That Friday's practice was so intense, Coach had to keep reminding us to take it easy. The mood among the students improved a little, and like I suspected, the video's of Matt's performance with the cheerleaders went viral.
The weekend past quietly. I watched a little college football on television, but avoided any news especially the local news. Mom kept telling me no news was probably good news, but it didn't feel that way. I also went by the Faulkner place a few times, but no one was there. Like Mom's 'no news being good news' it was probably a good thing—it meant they were still searching for her, but it also meant they hadn't found her, and no matter how you looked at it, that was a bad thing.
A few students showed up at the fence to watch Monday's practice. There were more on Tuesday and even more on Wednesday. Their presence really seemed to lift the guys spirits. At least while we were on the field, we could think about something other than Izzy.
Coach ran a light practice on Thursday and as the team took a knee at the conclusion, the student's at the fence headed for the parking lot.
"I'm real proud of you guys," Coach began, "you put in one hell of an effort this week. I think you all worked harder than tryouts—that seems like a lifetime ago. You all have developed into a group of fine young men. You've shown the courage to stand together and rise up in the face of adversity. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow night, but I know you will give it your all. I can't imagine coaching a finer group, and I'll be proud to take the field with you. Make sure you attend to your studies and get a good night's rest. I'll see you all tomorrow."
We all pressed in around Coach, did our chant and concluded with a loud, "Warriors!"