No Father's Son
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James
- Posts: 4314
- Joined: 27 Nov 2018, 08:53
No Father's Son
Beat Miami, retire and get ready for 27.
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djp73
- Posts: 12638
- Joined: 27 Nov 2018, 13:42
No Father's Son
Imagine ending a chise with a natty win then the coach and his whole family gets murked
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5357
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son
always the bridesmaid, never the bride type beatCaptain Canada wrote: ↑Yesterday, 10:31It's always goddamn Miami.
I think you blow them out of the water out of pure spite.
we got more work to do
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5357
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son
Chapter Fifty: The Truth, For Now
I did what I always did. Read it, then deleted it. Then go into the "Recently Deleted" folder and permanently erase it. I knew that wouldn't keep the messages from showing up if they subpoenaed my phone records, but they weren't who I was hiding them from.
As if on cue, Jessica tapped ever so softly on the French door separating the suite at St. Regis in Atlanta from the bathroom, not wanting the rigid sound of a solid knock to awake Tara Lydia and AJ who were both passed out in the adjoining room.
"You okay in there?" Even in the whisper, the concern beneath it was unmistakable. Things had been anything but normal since my return from my last trip to Atlanta. Between Leslie and the meeting with Specter after my usual calm facade had begun to fray at the edges, my temperament closer to constantly annoyed than anything close to happy. The part I hated the most, and what I know Jessica noticed more than she let on, was that at work, in front of a camera or with the team, everything looked normal. Great, even.
We were back in the National Championship game, the team was clicking on all cylinders like they had all season, and to anyone on the outside looking in, life couldn't be better. Of course, the reality was much more dire than met the eye.
"Armando?"
Jessica's tone had moved from concern and was on the verge of pleading and the vulnerability in it snapped me out of my thoughts, bringing me back to the perfectly finished luxury bathroom at St. Regis.
"Sorry," I mumbled sheepishly, sliding the door open gently to avoid startling the children next door, "got lost in my own thoughts." I added a shrug, hoping to come off as genuine. It just felt fake.
Jessica surveyed my face for a moment, searching for any clue, anything really to ease her concern. Finding nothing, she slowly backed away, offering no more than a nod to my apology, and slid back onto the bed. The bed's cream sheets were a perfect backdrop to the crimson dress she had worn to dinner that night. The irony of Oklahoma's colors staring me in the face even in my own hotel room, with the weight of the world seemingly on my shoulders, was not lost on me.
"You've been acting weird since we got to the hotel, Armando." It wasn't a question, just a fact.
How was I supposed to answer that, without suddenly falling into the rabbit hole that was the last two years since the first letter arrived in College Park. How was I supposed to tell her that walking into the hotel suite gave me instant vertigo. That while I had painstakingly ensured the suite my family and I were lodged in was not even on the same floor as Leslie's suite from a month ago, the moment I walked through those doors it felt like I was living a flashback. The cold air hitting my face, the air conditioner humming to life against the far wall. It all felt familiar and foreign at the same time.
"I'm f-"
"Fine," Jessica finished in unison with my own answer.
I opened my mouth again, a playful retort ready to roll off my tongue, but before I could attempt to veer the conversation into a more relaxing subject, Jessica dove in.
"It's not just the hotel. It's been the last month, Armando. Since you came back from Atlanta. I'd assumed it was the investigation. It had to be. I even talked to my Dad-"
I made no attempt to hide my surprise that she'd dragged her father into her concern, my eyebrows noticeably climbing at the revelation.
"Not like that, Armando. I wouldn't do that," she shot back, the playful tone that usually underlined our conversations climbing into her voice for a fraction, before returning to a more concerned octave.
"About the investigation. He's seen a fair share of guys be investigated by the MPs in the past and he said they always start pulling away when the 'vultures' circle. He says most men do it subconsciously, as a way to keep from bringing their partner down with them."
She paused, taking an extended breath to think through her next line carefully, steeling herself for what came next.
"You don't need to tell me the details. But I have to ask."
She gathered herself up from the bed, crossing the room to where I still stood against the French door, and placed both her hands squarely on my chest.
"Are you in trouble, Armando?"
The lies had flown steadily and easily in the years since the first letter arrived, sometimes scaring even myself with how effortless they sometimes arrived, as if it was a skill I'd possessed my entire life and was just now discovering. But something different came this time.
The truth.
Not the full truth. Not even close, but enough to lower the water level, allowing me to breathe again, even if for a moment.
"Yes."
The word was small in stature, a mere three letters, but the resonance of the words, and the meaning behind it, was not lost on Jessica or myself.
"But it's not something I-"
Jessica gently planted her middle and index fingers against my lips, delicately hushing me.
"Not now, Armando. I don't need the details. I just needed to hear it from you."
She rose on her tiptoes, closing the distance between our mouths and placing a soft kiss on my lips before pulling away.
"Whatever comes next, we'll face it together, okay? But not now. You have business to take care of first."
For the first time since Leslie had revealed herself, there was hope. I’d painted myself into a corner of loneliness, begrudgingly thinking that this was my burden alone to carry. Part of that was instinctual, men always carry their burdens silently, but I had privately wondered—more than I’d like to admit—if it was Arturo’s influence creeping in as well. How many secrets had he kept from my mother, how many lies had he told without a second thought?
But here was Jessica, peering through the darkness and bringing light to the worry. She didn’t know the depth of the trouble I was in, but just knowing that she’d be there for me when the time came was a reassurance I didn’t know I needed.
The last time I’d been this desperate and alone felt like a lifetime ago. Sitting in a hospital bed with a hole in my hand, a hook in my mind, and no idea what to do next. Jessica had been there then, of course she’d be there now. It had been foolish of me not to include her from the beginning, but I knew deep down that I had to include her now.
I'd already negotiated with Leslie to push the January 15th deadline back, reasoning with her that I would have more anonymity to have the University directly deposit my playoff bonus into her offshore account, then trying to circumvent my accountant and Jessica herself. Leslie had waited six years for her redemption and seemed content to wait a few more weeks, more than likely relishing the idea of me squirming for a bit longer.
"It's the type of idea your father would have, Armando. Just make sure the entirety of your playoff bonus gets deposited. The extension comes with a price," Leslie responded almost immediately.
Then tonight, just as we got back to the suite from dinner, another message came: "Don't forget what's on the line tomorrow, Armando. You aren't gambling with your own money anymore. You're gambling with mine. And I don't tolerate losers."
The text had prompted the quick retreat into the bathroom to erase the evidence, but had perhaps performed an even more important task:
Forcing Jessica, and myself, to face each other's fears. Together.
While I was lost in thought, Jessica had made her way from the bed to stand in front of me again, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me toward the bed. A devilish smile had crept onto her lips, replacing the worry with something more immediate.
"Now, if I remember right, I made sure you were nice and relaxed before the last National Championship Game," Jessica purred, pulling my shirt over my shoulders.
"It would be a shame to break tradition, don't you think?" She said, dropping her dress at the same time and falling back onto the bed, pulling me down with her.
I did what I always did. Read it, then deleted it. Then go into the "Recently Deleted" folder and permanently erase it. I knew that wouldn't keep the messages from showing up if they subpoenaed my phone records, but they weren't who I was hiding them from.
As if on cue, Jessica tapped ever so softly on the French door separating the suite at St. Regis in Atlanta from the bathroom, not wanting the rigid sound of a solid knock to awake Tara Lydia and AJ who were both passed out in the adjoining room.
"You okay in there?" Even in the whisper, the concern beneath it was unmistakable. Things had been anything but normal since my return from my last trip to Atlanta. Between Leslie and the meeting with Specter after my usual calm facade had begun to fray at the edges, my temperament closer to constantly annoyed than anything close to happy. The part I hated the most, and what I know Jessica noticed more than she let on, was that at work, in front of a camera or with the team, everything looked normal. Great, even.
We were back in the National Championship game, the team was clicking on all cylinders like they had all season, and to anyone on the outside looking in, life couldn't be better. Of course, the reality was much more dire than met the eye.
"Armando?"
Jessica's tone had moved from concern and was on the verge of pleading and the vulnerability in it snapped me out of my thoughts, bringing me back to the perfectly finished luxury bathroom at St. Regis.
"Sorry," I mumbled sheepishly, sliding the door open gently to avoid startling the children next door, "got lost in my own thoughts." I added a shrug, hoping to come off as genuine. It just felt fake.
Jessica surveyed my face for a moment, searching for any clue, anything really to ease her concern. Finding nothing, she slowly backed away, offering no more than a nod to my apology, and slid back onto the bed. The bed's cream sheets were a perfect backdrop to the crimson dress she had worn to dinner that night. The irony of Oklahoma's colors staring me in the face even in my own hotel room, with the weight of the world seemingly on my shoulders, was not lost on me.
"You've been acting weird since we got to the hotel, Armando." It wasn't a question, just a fact.
How was I supposed to answer that, without suddenly falling into the rabbit hole that was the last two years since the first letter arrived in College Park. How was I supposed to tell her that walking into the hotel suite gave me instant vertigo. That while I had painstakingly ensured the suite my family and I were lodged in was not even on the same floor as Leslie's suite from a month ago, the moment I walked through those doors it felt like I was living a flashback. The cold air hitting my face, the air conditioner humming to life against the far wall. It all felt familiar and foreign at the same time.
"I'm f-"
"Fine," Jessica finished in unison with my own answer.
I opened my mouth again, a playful retort ready to roll off my tongue, but before I could attempt to veer the conversation into a more relaxing subject, Jessica dove in.
"It's not just the hotel. It's been the last month, Armando. Since you came back from Atlanta. I'd assumed it was the investigation. It had to be. I even talked to my Dad-"
I made no attempt to hide my surprise that she'd dragged her father into her concern, my eyebrows noticeably climbing at the revelation.
"Not like that, Armando. I wouldn't do that," she shot back, the playful tone that usually underlined our conversations climbing into her voice for a fraction, before returning to a more concerned octave.
"About the investigation. He's seen a fair share of guys be investigated by the MPs in the past and he said they always start pulling away when the 'vultures' circle. He says most men do it subconsciously, as a way to keep from bringing their partner down with them."
She paused, taking an extended breath to think through her next line carefully, steeling herself for what came next.
"You don't need to tell me the details. But I have to ask."
She gathered herself up from the bed, crossing the room to where I still stood against the French door, and placed both her hands squarely on my chest.
"Are you in trouble, Armando?"
The lies had flown steadily and easily in the years since the first letter arrived, sometimes scaring even myself with how effortless they sometimes arrived, as if it was a skill I'd possessed my entire life and was just now discovering. But something different came this time.
The truth.
Not the full truth. Not even close, but enough to lower the water level, allowing me to breathe again, even if for a moment.
"Yes."
The word was small in stature, a mere three letters, but the resonance of the words, and the meaning behind it, was not lost on Jessica or myself.
"But it's not something I-"
Jessica gently planted her middle and index fingers against my lips, delicately hushing me.
"Not now, Armando. I don't need the details. I just needed to hear it from you."
She rose on her tiptoes, closing the distance between our mouths and placing a soft kiss on my lips before pulling away.
"Whatever comes next, we'll face it together, okay? But not now. You have business to take care of first."
For the first time since Leslie had revealed herself, there was hope. I’d painted myself into a corner of loneliness, begrudgingly thinking that this was my burden alone to carry. Part of that was instinctual, men always carry their burdens silently, but I had privately wondered—more than I’d like to admit—if it was Arturo’s influence creeping in as well. How many secrets had he kept from my mother, how many lies had he told without a second thought?
But here was Jessica, peering through the darkness and bringing light to the worry. She didn’t know the depth of the trouble I was in, but just knowing that she’d be there for me when the time came was a reassurance I didn’t know I needed.
The last time I’d been this desperate and alone felt like a lifetime ago. Sitting in a hospital bed with a hole in my hand, a hook in my mind, and no idea what to do next. Jessica had been there then, of course she’d be there now. It had been foolish of me not to include her from the beginning, but I knew deep down that I had to include her now.
I'd already negotiated with Leslie to push the January 15th deadline back, reasoning with her that I would have more anonymity to have the University directly deposit my playoff bonus into her offshore account, then trying to circumvent my accountant and Jessica herself. Leslie had waited six years for her redemption and seemed content to wait a few more weeks, more than likely relishing the idea of me squirming for a bit longer.
"It's the type of idea your father would have, Armando. Just make sure the entirety of your playoff bonus gets deposited. The extension comes with a price," Leslie responded almost immediately.
Then tonight, just as we got back to the suite from dinner, another message came: "Don't forget what's on the line tomorrow, Armando. You aren't gambling with your own money anymore. You're gambling with mine. And I don't tolerate losers."
The text had prompted the quick retreat into the bathroom to erase the evidence, but had perhaps performed an even more important task:
Forcing Jessica, and myself, to face each other's fears. Together.
While I was lost in thought, Jessica had made her way from the bed to stand in front of me again, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me toward the bed. A devilish smile had crept onto her lips, replacing the worry with something more immediate.
"Now, if I remember right, I made sure you were nice and relaxed before the last National Championship Game," Jessica purred, pulling my shirt over my shoulders.
"It would be a shame to break tradition, don't you think?" She said, dropping her dress at the same time and falling back onto the bed, pulling me down with her.
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5357
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son
BACK! TO! BACK! Oklahoma Outlasts Miami To Win Second Consecutive National Championship
Boone Tillman // Sooner Born • Published: January 18th, 2031
The National Championship rematch between Armando Leon's Oklahoma Sooners and Mario Cristobal's Miami Hurricanes was everything you could have asked for, at least if you were rooting for the good guys. The Oklahoma Sooners outscored Miami 16-7 in the second half to salt away their 40-28 victory, securing the eighth National Championship in Oklahoma history.
Leron Heflin was on fire in the first half, despite an interception on the Miami opening drive that turned into a Brian Rowe field goal, throwing for 285 yards and two touchdowns—while completing 17 of his 21 pass attempts—as he consistently challenged Leon's defense with deep throws and strategic passing. Markelle Nickey, the true freshman phenom who has started for the Sooners since opening day, was equally as crisp with 187 yards and two touchdowns, completing 17 of his own 22 passes.
Heflin was able to rally the Miami Hurricanes on the final drive of the first half, finding BJ Lincoln on a screen pass for the 18-yard touchdown that trimmed Oklahoma's lead to a mere field goal, the same field goal that was a result of Heflin's early interception.
The second half will forever be a question of "what if" for Miami Hurricane fans. After a blistering start, the elongated halftime seemed to dull the edge on Heflin's throws and the senior quarterback struggled to stay in rhythm. After avoiding being sacked the entire first half, Heflin absorbed three sacks in the third quarter alone that would prove to be Miami's undoing.
After a sack by Jamie Isaacs, notable as Leon is still under investigation for poaching Isaacs—among others—from the Oregon State Beavers, Heflin made the biggest mistake of the second half. Facing a third-and-forever after the sack, Heflin threw up a prayer to Jesse Staat, who put up 183 yards receiving in the contest, but never put enough touch on the ball. DeMarco Slayton rose up, playing trail coverage on Staat, and plucked the ball out of the air.
Four plays later, despite a hip flexor injury that briefly caused him to miss time, Markelle Nickey threw his third touchdown pass of the game, extending the Sooners lead to 10 and putting the Hurricanes in desperation mode.
Heflin would have one more drive in him. Another former Beaver, LaMarcus Blount, came flying around the corner on third down, throwing Heflin to the ground. Heflin came up clutching his ribs and would never return. After the blistering first half, Heflin left with just 31 yards on four of six completions and an interception after halftime.
Oklahoma would tack on three field goals in the fourth quarter, not wanting to get greedy and merely salting away the second consecutive National Championship, while backup Jeremy Donnerson provided a brief spark, hitting Donavan Kahn on a 32-yard touchdown to pull Miami within eight midway through the fourth. Oklahoma would rally for the first of the three field goals, then force a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to officially put the game out of reach.
•••
Rece Davis: "Joining us now on set is Armando Leon, the two-time National Champion coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, ladies and gentlemen. Coach Leon, you've now joined the legendary Bud Wilkinson and Barry Switzer as the only Oklahoma head coaches to win multiple National Championships. Has that reality set in yet and what does it mean to you, personally, to have had such instantaneous success in Norman?"
Armando Leon: "Obviously, information like that is hard to avoid in the lead up to the game. But, it hasn't set in yet, Rece. It's once of those things that you know is coming up, but you can never prepare for. Bud Wilkinson and Barry Switzer are icons at the University of Oklahoma, I'm just honored to be mentioned in the same breath as them."
Nick Saban: "Let's talk about the difficulty of repeating as champions, Armando. I was able to do it successfully once and failed on three other attempts. I've always said that second one is the hardest achievement in our sport. Not only did you accomplish that feat, you did it perfectly. For you, what was the most difficult part of the challenge, and what part did you relish the most?"
Armando Leon: "You aren't sneaking up on anyone the second time, Coach Saban, and that's the biggest thing. Especially after only four wins in 2028, with only having one year of experience, no one knew what to expect last year. This year? We were circled on the calendar with a target on our backs. But the part I relished the most, honestly, was the challenge. I told the guys: 'I don't want a bullseye on our back. I want it right between our eyes, so we can stare them down and dare them to take it from us.' And credit the team, we did that. They embraced that challenge and have put their names in the history books as a result."
Kirk Herbstreit: "I want to talk quarterbacks for a minute, Coach, on both sides. Leron Heflin had himself a heck of a game in the first half, despite the interception. What did you guys do defensively to slow him down before he left with the broken ribs?"
Armando Leon: "HIt him, Kirk. You know as well as I do, the easiest way to rattle most quarterbacks is to put them on their back and get some dirt on their jersey. We didn't do a good job of that in the first half and he took advantage of it. We just came out of the half with one mindset, 'Make him feel us.'"
Kirk Herbstreit: "Now, let's talk about Mr. MVP: Markelle Nickey. I don't want to compare him, but the only young man I've seen put up better stats as a true freshman is Trevor Lawrence. 317 yards, four total touchdowns It felt like every time your backs were against the wall, he made a play. What can you say about this gutsy performance?"
Armando Leon: "Don't forget, Kirk, he's playing hurt too. And that should tell you all you need to know. If he came out and played like a dud, he'd have every excuse in the world. Top defense in the country, record-breaking defensive end staring him down, and a bum hip. Instead, he had his best game of the season, bar none. He even got some wiggle with a short touchdown run. He came into camp with the poise of a veteran and didn't just win the starting job, he seized it. And made me look real good in the process. A lot of other guys get headlines, but he deserves his flowers for his role this season."
Pat McAfee: "When I think about a championship-winning QB, Coach, I think about toughness. I think about grit. I think about a dude just getting humped on that field and popping right back up with a smile on his face, begging for more-"
Armando Leon: "Pat...pause."
Pat McAfee: "You're right, you're right. Too deep. All I'm trying to say. I think about a dude putting his body on the line. Markelle Nickey did that today. He came in with a bum hip, took a HUGE hit on the goal line and got right back up. I know he was evaluated on the sideline, but from what I'm told—he refused to leave the game. And then you look on the other side. Guy starts taking a few hits, loses his rhythm, and suddenly it's all smoke and mirrors. I've had broken ribs—they ain't fun—but just the way everything went down left me thinking. Nickey is THAT DUDE."
Armando Leon: "I'll never use injuries as an excuse, Pat, but it helps to have a gamer like Nick back there who we know is going to put it all on the line. But that's what it takes to win a National Championship. We saw it last year with Oscar Robledo and this year with Markelle Nickey. You do what you've gotta do to bring the trophy home."
Rece Davis: "We've got to cut to a commercial break, but when we return we'll be joined by Mr. MVP himself, Markelle Nickey. Coach Leon, congratulations on another incredible season."
•••
You've got Leon on set lauding his guys from playing with grit and determination, and on the other side, in the losing locker room, you've got a coach pointing at injuries as an excuse.
I ain't sayin', I'm just sayin'. Winning a championship starts with a culture, and Leon has certainly built a championship-level culture in Norman, Oklahoma.
I'll leave you with this, Sooner Nation; if this is what we get from the debut season of Markelle Nickey, I am pumped to see what he puts on tape next year.
#BoomerSooner
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| Oklahoma | 10 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 40 |
| Miami | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
| Q | Team | Time | Play | Oklahoma | Miami |
| 1st | Oklahoma | 6:34 | Brian Rowe, 49 Yd FG | 3 | 0 |
| 1st | Miami | 4:40 | Jesse Staatm 57 Yd Pass From Leron Heflin | 3 | 7 |
| 1st | Oklahoma | 0:33 | Markelle Nickey, 1 Yd Run | 10 | 7 |
| 2nd | Miami | 0:16 | Tavares Maulet, 8 Yd Run | 10 | 14 |
| 2nd | Oklahoma | 5:33 | Floyd Canaday, 42 Yd Pass From Markelle Nickey | 17 | 14 |
| 2nd | Oklahoma | 1:29 | Darren Lyles, 11 Yd Pass From Markelle Nickey | 24 | 14 |
| 2nd | Miami | 0:16 | BJ Lincoln, 18 Yd Pass From Leron Heflin | 24 | 21 |
| 3rd | Oklahoma | 0:35 | Darren Lyles, 4 Yd Pass From Markelle Nickey | 31 | 17 |
| 4th | Oklahoma | 7:11 | Brian Rowe, 51 Yd FG | 34 | 17 |
| 4th | Miami | 4:56 | Donavan Kahn, 32 Yd Pass From Jeremy Donnerson | 34 | 28 |
| 4th | Oklahoma | 2:00 | Brian Rowe, 25 Yd FG | 37 | 28 |
| 4th | Oklahoma | 0:33 | Brian Rowe, 26 Yd FG | 40 | 28 |
Oklahoma Miami Passing | Stats Passing | Stats ----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------ Markelle Nickey | 29/36, 317 Yds, 3 TD Leron Heflin | 21/27, 316 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT Jeremy Donnerson | 5/9, 118 Yds, TD Rushing | Stats Rushing | Stats ----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------ Terrance Butcher | 23 Att, 128 Yds BJ Lincoln | 5 Att, 12 Yds Brad Thorne | 5 Att, 30 Yds Leron Heflin | 3 Att, -23 Yds Receiving | Stats Receiving | Stats ----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------ Maurice Lucky | 7 Rec, 56 Yds Donavan Kahn | 6 Rec, 80 Yds, TD Darren Lyles | 6 Rec, 83 Yds, 2 TD Jesse Staat | 6 Rec, 183 Yds, TD Floyd Canaday | 3 Rec, 58 Yds, TD Patrick Streif | 4 Rec, 80 Yds Defensive | Stats Defensive | Stats ----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------ CB LaMarcus Blount | 8 Tkl, 2 TFL, Sack James Murray | 11 Tkl, 2 TFL LB Tyler Jacques | 5 Tkl, TFL, Sack LB Terron Katula | 10 Tkl, 4 TFL SS DeMarco Slayton | 3 Tkl, TFL, INT DE Carter Slovis | 3 Tkl
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djp73
- Posts: 12638
- Joined: 27 Nov 2018, 13:42
No Father's Son
Coach Leon does it again! 
Now that Jessica is going to be looped in I wonder how they will handle it.
Now that Jessica is going to be looped in I wonder how they will handle it.
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Soapy
- Posts: 15335
- Joined: 27 Nov 2018, 18:42
No Father's Son
At least we put up a fight
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djp73
- Posts: 12638
- Joined: 27 Nov 2018, 13:42
No Father's Son
soapy finna run a miami joint in 27
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Captain Canada
- Posts: 7218
- Joined: 01 Dec 2018, 00:15
No Father's Son
Never in doubt, beat them boys into submission there 
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redsox907
Topic author - Posts: 5357
- Joined: 01 Jun 2025, 12:40
No Father's Son
Jessica gonna walk Leslie down and handle biz herself
it hasn't been like I did with Coastal, where I gave y'all belt all day. Both games against Miami I've had to earn. Respect
he just gonna run back his one from 25 to take the post count crown from Caesar when he gets it with JMU
it was close for a minute, but we wasn't sweating
