CHAPTER 2

The next year, I was a freshman, enrolled at the same school my father taught and coached at. By now, I was six foot four and weighed close to two hundred twenty pounds. It was a given, I would play football, I was my father's son after all. My dad had been around football long enough to know that a strength and conditioning program was vital to a team's success. He immediately started me on a rigid weight lifting program as well as making sure I was getting all the essential supplements I needed to be successful. I didn't play in any games my freshman year, I spent just about every waking minute in the weight room. Initially my weight dropped to around two hundred pounds, but then slowly it came back. By the end of my freshman year I was again back to two hundred twenty pounds, but now had very little fat on my body. I was leaner and much stronger after just one year in the program. During the summer that year, my dad sent me to the local college to work out with a buddy of his, who coached there. My dad had designs that as a sophomore, I would start on the defensive line for the varsity.

After several weeks in the weight room, I could not help but notice how huge the players were, but more importantly how strong they were. It was routine to see lineman squatting over five hundred pounds, their strength was incredible. As I began to ask questions about training techniques, diet and supplements, one thing became obvious. There were other factors in play here. Just about every player to a man, either had taken, or was taking steroids on a periodic basis.

I was told that if I truly wanted to play this sport at the higher levels, I would too have to dabble into the underworld of performance enhancing drugs. Because I had always heard such negative things about steroids, I truly had no idea what to think, much less if I thought taking these were a good idea. By the time the summer came to a close, I was sure of one thing. If I wanted to play major college football, I would have to take drugs, and the time was now.

With no one else to turn to, I decided to talk to my dad knowing he would be straight with me. He was seated at the kitchen table, eating his normal late night supper. I brought up the subject carefully, watching the reaction on his face. He immediately raised his objections citing long term health issues that arise in athletes that take steroids. But even as he was rattling off cases that he was familiar with, I could see he knew the truth. I am not sure who he was trying to convince more, me or him. I listened intently but by the end of his lecture, he could see I was not that impressed. He looked down carefully thinking, then backed up at me.

"Brian, if you really feel you have to do this, please don't hide it. I do not want you to take drugs, period. But with that said, I know many of my players do, it comes with the job. Just promise me, if you decide to do it, let me know. I will put you in touch with someone I know. He will make sure you take the correct things, and you take doses that will decrease the chances of long term side effects. Just promise me that.", he begged.

"If I do it, I will let you know Dad. I promise.", I replied.

I read up as much as I could over the next few months about the types of anabolic steroids, both oral and injections. I still had no clue what to do searching through the endless maze of information available, so I decided to take my father up on his offer to put me in touch with someone who did. He immediately took me to a body building facility that was located close to the college gym I had been using for months. Apparently the owner of the gym, an ex-Olympic power lifter, had helped other players in the past. My father introduced us, then began to explain exactly what he had in mind. The huge man shook his head in approval, saying he knew exactly what to do.

During the off seasons and summers I worked out exclusively at the health club, keeping my distance from the prying eyes of the school. I was given six week cycles of testosterone, durabolin and , taking each once daily by injection. After each six week cycle, I would abstain for six weeks, cleaning myself out completely. Almost immediately you could see the results the drugs were having. I became stronger, thicker and more muscular in a very short time. My weight jumped up over thirty pounds in less than one year. By the time I started my sophomore year, people were beginning to take notice of me. Girls that a year ago didn't look in my direction, were now looking, and smiling a lot. It was nice, but I put it out of my mind, football was all I cared about. Fall practice was just around the corner and I was determined to make the varsity team, even though it would be extremely tough this year, they were loaded with talent. Not to mention the twenty two seniors who were returning for their last year. Combine that with the fact, I had to be head and shoulders above everyone else, just so my dad wouldn't be accused of playing favorites. I attended the voluntary after school practices with the assistant position coaches. My dad was not allowed to be at these practices, it was a state rule. We could not work out as a team, only in groups by position. As soon as practice was over, I would jump on the bus, make my way across town to the health club and train for several hours. It was exhausting, I was never home and if I was , I was sleeping. It was during these first few months of school my dad met

Ashley, the new history teacher. Ashley was an immediate hit, especially with all the boys at school. She was a knockout to say the least. She was close to six foot tall, a former college volleyball player, with an incredible, athletically fit body, only twenty six years of age. Her face could have graced any fashion modeling magazine, her skin creamy smooth and clear, her large blue eyes sparkling like a clear mountain creek. The fact that she was only twenty six didn't hurt either.

Ashley and my Dad immediately hit it off, much to the chagrin of most of the males at the school. They began dating on a regular basis and it became apparent very quickly, they had fallen in love. My Dad's true love was football, nothing else ever came close, until Ashley. My Dad started rationing his time prudently, making sure he and Ashley always had their time together. I was happy for him, she was a really nice girl and I could tell she was nuts about him. They were together every night, either at her place, or at our house. It didn't matter much to me, I didn't get home until close to eight o'clock every night, and when I did, I ate quickly, took a shower and went to bed. Ashley was always extremely kind to me, I am guessing because my Dad had spoken about my early childhood. Even though she insisted I call her Ashley or Ash, as my Dad did, she was still Miss Thompson to me. One thing my Dad insisted on was manners. I had to be polite or I faced his consequences, so I learned very quickly to say yes sir, when needed.