Every NFL official has a specific word for the quarterback:
Irreplaceable.
If the starting quarterback gets injured and misses the season, no matter how "stacked" the other positions are, the team cannot avoid a disastrous record. In fact, quarterbacks are so important that they even change the rules of the game.
"2008!"
"Ugh—here he goes again." . .
# August 17, 2016
#-1. Columbus, Ohio
#-2. Ohio State University
Gene Smith, the Athletic Director at Ohio State, tells an anecdote to a gathered group of staff members.
"One tackle changed the rules of football!"
"Is there anyone here who doesn't know that story?"
"Shh—be quiet."
"Sigh—I'm just bored, man. Bored."
The first game of the 2008 NFL season for New England. Tom Brady suffered a devastating tackle. Bernard Pollard, a safety for the Kansas City Chiefs, lunged at him. Pollard's tackle aimed below the New England quarterback's knees, tearing both Brady's ACL and MCL, forcing him to skip the entire season.
This tackle was so infamous that it not only shifted the landscape of the NFL that year but also led to the creation of the rule:
"Which means!"
"That the QB is king."
"It means the quarterback is the pinnacle of all athletic positions!"
He spoke passionately, but the Ohio State football staff had heard this so many times they had calluses on their ears. Soon, their savior arrived.
UrbanMeyer, the head coach of the Ohio State football team.
"Let's get started."
A staff member nodded, quickly approached the projector, and started a video on his laptop. It was a high school football game from last Friday. As soon as the screen lit up, a boy appeared.
The reactions were instantaneous.
"Whoa. He's huge."
"Huge, fast, and strong, they say."
"Is he really fifteen?"
"Oh, my God."
The 15-year-old boy, who first caught their eye with his massive frame, soon delivered another shock with movements that were unbelievable for a first-ever actual game.
"He moves incredibly well."
"One of his many strengths."
"His head is perfectly steady."
"Wow. That last throw was lightning fast."
"Did he even see that tackle coming from the side?"
The boy in the edited footage—Dwayne Moi Stone—had captured the hearts of the men at Ohio State, who were desperate to snatch glory away from Alabama and Clemson. Before long, only gasps of admiration filled the room.
As the video ended, one common thought took root in the minds of the Ohio State staff: WemustrecruitDwayneMoiStone. No matter what. This would change the destiny of the program.
The men of Ohio became frantic.
"We need to start pooling the budget now." "Let's assign our best recruiters."
"Should we renovate the dorms?"
"Maybe a private tutor..."
Recruiting, the crown jewel of American college sports, is never the result of just a year or two of effort. They identify talented middle or high schoolers every year, monitoring them and sending scouts at the right time to weave themselves into the players' lives. When the moment of choice nears, they offer the best conditions possible.
Scholarships. Meal plans. Luxury dorms. Specialized coaches. Academic tutors. The list goes on. Sometimes, the cost is so high it's impossible with a single year's budget, requiring them to save and plan ahead.
This is true for all popular sports, but for football—especially for a quarterback—it's on another level.
"I'm going to meet with the University President."
"Please do."
It wasn't an exaggeration to say a QB could determine the financial rise or fall of a university. The whole school was buzzing.
College entrance was still four years away. While that is a long time to guarantee an athlete's future, Ohio State was already rushing the recruitment.
Dwayne Moi Stone. With just one game, the boy had become a titan.
# August 18, 2016
#-1. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
#-2. University of Alabama
Alabama's recruitment speed was even faster than Ohio State's. They had already formed a task force.
"A pro-style player?"
"Yes. That's how I see it."
"But Moi is..."
"Big and fast, yes."
"...."
After a meeting with the special recruitment team for Dwayne Moi Stone, NickSaban spoke with his coaches. The topic was Moi's playing style.
"But I believe that boy is a pro-style QB."
"Holy moly..."
In modern football, quarterbacks are generally divided into three types: the PocketPasser who throws from behind the line; the Scrambler with great improvisation; and the Dual-Threat, which is most common at the college level.
Because of his large build, the media and most scouts classified Dwayne Moi Stone as a Dual-Threat. But Nick Saban thought differently. Moi was a Pocket Passer type. Specifically, a Pro-Style.
Tom Brady. Peyton Manning. Drew Brees. All the greatest NFL quarterbacks are Pro-Style.
"We need to watch a few more games."
"But wasn't that his first time?"
"Hm—it seems so."
Nick Saban had recruited countless promising QBs, and almost all of them had succeeded at the college level. But that was exactly where it ended. All the QBs who led Alabama to glory recently failed to succeed in the NFL.
The Dual-Threat type, which relies on both passing and running, works at the amateur level, but in the NFL—where only the monsters among monsters gather—they often become easy prey. Even Blake Barnett, their current starter for the opener, had clear limits.
Freshman Jalen Hurts was actually more promising. Saban was ready to swap the starter at any moment. The only reason he hadn't started Hurts yet was that team chemistry is just as important as the position itself.
"That's why he's even more surprising." "Kahuku definitely had... a senior QB, right?" "Yes, one." Saban continued.
"I don't know what he did during the preparation, but a freshman kid playing football for the first time captured the hearts of the coach and the entire offensive team. You can't do that just by being big and fast."
"True."
"He must have shown extraordinary intelligence and leadership. Otherwise, you can't explain him starting the season opener."
If the first game had gone poorly? Obviously, this praise wouldn't exist. But Moi had a jaw-dropping debut, and Saban had seen the trust the other offensive players had in him with his own eyes.
And above all, there was one scene that stood out.
"That boy never once looked at his wristband." "Wait, really?!"
A quarterback has to know dozens, even hundreds of plays. They need to know every teammate's traits, their condition that day, even their stride length. They have to hold everything in their head and mix it to match the coach's orders. It's nearly impossible. That's why QBs are allowed a "cheat sheet" on their arm. The wristband.
"I watched the footage over and over. Cross-referencing Fox's footage with ours."
"Holy..."
"The more I know, the more mysterious he is. He acts as if he's been playing football forever. As if he's done this for a very long time. Though, obviously, that's impossible."
Saban's continuous praise meant one thing: In an era dominated by the best team and the best coach in NCAA Division 1, Dwayne Moi Stone was a talent that stood above. If he joined, he could take the team to another level. Perhaps even a three-year undefeated streak wasn't a dream.
"September will be busy, so I'm heading back to Hawaii tomorrow."
"Yes, sir. You definitely should."
The more he analyzed, the stronger Saban's desire to recruit him became. And that desire was leading the nation's top college coach back to the islands.
Tomorrow, on the Kahuku High football field, Dwayne Moi Stone would make his home debut.
# August 19, 2016
#-1. Oahu, Hawaii
#-2. Honolulu, Kahuku CDP
#-3. Kahuku High School
#-4. Football Field
The home opener. The school designated today as NCD:NoClassDay. Instead, the principal invited all students and families to the football field. My family was there too.
"Over there."
"Whoa."
Sol-J and Kaonohi were shocked by the size of the extended family gathered on one side. There are plenty of large families in Hawaii—the Huamatu had a huge crowd too—but ours stood out. Everyone was massive.
"Your dad... he's truly something else." "Right?"
"Yeah. I almost pissed myself a little." "Heh. Dumbass."
Earlier, while I was preparing on the field, shouts of ["Fake Samoan!"] kept erupting from the Huamatu side. The school tried to stop them, but some of the heated men wouldn't listen. When the atmosphere started getting tense, my father and uncles walked toward the Huamatu group.
Interestingly enough, it got quiet instantly. Adults or kids, they were the same. My grandfather lamented that only pathetic losers had come instead of "real men," but I was just glad to be a Stone and not a Huamatu.
Anyway, I have a reason to do even better today. I can't let the Huamatu find a single flaw. I'm going for total focus.
"Let's go. It's starting."
"Yeah."
As always, we started with the Haka. The difference from the away game?
"EKE-!!!! AKE-!!!!"
"HI-!!!!"
Everyone in the stands was wearing red, and the sound was about four times louder. No lie, it sounded like a jet engine flying right over our heads.
"KEI TE PAPA PAKANGA!!!!!"
"HE IWI KOTAHI!!!" . .
"MAKAMAKA!!!!"
"HA-!!!!"
At the end of the Haka, we stuck our tongues out and bulged our eyes, making the most terrifying faces possible. Honestly, this works better against mainland teams. Hawaiians are used to it, but mainland kids get spooked. Seriously. I saw it countless times in my past life.
As the Haka ended and thunderous applause followed, we gathered to prepare. Fox Sports was broadcasting again. Their booth was set up over there.
.
(Gus Johnson) - Fox Sports Commentator:
"I love this. I might get addicted to this. It's a unique charm you only find in Hawaiian football. And there he is on the camera: Dwayne Moi Stone. In just one game, he has literally flipped the nation upside down."
(Joe Davis) - Fox Sports Analyst:
"If he keeps this up, he's going to be more popular than most college starting QBs. This is unprecedented. It's like watching LeBron James, but Moi is three years younger than LeBron was back then."
.
When was it? Recently. I didn't mean to, but I happened to see Sioele's Twitter. He had retweeted something from his mother that said:
@@@
90% of the broadcast is about the quarterback. Fucking ridiculous.
@@@
Looking at that, I thought: She really has no clue.
In my past life and this one, 80% of college football broadcasts are about the quarterback. Sometimes it's over 90%. And it has to be—a starting QB for a top-tier college team has more name recognition than pro starters in other sports. Even the "Big Three QBs" in this year's NFL draft were mentioned in the media far more than a MLB pitcher with 10 wins.
So for Fox, who decided to broadcast a high school game because of me, it's only natural to focus on me. It'll be the same today.
As the game was about to start, the coach raised his voice.
"Alright! Returners!!" M"OORAH-!!"
"Nothing to it! Don't drop the ball! Run as far as you can!! And linemen!!"
"OORAH!"
"If you let them through easily, you're doing extra drills after the game!!"
"OORAH!!"
The conversation was about the kickoff. In the last away game, we kicked first. This time, we were in the Kick-Returnposition. In other words, I, the quarterback, wasn't needed yet, so I waited on the bench.
Instead, the five offensive linemen, four fullbacks at the 25-30 yard line, and two returners at the very back took their places. Returners are usually running backs since they're the fastest. The offensive line blocks the defensive line, and the fullbacks handle anyone who breaks through the first level.
PEEP!
With the referee's signal, the opposing team kicked the ball hard into our territory. Elvis caught it. ElvisVakapuna, a senior. While Harmon is our #1 running back for normal plays, Elvis is a better returner.
He ran like a maniac. We formed a "wedge" and pushed through. Before we knew it, he was past the halfway mark. He was tackled at the opponent's 40-yard line.
A satisfying result. I raised both hands and cheered.
"That's it, Elvis!! Exactly that!!"
Again, it's essential for a QB to get along with the whole offensive team. You have to be their friend and their leader. Encouraging them and paying attention to the small things to make them follow you is a QB's virtue. If you don't, you'll lose your starting spot in a heartbeat.
Right after I cheered, the coach approached.
"Let's Go, Moi. Show them what you're made of."
"Oorah!"
As the teams swapped, I put on my helmet and stepped onto the field. A massive roar erupted from the stands. Among the noise, I could pick out my family's voices perfectly.
"Go, Get 'em Moi!!!"
"LET'S GO!!!"
"PAITOOOOOOOO-!!!!"
Haha. That last one was Uncle Iwai. But I still didn't hear my father's voice. He was over there, acting all dignified, even though he took a day off work to be here. Couldn't he enjoy it a bit more?
Well. Making that happen is my job.
With a final burst of energy, I ran toward my waiting teammates.
.
(Gus Johnson):
"SB Nation has given Dwayne Moi Stone a score of 120—the first time they've ever done so since they started ranking national high school recruits. I can't even guess how far this boy will go. This, too, is truly unprecedented."
(Joe Davis):
"I've honestly become a fan of this kid since last week. I can't wait to see him play."
(Gus Johnson):
"Who wouldn't? Look at this. He's raising his voice confidently in the huddle. The coach isn't even speaking. Who knew we'd see this in high school football? College officials are definitely watching this."
(Joe Davis): "I've never seen a high schooler giving orders through the huddle and audibles. It's marvelous."
.
※ Football Terminology:
Huddle: A tactical meeting held between offensive plays (usually within 25/40 seconds).
Audible: After receiving a play from the coach, the quarterback reads the defense's movement before the snap and changes the play or adjusts the routes of the linemen and receivers on the fly.