Charley (24 page)

I stated what was obvious to both Mary Lou and me.

“Coach, I think …” Mary Lou began, before Coach cut her off.

“Just a minute, let me think.”

He leaned back in his chair, turned around to face the wall, stared at the ceiling and closed his eyes.

“What’s he doing Mary Lou?”

“He’s thinking like a man who needs to respond to a challenge. He’s trying to fit all the pieces together, and come up with a plan.  I’ve seen him in this kind of trance before, when he was thinking how to approach Indiana in the NCAAs. He is good at analyzing problems and thinking through solutions.”

PJ slowly came out of his trance, leaned forward, and announced loudly. “Okay, I got it now. This is serious! Basically, it’s her word against mine. She has the advantage because she’s young and I’m her boss. Political correctness assumes the man is always at fault. She’s attractive and I’m a young single man, with most likely sex on my mind all the time.”

With each factor, PJ’s face became sterner and his voice deeper and more intense as he continued. “Ladies, I’m in trouble if Rachel doesn’t get her way and decides to attack. She can accuse me of sexual harassment, even though it’s not true. Just the accusation will hurt the program and my career.”

“Yes you are, and yes it will,” Mary Lou responded, now in a calmer voice.

“Any ideas, team?”

“Well, I could get my Nashville Bubbas to talk to her.”

“Seriously, Charley.”

“I am serious.”

I let out a nervous laugh. Mary Lou chipped in quietly. “Coach, I think I have some ideas.”

“Okay, Mary Lou, let’s hear it. What do you think I should do?”

“First, you need to get to Dr. Underwood as soon as possible, today I think. He’s your boss, and you need to make sure he hears this from you, rather than from some gossiping staff. Charley needs to go with you. The first step to battling this rumor is establishing that you have a girlfriend, a pretty one, and you don’t need a new one.”

I was a bit concerned. “Mary Lou, PJ and I have only known each other for a few weeks. Think that will matter?”

“No, you’re more Coach’s age and maturity.”

“And sexier.”

“Now, you get serious, Coach.”

“Sorry.”

“Next, you and Charley have got to be seen together around campus, holding hands, looking cutesy at each other, you know, like people in love. I suspect that’s not going to be too hard. People need to see you with Charley and not Rachel. Have her sit in the coach’s wives section tonight. Charley, you cheer as loud as you can. Draw attention to yourself.”

“Do I need to terminate Rachel’s internship?”

“Talk to Underwood about that, but I believe that might backfire.”

“So we fight fire with fire, right.”

“That’s what I suggest. Show people you don’t need a romance with Rachel, and your hands are full with the girlfriend you
do
have!”

We hurried out of the athletic building and started across campus.

“Slow down, PJ, my legs aren’t as long as yours.”

“Sorry, I didn’t realize I was walking so fast.”

“It’s more like a run. Are you worried about telling Dr. Underwood?”

“Charley, a rumor like this could ruin my career. Doesn’t make any difference whether it is true or not; the rumor, the possibility will always be there …

… I am scared to death!”

“Stop a minute, PJ McCoy.” When he stopped and turned to face me, I noticed the sweat beading on his forehead.

“Sorry?”

“Now you listen to me. You have done nothing wrong, nothing, understand? I’ll bet a nickel to a dime you’ve had worst situations to deal with. Are you this frightened before important games? When you beat Indiana, you weren’t frightened. You need to pause a minute and get it together.  You need to go in there with confidence. You look guilty as Hell now.”

“Charley, you don’t understand, this is not a game; it’s my career, my life. If this goes on, nobody will take a chance on a coach, no matter how good he is, if he has a sexual scandal hanging around his neck.”

“Okay, I was wrong, it isn’t a game, but you have to approach it like a game; plan your moves, anticipate the moves the other team will make, play to your strengths. Just relax. Let’s walk calmly to Dr. Underwood’s office as if we didn’t have a care in the World. Come here, kiss me.”

“Charley, I don’t know…”

Dr. Abner Underwood played football until a series of injuries cut short his college career and stopped what could have been a successful pro football career. His misfortune was a blessing for Curtis University where he had been the Athletic Director for the past 12 years after several years as an associate AD at his alma mater. He was an excellent administrator with the personality and foresight to pick good coaches and then allow them to run their programs. He had a sincere interest in his coaches, personally and professionally.

Mrs. Phyllis Winston had been with him for twenty years.

We walked calmly into the secretary reception area. “Mrs. Winston, is Coach Underwood in? I need to see him.”

“What a coincidence, I just got off the phone with Mary Lou asking her to tell you Dr. Underwood wanted to see you. Go on in.”

“I’ll wait out here.” I suggested tactfully.

“No, come on in, this involves you”

At that moment Dr. Underwood appeared at his office door. “Afternoon, Coach. Come on in.”

“Mrs. Winston would you bring us something to drink, I’ll have a diet Coke, what about you, Coach Mac? Miss, what would you like?”

“Diet Coke works for me as well, Mrs. Winston, please”

“I’ll have water, thank you,” I added.

“Now who is this angel, Coach, who you have just escorted into my office?”

“Dr. Underwood this is Charlotte Howard. She is the young lady I told you I met in Nashville at the Coach’s convention.”

“Oh yes, I remember, welcome to Curtis, Ms. Howard.”

Introductions made, we settled into the brown leather chairs under the windows in the AD’s spacious office. Mrs. Winston brought in the water and diet Cokes plus a dozen of the Oreos she knew Dr. Underwood loved. “Thanks and no thanks you temptress,” he teased, as she left and closed the door quietly to the office.

“PJ,” Dr. Underwood turned serious, “I need to talk with you about something.”

To PJ’s credit, he did not flinch when Dr. Underwood started what was sure to be about the rumor. I was proud of PJ; he looked like a man in charge. “Dr Underwood, if you don’t mind, I need to tell you something first; it’s pretty important”

“You are not resigning are you?”

“No sir, but you may want to consider firing me after we talk.”

“I hope not, sounds serious.”

“Yes sir, it is.” PJ leaned forward on the front edge of his chair. For the next 20 minutes, I sat enthralled as PJ professionally described the full story leaving nothing out. I knew PJ understood the possible ramifications of the rumor, but he did not flinch as he told his story. Dr. Underwood asked a few questions but remained calm in his leather wingback chair with his hands in his lap and eyes fixed on PJ.

When PJ paused, Dr. Underwood stood up and walked to his desk and picked up a sheet of paper before returning. “Son, I only want to know one thing.”

“Yes sir.”

“Is this a rumor or is it fact? Have you being seeing this young coed privately outside of your official school duties?”

“No sir, absolutely not!”

“PJ, I’ve seen this type of thing before and am obviously concerned, as you might imagine. But I have also found that covering up the truth is worse than the act itself.”

“There is absolutely no truth in this rumor, Dr. Underwood.”

Dr. Underwood smiled. “I believe you, PJ. Let me make a suggestion or two.”

“Sure.”

“Do not terminate Ms. Thomas’s internship. Do not get an attorney, make you look guilty, the University will provide one if necessary. And I suspect this will not be hard to do, spend some time on campus with Ms Howard. Let the student body see her. Might even hold hands and sneak a kiss or two. Don’t worry PJ, your reputation for honesty precedes you, you will be okay.”

“Thank you Dr. Underwood; you
cannot
believe how relieved I am.”

“Oh by the way, I had Mrs. Winston call you over anyway, I have some basketball business.”

“Do I need to step out and give you some privacy?” I suggested.

“No dear,” Dr Underwood replied immediately. “You can stay, if it is okay with PJ?”

“Thank you, I would very much like Charley to stay.”

“Charley huh? Getting serious?”

“Yes sir. Am I in trouble?”

Dr Underwood laughed. “Of course not. Now, I have some relatively good news for you. In the last two weeks, I have been approached by two AD’s, one during the Coach’s Conference, who are asking for permission to talk to you about head coaching vacancies in their programs. I refuse to stand in the way of my coach’s advancement. I gave them permission to talk to you. You should hear from them shortly. But I hope you will seriously consider staying with us.”

“Dr. Underwood, I am truly happy at Curtis and would not consider leaving except for an unusual opportunity. I’ll talk to you before I do anything.”

“PJ, I appreciate that.”

 “I am not going to tell you who called. First, I think it would be better not knowing who called me, so you don’t pre- determine whether you might want to talk with them. I encourage you to give everyone an equal opportunity to present their proposal. Sometimes a gem of great value can be found in the most unlikely places. Secondly, if I told you who called and they chose not to call for some reason, you will have gotten your hopes up only to be disappointed and perhaps resentful of their program or the AD. This could affect our decisions later in your career. I hope you understand. But I also hope you will tell me if you do decide to talk with another program.”

“Thanks, Dr. Underwood for the heads up. I will keep you in the loop if something comes up that would affect Curtis. I appreciate you looking out for me.”

*****

Once outside, PJ let out a deep sign as he sat on the steps of Old Main, the original administration building for the University. “Boy, I’m glad that is over. The old man could have really let the hammer down on me.”

“But he didn’t. Must be a good feeling to work for a man who has your back.”

“Did you hear what he said about getting those requests from other Athletic Directors?”

“Sounds like your dreams might be coming true. I know that makes you happy.”

“Sure does, great news!”

“Hey, why don’t you show me around?  The last time I was here, we were kind of preoccupied. Where is the Student Union?”

PJ took my arm and lead me across the Curtis campus. Unlike an hour earlier, his mood was livelier. He was telling me about the history of the Old English Building, seems like everything was the Old Something. I was nodding and laughing at his little jokes. “…and the President turned around with a Shakespearian mask. The crowd roared …”

Without a sound of warning, she walked up behind us and took PJ’s free arm. “Say Coach Mac, who’s your friend?”

It was as noticeable as night and day, the mood instantly changed.  No longer was PJ light hearted and care free. His smile turned down and his shoulders tensed up. He seemed to be preparing for battle; all this in a split second.

“Oh hi, Rachel. This is Charlotte Howard. Charlotte this is Rachel Thomas.”

“Good to meet you Ms. Thomas,” I said as I extended my hand.

Rachel ignored my hand. “Say aren’t you the lady that Coach met in Nashville? What are you doing on campus? Mind if I walk with you a little PJ? I’m on my way to the Student Union for a snack.”

With that she pulled herself closer to PJ’s side and fell in step with us, talking about nothing in particular, waving at small knots of students sitting on the lush lawn or walking across campus, and laughing and smiling at everyone.

A particularly pretty coed diverted her path to come over to us. “Congratulations Rachel, you and Coach must be happy.”

“We are, see you later, Robin.”

Rachel continued her mindless chatter until I couldn’t stand it anymore. “What is she talking about Rachel? Congratulations are in order? For what?”

“Yeah, Rachel,” PJ suddenly perked up and added. “What’s going on? What did she mean about you and I being happy?”

She stopped and looked at PJ, oblivious to my presence. “PJ, everyone thinks I’m pregnant and you are the father, so they want us to be happy. Sounds like a good idea to me. Don’t you think so?”

I didn’t have any idea what to do. I wanted to tell the little smartass to back off, but I held my tongue. This was PJ’s fight unless he asked me for help. The idea that he and this pushy coed could be involved together seemed so preposterous it was inconceivable anyone would even think it possible. But apparently some people did.

To PJ’s credit, he was prepared and refused to back away from the bombshell Rachel had just presented. “Rachel, we are not involved. I am the basketball coach at Curtis University and you are a student. I repeat,
student
, who also happens to be one of three
student
trainers for the team. We have never dated each other, you are not pregnant, and we have never had sex, so I cannot possibly be the father of your nonexistent baby. You have to stop this damned rumor now. If you keep it up, you could ruin my career, I can’t be involved with a coed. Hell Rachel, I am at least sixteen years older than you. This just doesn’t make sense, does it? What do you want? Do you even know what you want?”

“I know I want you. I have been in love with you for the last two years. Why do you think I arranged to be a trainer with the basketball team? Do you think I enjoy picking up towels and sweaty jocks and socks? Do you think I enjoy putting away equipment and wrapping some dumb jock’s ankles? I do that crap so I can be with you. We might as well be dating; I spend enough time with you. Maybe the rumor is true, you do care for me. You don’t date, you don’t go out. You need a girl friend. You won’t need anyone when you have me.”