Between Sundays (24 page)

But he could spend the rest of his days loving their little boy.

M
ore than 70,000 fans packed the newly renovated Superdome for the NFC championships the third Sunday in January, but Derricks attention was on just one person. His teammate, Aaron Hill. The pageantry of the contest caused the pregame to be drawn out an additional half hourmore time to focus on the task ahead.

Before the coin toss, Derrick found Aaron on the sidelines and grabbed his arm. You play with the power of God today, understand?

No other way. Aarons eyes held a fire Derrick hadnt seen since he joined the team.

Derrick slapped Aarons helmet and then walked down the line, yelling encouragement at players and groups of players. This is it, boysthis is our day! He stopped at Jay Ryder and spoke a few inches from his face. Whether you play a down or not, youre a winner, Ryder, you understand me?

Jay nodded, but he wasnt quite focused, his feet antsy. The teams two punters were questionable, and Coach had told them Jay might have to step in. Jay, who hadnt punted in a game since high school. Derrick slapped Jays shoulder a few times as the announcers voice echoed through the building, driving the fans into a frenzy.

You hearing me, Ryder? Derrick shouted above the roar of the crowd. Youre a winner, man. You get the whole between Sundays thing. He gripped the back of Jays helmet and met him straight on. When the seasons over were gonna change some lives, but right nowright now were taking no prisoners!

This time Jays eyes were clear and intense. He nodded and then he smacked Derrick on the arm. Im readyready, man. Lets get it!

Already they had made history. No wild card team since 1989 had even made it to the NFC championship game. But here they were. Derrick moved closer to the field and watched as his team won the coin toss and elected to receive. They would have the chance to draw first blood. Derrick bounced on his toes. His knee hurt but not as much as before. If Aaron needed him, hed be ready. His eyes moved up to the seats of the packed stadium, to the vast sections of red and the handmade cardboard signs that said, 49ers Faithful and We Believe! and Its Our Turn!

The Superdome rocked with noise, roaring with the excitement. The marching band competed with the announcer, and TV cameras were everywhere. Derrick eyed the roof of the structure. This was the first time hed been here since the stadium reopened after Hurricane Katrina. He smiled. The city had done a great job on the storied building, improving it in record time so that it stood as a beacon of hope and determination to all who passed by. The city would rise again. The way the 49ers might win today and also rise again. And with the changes in Aaron

Be with him, Godguide his hands.

Derrick stretched his arms one at a time, and then rattled off twenty high-knees. The nervous energy and noise in the building was infectious, and up and down the sideline Derrick could tell his teammates felt the same way. Antsy, anxious, ready to get the show on the road. The San Francisco offense was on the field ready for their leader. A few more seconds with Coach Cameron and Aaron jogged to the middle of the huddle. Even the way he carried himself was different than earlier in the season. The story was on all the sports news shows, the change in Aaron Hill and how it couldnt have happened at a better time for the 49ers.

Derrick grinned in the direction of his friend. If his sense about the game was right, the sports anchors would have more to talk about after today. Come on, Hilltake it to em! He shouted the words as loud as he could, not that Aaron could hear him. In the Superdome, noise had nowhere to go. Aaron would have an almost impossible time calling plays today. But that was okay too. Coach Cameron had worked on hand signals all week, not just with Aaron but with the entire team.

Aaron took the first snap, danced around the pocket for what seemed like forever, and then fired an eighteen-yard bullet to one of the rookie receivers. Derrick jumped along the sidelines, high-fiving his teammates and smacking shoulder pads. They could do thishe could feel it. He stopped and bent over his knees watching as the next play started. Aaron handed off and the rusher dodged two tacklers for a five-yard gain. Derrick paced a few steps in either direction, clapping his hands, hard and intense. Keep it going, boyskeep it going!

The drive didnt stall once. From the New Orleans twelve-yard line, Aaron took the snap and tossed a floater into the end zone. The receiver had no one near him, and he reeled it in for a touchdown. San Francisco 7, Saints 0, and only two minutes had fallen off the clock. But the Saints werent about to be outdone. Theyd gone most of the history of the franchise without playoff success. They battled back, nicking away at the yardage and using up seven minutes to notch a twenty-four-yard field goal.

During the Saints drive, Aaron came up to Derrick and grinned. I feel great, man. I can see the field, every player. He shook his head, amazed. I just wish I wouldve listened to you sooner.

Yeah, ya dummy. He smacked Aarons shoulder pads. Thatll teach you.

A TV timeout, and then Aaron and the offense were back on the field. Aaron threw beautiful passes and with first and nine, goal to go, he took the snap and watched his pocket collapse, watched the Saints defense move into the end zone to cover the receivers, and suddenly the only thing in front of him was green. Without the slightest hesitation, he tucked the ball to his side and ran toward the goal line.

At the same time, the star linebacker for New Orleans realized what was happening. He ran to stop Aaron, and at the last minute the linebacker left his feet and grabbed at the quarterback. In the process, their two helmets made a sickening crash, and Aaron fell limp into the end zone. The officials had their hands raised straight in the air, signaling the touchdown. But already Coach Cameron was waddling out onto the field, his face stricken.

A hush fell over the crowd, and people rose to their feet. Derrick wanted to run out, too, but he couldnt. Coaches needed to assess injuries first and thenif the player was down for several minutesother players might be allowed out to offer encouragement or to pray. Derrick moved along the sideline as far as he could, so he was parallel with his friend. Aaron was motionless, Derrick could see that better now. His legs were sprawled out just the way theyd been when he first collapsed.

Get up, manget up! he shouted, his voice tight with fear. Hed seen hits like this before, and once in a while a guy never got up again. A shudder ran through him, and he shouted again. Get up, Hill!

The linebacker was already up, his hands on his hips, head hung, pacing dizzy circles a few feet from where Aaron lay. One of the New Orleans coaches ran out to meet him, and the two walked off the field to the Saints sidelines.

On the JumboTron screens, the network was showing the replay in slow motion. Derrick didnt want to look, but he had to, had to see how serious the hit was. At the point of impact, Aarons head reacted violently, snapping sharply back. As the replay ran, a horrifying gasp came from the crowd. Derricks eyes darted back to his teammate on the field. Get up, man!

But Aaron still hadnt moved. Coach Cameron was surrounded by other coaches and a host of trainers, and now Coach waved frantically at the paramedics on the opposite sideline. His message was unmistakable. Get here. Fast. The paramedics pushed a stretcher between them as they jogged out to the place where Aaron lay. One of them had his arm tucked around a backboard and a brace.

God, pleasenot Aaron. Wake him up, Godthis cant be happening!

Aaron had told him earlier that hed invited Megan, the woman from the youth center, and Cory, the boy. There was more to the story, Aaron told him. Theyd have to talk about it later. Now Derrick looked into the stands, wondering where they were, knowing they were also praying for Aaron.

Finally, after several minutes, the paramedics lifted Aaron and strapped him to a backboard. Carefully, they lifted him onto the stretcher and as they did, Aaron moved his feet. As if he wanted to get the message out to everyone in the stadium, he flexed his toes and then pulled his knees up.

Derrick bent halfway over and exhaled. Thank you, God. The hit hadnt done permanent damage to his spine, that much was obvious now. Derrick straightened again, just as Aaron raised one thumb into the air. Slowly at first, the shocked fans began to clap and cheer, and over the next few seconds their show of support for Aaron grew into a thunderous roar. Aaron Hill might be down, but he wasnt out.

Only then, as they wheeled Aaron toward the tunnel, did Derrick snap back to reality. They still had a little more than three quarters to play, and Aaron was out! Derrick was so worried about his friend that he hadnt remembered until just now that suddenly he was the quarterback, the one the entire team would be looking to.

Derrick sucked in a quick breath and jogged in place for a few seconds. He was ready. Never mind the pain in his knee, hed been playing on it all season. And back home in San Francisco, Denae and the kids would be pulling for him, cheering him on, covering him in prayer.

He was stretching his arms again when Coach Cameron yelled for him.

The game was in progress, the Saints offense on the field, but it was stalling fast. The 49ers defense was fired up, determined to pay back New Orleans for its debilitating blow to their quarterback. Derrick jogged closer. Coach? Derrick could see desperation in the mans eyes. Even getting this far, if the 49ers lost today, Coach Camerons job in San Francisco was likely over.

As they stood facing each other, their eyes locked, Coach Camerons fear turned to sheer determination. Warm up, Anderson.

Yes, Coach.

Derrick grabbed a couple of receivers and a ball and moved to a clearing on the sidelines. On the field, the Saints punted and the network called a TV timeout. Derrick ran his tongue over his lower lip. This was his moment, the one hed come to San Francisco to play. He had time for just six warm-up throws and a few words with Coach before he ran out onto the field.

He expected to see wide eyes in the huddle, and thats exactly what he found. But it wasnt the big-eyed look of fear and uncertainty. The offensive line, the receivers, the tailbacksall of them were intent on victory for one reasonthey trusted Derrick Anderson. Most of them were young enough that theyd probably grown up watching him play on TV. If Aaron Hill was out, Derrick could lead them. There wasnt a San Francisco player on the field who didnt believe that.

Derrick took the snap and straightened in the pocket. Whatever pain his knee had felt all season, faded in the rush of the moment. He was playing the game, his game! He had a chance to make good on a promise hed made six years ago, and nothingnothing was going to stand in his way. He dominated through the second quarter, but three drives fell short of a score. The Saints, having collected themselves, rallied for ten points, giving San Francisco just a four-point lead going into halftime.

Derrick wasnt worried. Hed found his rhythm. After more than a quarter on the field, he could see the weaknesses in the Saints defense. The long ball was open, and after halftime, Derrick planned to connect on a handful of dramatic passes. He jogged toward the tunnel and into the locker room, where the team was given a report on Aaron. He had a concussion, and hed been taken to the hospital for tests.

A murmur ran through the players huddled around Coach Cameron, and the coach raised his hand. Listen, hes okay. I talked to him before he left. The tests are only for precaution. Ive been contacted by hospital personnel, guys. He may be out for the season, but hell be back here in the locker room before the game ends.

Relief came over Derrick like a burst of sunshine.
Thank you, GodYoure beyond merciful.
Derrick could picture Aaron, hurrying the technicians up, wanting the tests to be finished so he could get back to his team. When he did, Derrick wanted the victory well within hand.

He ran out onto the field for the second half feeling as good as hed ever felt. God was carrying him, holding his knee together for this, his last season. With that in mind, he tore into the third quarter and had an easy time in the fourth, despite a couple touchdowns by the Saints. As time ran out, Jay Ryder was called onto the field where he booted a forty-eight-yard punt that put the ball on the one-yard line. Half the team embraced him as he ran back to the sidelines, and moments later the 49ers won the game and the NFC championship, 3225. Derrick looped his arm around Jays neck, and he raised the ball to the stands with one hand and pointed to God in heaven with the other. All around him, the San Francisco crowd went crazy. Never mind the 97 regular season. The 49ers were in the Super Bowl, and the miracle Derrick had believed would happen was on the brink of coming true.

He was almost to the locker when he spotted Megan and Cory pressed against a rope, amidst a mob of fans. The two were probably the only San Francisco fans not celebrating.

Derrick! Cory shouted to him. We need to see Aaron. Pleasethe security people wont let us in.

Derrick looked from the child to the woman. Aaron wouldve wanted to see them more than anyone else. He pursed his lips and took the lead. He spoke to the gatekeepers, and Megan and Cory were given temporary passes and allowed to cross the line. Derrick gave Megan a reassuring smile. Follow me.

When hed cleared them through another few security points and into a room where they could see Aaron, Derrick saw Coach Cameron signal him. Be ready, Anderson! A hundred reporters want a piece of you.

Derrick nodded. Hows Hill?

Groggy. His head hurts, but hes propped up in the locker room. Doctors say hell be fine.

Derrick pictured the hit again, the way it rocked Aaron and knocked him unconscious. Wicked hit, man. He met the coachs eyes. God was with him.

Coach Cameron smiled. He was with you too.

A smile started at the corners of Derricks lips and ran all the way through him. Tell the press Ill be there in a minute.

He jogged to his locker, acknowledging the congratulations along the way. He didnt need anything, but he wanted a moment alone before the crazy aftermath began, before speculation started and the media began reminding fans every hour that the odds were vastly against San Francisco for the big game in two weeks.