Safety

This is WSBF, and it's a beautiful day in South Carolina.

Fall is here.

So, it's time to warm up the pecan pie and pour a nice glass of sweet tea,

because the wait is over, folks.

Clemson Football is back.

I know the seniors are anxious for redemption.

And the new group of talented freshmen are entering campus today,

hoping to define their legacy.

If you don't have your season tickets, get 'em fast

'cause they're selling like hot cakes.

There's rumors of a special half-time performance

during this year's Bowden Bowl that you don't wanna miss.

Both coaches, father versus son. It'll be the rivalry of the year.

[HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

- - My fault. My fault, my fault.

- Bad time? - Oh, no, sorry.

- I'm Daniel. - Ray.

- Hey. - Are you...

You on the team?

- Ouch. Okay. Okay. - Hey, hey, no disrespect.

No, no, no. It's cool. What position?

Safety.

Yeah? Yeah, you look like a safety.

I was a Long Island linebacker, two years runnin'.

For real?

No. Look at me. I'm the third-string kicker.

But don't get it twisted. I could lay a lick on someone if I gotta.

Yes, sir.

What you got over there?

Ah.

Care package from a special lady?

Nah. It's a joke from my little brother.

Oh, that's cute.

Yeah, I have five older brothers, you know?

Felt like a punching bag all my life.

Are you hungry?

We got lasagna, braciole, homemade bread.

Mama's special.

There you go.

Oh. No, thank you. I can't take your food.

Oh, no, no, no. Where I'm from, not takin' the food is the insult.

Besides, we're roommates now, Ray. What's mine is yours.

Mangia, come on.

What does sacrifice mean to you?

To me, means puttin' it all on the line.

It means being selfless...

Let's go.

Committed.

Let's go! Let's go!

You can't be satisfied.

There ain't no room for comfortable.

You must sacrifice.

Pick 'em up! Get down!

Go. Turn it up.

- Move! Let's go!

We Tigers over here, baby. That's what Tigers do!

Let's go!

The hell's goin' on, Ray? You tired?

Want us to stop practice for you? We'll wait.

It's through sacrifice...

Turn it up!

- ...we find honor and tradition. Let's go!

Now our tradition here, it's unlike any other.

Now I know you all saw the hill on your official visits.

If you're fortunate enough to make it through training camp, some won't,

you'll get to experience that honor of runnin' down that hill.

And I'll tell ya,

I guarantee that is the most exciting 25 seconds of your life.

The Howard's Rock is sacred.

It's sacred to this team, it's sacred to this community.

We touch it every single game for a reason.

It's up to you to figure out why.

But I will tell ya this.

If you are not gonna give me 110%,

you keep your filthy hands off it.

Coach?

For those who don't know me, I'm Coach Simmons,

but I did get to know most of you during recruitment.

And if you remember my first day, what'd I tell ya?

Bein' a student athlete's gonna be hard.

Now, you upperclassmen, you already know what I'm talkin' about.

Freshmen, you're about to find out.

So tomorrow mornin', 5:30 a.m., you got first practice.

Don't be late. Hey, Keller, where are ya?

Here, Coach.

Got any advice for these young pups?

Good luck.

- - No.

Five more minutes.

- Daniel! Wake up! -

Daniel, wake up! It's 5:26.

Ow!

Daniel!

Let's go! Push it! Come on now!

Let's go!

Let's go, Keller! Good knees, good knees!

Head up! Find that ball! Let's go!

Move! Let's move!

Push yourself! Let's go! Don't you touch my back. Let's go!

- Hands up, eyes up... I like that one!

Cramp, cramp, cramp.

Hey, you all right, man? - Hold on.

Hey, what's up? - Cramp, cramp, cramp...

- -

Thanks, man.

Don't cheat my drill, son. Don't cheat my drill.

If we're in base temp of two,

and they come out trips to the wide side of the field,

we know what we have to do.

We need to go cover six, right?

This our bread and butter here.

This is the base nickel cover two. And the third-and-long?

All you corners, I want you hard on the flat.

And the safeties, nothin' over the top.

Don't you dare let anything get over you.

And the nickel, it's real important here, all right?

Ray? Listen to me.

Anything comes across your face, you let 'em have it. You got that?

Come on, man, we got some of that...

Run 'em, Riley! Hold that stretch!

Back it up!

- Yo, Coach. - Yo.

You think I could leave practice early to pick up my textbooks?

Don't wanna miss the deadline to get 'em.

Sounds like a personal problem to me, son.

You can pick up your textbooks after practice.

By the time we finish, there's only a few minutes left to get back to campus.

I see. You're sayin' it's my fault and I scheduled it wrong?

No. That's not what I meant.

- That's not what you meant? Hey, Morrow. - Yes, sir. 'Sup, Coach?

You senior? - Yes, sir.

Ever have any problems gettin' your textbooks on time?

- No, sir. Come on, now. I thought so.

It's called time management, and the faster you learn that,

the faster you're gonna build our trust to put you on the field.

Now, I told you it wasn't gonna be easy when I recruited you.

And what I tell you right now, great players only need to hear once.

Scholarships are yearly.

So, if you don't perform on the field and in the classroom,

they're gonna take it away. You hear me?

Yes, sir.

Wait, wait, wait...

Sorry, we're closed. We open again at 8:00 a.m.

Just have to pick up the textbooks I ordered. It won't take long.

Sorry, we're closed.

You don't understand. I gotta have 'em today or I get in trouble.

And I have to close on time or I'll get in trouble.

Hey, I got it, Chris.

I can grab the books. You can go.

You sure?

Yeah, no, I still gotta put some things up, anyway, so I can lock up.

- Thank you. -

Ray McElrathbey.

Psychology 101.

You sure you don't wanna take Nutrition for Athletes

like every other player?

Good thing I'm not "every other player."

Besides, I can't depend on football to hold me down for life.

Need to plan after.

Okay. A real, uh, student athlete, huh?

Thanks for helpin' me with the books...

- Kaycee. - Nice to meet you.

Oh, man! You're batting 2-0-5 against a pitcher that can't throw a fastball.

Just be patient. It's not that hard, dude!

Take it you like sports?

Sports reporter.

I've been on the Tigers' staff since last year. I just do this part-time.

Sorry for my diatribe.

- I'm trying to get better... - I love you.

What?

- I love it. - Oh, okay.

Yeah, you likin' sports. I love that you like sports.

Right. Yeah.

I play sports, so I thought...

- Right. Yeah. - Yeah. Okay.

- Uh... Walk me out? - Yeah.

You know, I actually been followin' sports my whole life.

- Oh, really? - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- - I'm so sorry. One second. Gotta take it.

Fay, what do you want?

For starters, little bit more excitement to hear from me.

- I'm busy. - Talkin'-to-a-girl busy?

- Hey! - Yep. It's a girl.

What do you want?

Man, I need you to sign this discipline paper for class.

What did you do this time?

Man, the system's against me.

- So am I! Go to bed, Fay! - Come on, bro!

Go to bed! Go, go.

Yeah, so...

Kaycee?

Oh, my...

Come on! Yeah! Simmons!

You're the man!

Our favorite time of day, right?

All right, y'all know what time it is right here.

Let's do it! - Check it out.

- You get it now. - As my upperclassmen know,

- the game is won or lost in the trenches. - Yes. Yes.

Yes, sir.