro shuttle with me,” Coach Damron shouted.

At the pro-shuttle, I got in a three point stance looking down the 35 yard line, then took off to my right where I touched the 30 yard line, then sprinted to the 40, touched and ran back through the 35. The coaches wrote down my time and my group head to the north goal line where newly hired defensive coordinator Coach Auer was running the L-drill.

The L-drill was the drill I feared the most. Ironically, the L-drill is possibly the most position-like exercise for a defensive end (my position). You run the shape of an L, focusing on your explosiveness and ability to turn a corner and take off again.

From the L-drill, I headed over to the 40 yard dash. This drill is pretty self-explanatory. Line up behind the goal line, take off and sprint as hard as you possibly can until you cross the 40 yard line. Looking over and seeing smaller guys going out for running back, or a receiver laughing at a big fat lineman running is always a joy. After my two attempts, I surprised myself with a 5.12 and a 5.03.

The last drill was just a base jump. Line up on the 40 yard line, stand totally still and jump as far as you can. An 8 foot 1 inch jump later, and the “combine” was over.

All that was left was the position drills. The three other guys going out offensive/defensive line headed to the north goal line for bag drills. Ten minutes and a few agility exercises later, and the tryouts were over.

I shook the coaches’ hands and thanked them for the opportunity.

Now I wait. I wait for a phone call from the coaches asking me back, or I don’t hear anything. Whatever happens, I’ve enjoyed my time with the CMU football team and have made a lot of great friends. So many guys on the team have helped me out in trying to achieve my goal of making the team. I want to thank all of them for their time and help.