The door closes behind the President and the Provost. Coach looks at the door and then looks back at me. He says, Really. Honestly. This is a good kid. I nod. He looks at the door. I say, Just for the hell of it, Coach? What if Blat dies? He shakes his head. He covers his eyes. I can't even think about it, he says. It's just too much. He opens the door. On the way out, he mumbles: The whole season . . . Everything we've worked for . . .