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National Championship By Otis Odom
Photos provided by Otis Odom The stadium lights are shining bright as the teams jog out on the field. I am hyped and ready to show how a true freshman can shine on one of the biggest stages of an athlete’s college career. The opponent’s fans are screaming, “Let’s go Cougars, let’s go!” Looking up in the stands at the hundreds of Reinhardt Eagles fans, some are standing, but most of them are sitting and yelling out names of the different players. I can see my entire family in the stands there to support me. I am so ready to get this game started and score on special teams. A couple of days before the big game, the team had practiced at Valdosta High School. During
practice, I dropped several punts. From the sideline, I heard Coach Blue say to one of my teammates, “Chambliss, you’re up!” I knew in that moment I was in trouble. I said, “I can’t catch shit.” Before the next punt was kicked, I felt a heavy hand grab my shoulder and turn me around aggressively. There I was, looking up at a six-foot-tall white man with an aggravated look on his face. Coach Miller asked, “Son, what’s going on?” I responded in an agitated voice, “The ball keeps going every which way at the last second.” He turned away from me and looked toward my teammate, then
said, “Okay, Chambliss, come catch punts.” In my head, after every kick, I was hoping he would drop one so I could keep my spot. Chambliss didn’t drop one punt. My teammate next to me yelled out, “Good job, Ronnie!” Then Coach Miller said, “Otis, come catch this last punt.” I said to myself, No pressure, Otis. Just breathe and relax. I caught it, and we ended practice. Now, I still can’t believe I’m at the National Championship game as I catch punts from the kicker at warm-ups. I do a little dancing, trying to get a relaxed vibe going. As I am catching my final punt before warm-ups are over, I hear a fan say, “Oh yeah, Otis! We are going to get one today!” I can’t let everybody in the stands down. Big-time players make bigtime plays in big games. All my teammates are jumping and clapping around me after I catch the punt. They are yelling, “Yeeeaaaa!” It’s showtime! I have a little grin on my face. It’s nothing but a normal game, but I’ve got to make a big play. Prior to the game starting, we huddle up as an entire team to pray. At the end of the prayer, we break it down, saying, “Family!” That is the loudest we’ve ever sounded. That sends cold chills
