as the title suggests...this will be for goings  on, out side the  Dragon organization.

  The College  game m will be here, though it will be a  'quaerter  by quarter' thing.

  Max  and Lindsey can   run   their stuff there... any   text from them  should    start and be answered here.( Durning the game)

..........

 'Elsewhere ' will still be used   for Lindsey , Max  ect  for running  around Indy until the Game is over, and whatever   tie up they need before they get back  home

...........

 Sage   can  run around in any thread  she  can be in, that makes sense for her to be in. 'off  duty' will be a catch all for her.

 The   domed  stadium  was already Buzzing.  the  school bands   seated  and were  tuning in their   instruments.

  At the   sidelines were the two Booth Guys and  the  woman sideline  reporter  with some  Coffees  talkign to other    people , while the sound  guys  did  cjhecks  for   the   parabolas Mica  and the   Mics    the  sidlines  folks used.

It was close to 10 by the time they got to the stadium. Lindsey and group went straight to the box to meet the announcers and for Bob to set up his feeds. The announcers were already there, getting ready. Lindsey recognized the three of them from their online profiles. Baily Moddy, Vic Thomas,  and Colleen  Vibe.

"Good morning," Lindsey greeted them as she came in with her team. "I'm Lindsey Garret. Nice to meet you."

 Meeting  them at the  base of the stands on the   'home team' side of the stadium.

 Baily  smiled,ahhh yes, The  Girl from  New Jack.  I didn't see you on the
 First  roster .but some one penciled you in...and...Mindy Lacey?

Mindy  raises  her hand..That's Me. I am working out of New JAck ESPN studios now/ I don't officially start, until Wednesday, sorta doing this Freelance to  keep me  fresh..

 Colleen gave a smile to them, it was clear  she  felt   'above them' . but was nice.  doing the national feed . There  has been some  request  come through  the Network from the   Auburn AD. What we can do here, is  funnel things from the Booth
 to you. There  are dozens of the smaller  market  people, like you here. , they are mostly sending thier own feeds  home?, We'll see how much  we can get to you.

Mindy rasied  an eyebrow.

 Vic Thomas  nodded to both Ladies  and Bob,Keep your ear pieces in, and  we'll cue y0u in., when you cued , your Camera feed    will be adjusted  when the newtork opens the feed, when the close it, you'll still have the feed to your local.

The booth announcers were nice, though Colleen had that 'air' of snootiness. Mindy seemed less amused by her attitude, but held her tongue. What was with these network women? Smaller market people?  She was an NFL reporter, notionally aired, and Mindy was on ESPN. After a moment of reflection, Lindsey didn't care, as long as they got cut in once a quarter at least. Vic and Baily were straight up though.

"We'll pay attention to the cues. Thanks for getting us in." As annoying as Colleen might be, Lindsey wasn't about to burn that bridge.

    The Prodcution manager  Called  them  and told them it was time  to  egt to where they were going to be.

 The teams left the  field , getting ready to   finish gearing up for the  game.

  Baily and  Vic  shook thier Hands  again and made thier  way to the Booth.   volunteer assistants  were    setting up  cups of  water  for   the team and  the   Powerade containers.

 Mindy looked at Colleen..Where  should  we be?

  I'll be on this sidline for the 1st half, then on SC's sidline the  2nd half... you can go anyhtwhere you want, just stay out of my shots..This is   1st string , ladies. You have to pay your dues...

 her camera man  smiled a Bob.....You build that yourself? he grinned.

 I've used this  for the last 2  years.. takes  as good   a look as your machine.. Bon growled

 yeah...Ok....  and he  followed   Colleen to the other end of the sidline, where  the tigers would come out.

To Lindsey, Colleen seemed like another Winnie, but just a tiny bit less of a bitch. The difference here was that Lindsey was kind of guest depending on favors. Telling Colleen to fuck off might feel good, but it would get her nowhere. She would be better served  playing nice and getting her spots.

"Okay, Min. " She pulled Mindy aside. "I think we run this like any other game. Walk the sidelines and report.I'll take this one and you... well damn. We only have the one camera. I guess we can stick together. Make it like a Duet.What do you think?"

 Mindy   looked  around as the teams  came out onto the field. being announced  by the   stadium  Announcer.

 we're  here, we'll get   some  cut in, but other then that, I  guess were doing this for New Jack, She  pointed  to   the   section  , just  at the end of the  Coaching  Box/players  bow.  with  the Big screen   behind them showing   players on  the Vid screen.

 this will be the   best shot  we'll get. see what we can  find  as we move around.

...............................

    The  Kickoff  went to SC, they brought it  out  from 4 yards  deep to setlle in at the 29. The SC band  kicked in while the  TV  time  out played and the Offesne  went on the  field

1-10 T=29

   SC went with their traditional  power   Runs,   three headed  monster in the back field  boasted    2 speeders and  one battering Ram.

 What  was the dangerous  thing about SC  was thier  wideouts and TE... 4 WRs   who could start ofany other Progran, and a  TE  that has been compared to Ben Hope ( of course all 'good' TEs  were  compared to Ben) on the   6th play of thier first drive, #5  Buster Runns broke  free of the    LB  he   crashed  into  and   out  raced the converging  Safeties   for the next 30  yards,

  SC  was   excited, Though thier Quarterback  smiles a bit, he was still pretty level headed. and went to the tablets  to  lok over what they saw on  from the first 9 plays

 The Crowed  OHHHHHH..some cheered  as the PAT  was blacked

  USC 6  Auburn 0..9:59  1st quarter.

The ensuing kickoff was fielded three yards deep in the Tigers end zone by Woodson. He galloped past the well-blocked gunners, then accelerated to full speed as he crossed the twenty. He slipped a tackle just before crossing the thirty, then broke a pair of ankles with a juke near the forty. He was finally surrounded and pulled down at the forty-eight.

The Auburn offense came out in their standard 11 personnel, spreading the defense out. They started with two strong runs to get a first down at the SC thirty-five. The next two runs were stuffed, and SC brought a blitz on third and long. However, Auburn was ready for it and had a screen called. Just like that they were first and goal at the eight.

A short pass got them to the four, and then a inside trap looked like it would hit paydirt, but a holding call pushed them back. A draw play got them back to the five, and on third and goal, a fade to the wide side was pulled in for a Tigers Touchdown!

But there was more laundry on the field. OPI was called, setting the Tigers back and forcing a mid-range field goal try. The kick was good, but the three points weren’t what the Tigers wanted from a goal to go situation.

With 6:31 left in the quarter, the score was USC 6, Auburn 3.

  They Play  by play Guy and his color man  were  moving through the game  with the players. It was  clear they have  done this  100's of times together.

  Colleen  would be asked  what insights she had, and she always had  something about a Player who transferred...who grew up with the grandparents..who was a  5 star recruit. never seemed to Mis a beat

 Mindy watched the  game from their   spot  near the  25, they would hustle down  to  the far end  of, whichever  way the ball was Moving, and Bob got his own, view of  plays, using his own  , expertise  from covering    Jacksonville  and  FSU.

after the Trojan's  Touchdown. Baily   waited  for  Colleen's  piece  on Buster Runns  2 state championships  as a  Jr and Sr at Braddock High in pittsburgh, and how he had to make a Choice between   USC and Pitt. In the  end, the acting  program , and the sun and Fun won him over.

Then , seemlessly  he  Cut to Lindsey and  Mindy. So  smoothly it was just as if   it was part of thier broadcast team for years.

 .....

 Mindy Told   Lindsey,Look..we have to play this  by the Book? My Contract with ESPN doesn't  start until Wendensday morning.... I won't  break any  Union Rules. So i have to be your 'guest' here and i'll try to  add to anything  you say, if /when you cue me. You're on the clock for New Jack.

about that time  they saw Runns break through  for a big Touchdown run... the SC  band broke it no the fight  song as the far   sidleine   looked like a sea of cardinal as the players Jumped up and down..The PAT was Blocked..and SC  was leading 6-0.

 after Colleens  bit on Runns, Baily said,As  some people  may know  we have a guest  announcer   on the field level...Ms Lindsey Garret of the  New Jack Studios, doing some  work down there, as  The Dragons have  rooting  intertest of sorts   in this  GAme.... Lindsey?

one of the  Network  Cams ( with Colleen standing  , well back of the Shot aimed at them. the light came on to let Lindsey know...behind her   Tigers were  either shaking  their heads,  or excited by the Blocked PAT.

...............................

...................................

 The ebb and flow of the Tigers possession, ended bittersweet  as a push off  by the WR, negated  at TD, and the  FG, was salvaged  after a promising drive.

  Once More Colleen came up m with a story of  the WR who pushed off, having  stepped into a starter  roll after their  #2  wideout went  down in the  last regular season game. With her  explaining, the  Head Coach  shook off the  loss of points  saying, the  Wideout was -playing hard, and he doesn't mind , mistakes of aggression.

 Once more, and Just as smoothly, Baily asked Lindsey and Mindy for what they might have   picked up, on the Tigars  sideline.

When Baily cut over to Lindsey, She was ready on feed. "Thanks for the intro Baily. This is Lindsey Garret and with me is Mindy Lacy." "Yeah so, that was a great run by Running Back Buster Runns. Did you see how he broke the stop by the Linebacker then crashed through safeties for the touchdown. From where I'm standing, and you can bring that up on the replay, I also noticed the USC Center Bass Master cut against the defensive tackle making that hole for Runns to get some momentum. I talked to Master yesterday and he explained how he ad to read the defensive plays to direct the offensive line. With that cut he showed how everyone on the offense is involved in every touchdown. No hole, no score."

"Mindy, did you want to add anything?"

After Mindy's comments, Lindsey kicked it back. "Back to you Baily."

------

The Tigers got their chance with a fantastic drive, but penalties held them back. When Baily cued her in Lindsey had her say:

"That was a great drive, starting with a fantastic midfield return by Max Woodson. Of course I have to point out that Max is the younger brother of Rock Woodson, an Auburn Alumnus and new defensive back to my New Jack Dragons. Auburn Quarterback Jack Dempsey did everything right moving the ball with a series of short passes. They knew this was going to be a tough game and came ready to fight for every yard. Like Colleen said, that OPI was simply Wide Receiver Davis Calder showing the Trojans defensive back that they're here to play hard. I'll say this, though: while that touchdown was pulled back, the Trojan defense can't feel good about the face that it was the Tigers that stopped that touchdown. This is already shaping up to be a great game just ahead of the holidays. Baily?"

  For the First Touch Down, Mindy used  a head  set, leaving the  'Logo' mic in Lindsey's hands.

 Looks like the safeties  as  cheating to the sidelines. Giving the Corners some Help with the SC   wideouts? there's alot of room to roam in that middle.


..............

After the Tigers  score. Mindy nodded,USC's secondary coach, said they made sure to lay it out  for the Refs  during the  Meet and greets. that  the   push offs were a staple?... Tall Long armed   receiver, he's going to have to learn to get open with out  extension.. Too many eyes on this  game.

 .................
..................

 The   Kick came  back,  it was high and not  quite  as long , fielded at the   1...the   Retuen ma didn't  even Mess  around, he  Shot  forward,  a  missed  tackle  at the 14, ended up  with the Ball on the   28.


   while the TV  time out happened  Colleen addressed the two Ladies.You were a bit free with you  judgments..we're you?

 I will say this, as  Nice  as i am abloe. I have  done Pro Football for a bit over t wo years. and  covered the  Spring football league team in  Nashville ,  and there is a differance.., You got  kids out therer, playing thier eharts out   for thier  school..some?  for thier  draft status....but i get a chance to call it as i see it...I am... People change the station because of something i said? they don't care about the GAme..

Her  eyes shifted to Mindy..I've  done studio abd  sideline  for  10 years....

  Keep your hopes up... the NFL  may call on day.

 Colleen   gave  Lindsey a  shift6y look the   moved off  to watch the Trojans  next drive.

....................

  Oncenmore the  Trojans  ran a  hurry up, with  people holding up placards  with all manner of cartoons  and  giant letters.  Olson would Look at his   wrist and  call out the  play  from the  choices they gave him.. More then  Once he held  up both hands , meaning he had his own Play call

...

# 6 Callen Sticks m was  finding  holes  as he leaned  and weaved  to the line. almost every hit he took was  hard.. but he was  cracking off    6 yards a pop.

 after their  first , first down, Olsen  watched the play clock, he  waved   Sticks  back to the sidecar.., the  Fake to  Sticks  Brought the Line  backers  and safeties into the Middle.. Olsen   lobbed  a rainbow  down the right side line..Sid  Gains  was out pacing the Corner, who turned to see that the Safeties had Bite on the fake   run...  Sid  Gains #88    brought the ball in, and coasted the last 8 yards .

 The Band  struck up the song as the Refs arms went up... once it was  confirmed, the  Trojans  blockers the   crashers and the Kick was  good.

  there  was  3:46  left in the first  quarter.  SC 13..Tigers  3

 ...............

  I wonder if  Coach  Sims  would draft any of those  running backs, or  that Gains guy?... They'll never get to   touch Olsen. she  said to  Lindsey as she watched the replay on the Board.

  Baily Cut  down to them, as soon as Colleen did her Piece..

When Collen came to make a comment about their insights, Lindsey was actually confused s to what she was getting at. That's what insight commentary was suppose to be. It was great to drop bits of backstory on the players. Lindsey even liked that and planned to emulate it after a fashion, but still people liked extra insight on the game and the plays. She didn't think they were overly judgemental or whatever Colleen meant. Mindy, seemed to take it differently. After letting Colleen know that they were going to call it as they saw it and a bit of a catty jab, Colleen went her merry way.

"I guess she thought we would just repeat what had already been said and smile?" She shrugged.

----------------

For USC's next possession, they moved the ball methodically down the field. In the end, Olson tossed one to Gains who brought it home. The extra kick was good, cementing a solid lead for the Trojans. 13-6

"Well, they have a second round pick now." Lindsey responded. "I think you're right. Olson will go in the first round, but if he can grab Runns or Sticks, we could use a guy that hits through like he does."

Baily went through the rounds after the PAT, Colleen again first then Lindsey after.

"That was a heck of a drive. Callen Sticks is giving as good as he gets and racking up some great yardage at the same time. almost six yards a carry is amazing. He's fast and he's tough. That was why he was so successful as a line backer in high school. That said, it's only the first quarter and he's taking some good shots. We'll see how long he can keep this up. But still, with the running game bring it down the field, it's no wonder the Tigers' defensive backs bought the fake run, giving Sid Gains the sideline for the six. Mindy. how did you see it?"

"And back to you, Baily."

  Mindy only added, Its  early? There's  still a  few minutes  left in the   1st Quarter. We have seen people say through the years of   a QB, trying to do 'too much'. It works for other Positions  as well. Those Backers  were having  fun , dishing out  hits,  and the safeties' didn't like the Sticks giving  some Punishment back... I'm sure the  Tigers   Coaches  we'll settle  the team  down, and have players  worry about their  own responsibilities.

 Colleen  watched from out of the picture. Only a  tiny smile on the outside of Mindy's lips, betrayed that Mindy knew Colleen watched.

The kickoff from USC was a short bouncing kick. Seemed they didn't want to kick it deep to Auburn's #2 and instead opted for an early squib to keep Woodson from hurting them with a big return. The play sort of worked - there was no way Max was getting the squibber. But it was fielded cleanly by the up-back around the twenty, and he had plenty of room to roam, making his way across the thirty-five without resistance. He picked up a block and ran over a would-be tackler and again gave the Tigers great field position at their own forty-four with 3:40 to play in the first.

Max had started to jog off when his coach pointed back at the field, so instead he joined the offensive huddle. Given the avoidance of giving him a touch on the kickoff, it was unsurprising that his presence in the slot to the wide side of the field drew the slot corner and caused a safety to roll over the top on first down. At the snap, Max took a jab step, then dropped back to receive a screen pass. SC was all over it, knowing that was one of Auburn's pet plays when Max was out there for an offensive play. In this case, it was all just so much window dressing as the pass never came that direction. The USC safeties had to get some credit for adjusting on the fly, as one covered the outside receiver to the wide side who was sprinting down the field, and the other found the tight end who had broken off and was dragging across toward the boundary cleared out by the wide-side receiver. It helped that Dempsey was looking over at the wide side the whole time. Or at least that's how he used his eyes to move the safeties. The split end that had started on the short side of the field had been going on a post the entire time. With the safeties vacated, it was an easy pitch and catch to Calder. The Tigers coaches had decided to go right back to him after the OPI, and their man delivered a huge gainer. He was tripped up as he crossed the Trojans' fifteen, but it was a huge play to get Auburn immediately into the Red Zone.

Max subbed out as the Tigers went back to their standard 11 personnel as they settled into their red zone possession. The first play after the big pass was an outside zone run back to the left side of the field, which picked up modest yardage, but it set up play action on second down. The SC linebackers bit hard, but the secondary did their job. Still, the separation between the defensive layers was exploited by the Auburn TE, who caught the ball at the seven, got hit at the five and fell forward to the four, setting up another first and goal-to-go situation.

The Tigers sent in the heavies, going with 23 personnel on first down. SC was largely ready for it as they shot every gap they could. However, Lamont Carver was not to be denied. He smashed into the line on first down and got a hard-earned yard. On second down, they ran a power play off-tackle to the right, and Carver pulled guys toward the stripe, though came up half a yard short. On third and goal from the half yardline, Auburn motioned the TE next to the QB and again handed to Carver. The Auburn back took the handoff in stride, got close to the pile of bodies forming around the one yard line and leaped over the top. He was met in the air by the USC MLB, but momentum was all on Carver's side and both Carver and the ball ended up in the end zone. Touchdown, Auburn!

This time there was no laundry on the field and Aubie raced up and down the sideline with an AU flag to celebrate the score. The Auburn band started playing the fight song, quieted for the extra point (which was perfect) and then started up the fight song again after the XP.

USC 13 Auburn 10 with 0:14 showing on the first quarter clock.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:59, Wed 26 Oct 2022.