บท 74: Hot Topic
On the field, the Trojans and the Crimson Tide were shaking hands, displaying mutual respect after the game. No matter how the match played out, proper etiquette was still essential.
JuJu took a deep breath, calming himself. He gathered his courage and kept telling himself that he was mature enough to handle a minor setback. He needed to face that number 23, Lance, and issue a proper challenge, a declaration that next time, he would defeat him.
JuJu could picture the moment in his head—standing tall, issuing his challenge. If the media captured it, he would surely be praised by fans online. He straightened his posture, walking with newfound confidence.
However, after searching through the crowd, JuJu couldn't find Lance anywhere.
JuJu started to panic. His perfect plan had covered every angle, except for one crucial detail: finding Lance. As reporters began to pack up and leave, JuJu, now sweating, grew more desperate.
Like a tadpole searching for its mother, he ran around the field in circles, back and forth.
Still no sign of Lance.
JuJu was drenched in sweat, exhausted. What was happening? Why wasn't this going as planned? And where were the reporters, the social media buzz, the praise from fans?
So, where was Lance?
Lance was checking the system.
As the game ended, he heard a notification in his mind: task complete. This piqued Lance's curiosity since the training system hadn't issued any task before the game—it had always just been a simple training aid.
Lance had joined the post-game handshake, but as usual, the spotlight was on the coaches and quarterbacks. The rest of the players were more casual with their greetings, so Lance kept things brief and left quickly—very smoothly, too.
As he checked, Lance realized he hadn't missed any tasks. The system hadn't given one before the game.
According to the message, the system automatically tracked Lance's growth. This was his first official football game, where he achieved his first rushing yards and first rushing touchdown. As a result, the system awarded him experience points, indicated by a progress bar that had inched forward.
Lance concluded that the more intense the game and the better his performance, the faster the progress bar would fill.
Each milestone would grant bonus rewards, like reaching 500, 1,000, or 3,000 rushing yards, or scoring 10, 30, or 50 rushing touchdowns.
Essentially, the system encouraged Lance to push his limits and perform at his best in games. The more difficult and competitive the challenge, the faster his progress would grow, leading to more reward opportunities.
Lance did feel a bit of regret about not playing in the second half, as it cost him the chance to rack up more stats. But on deeper reflection, it seemed better to focus on quality over quantity. Rushing stats might inflate early on, but improvements would get harder over time.
It seemed that short but highly effective appearances were the best way forward.
This also meant Lance needed to think about how to improve his rushing efficiency. If he could break through defenses and rack up big gains or touchdowns every time he took the field, that would be perfect.
As these thoughts swirled in his head, Lance was considering how to boost his rushing efficiency when suddenly an obstacle blocked his path in the players' tunnel—
Oh, not a physical obstacle, but reporters.
The game might be over, but their work wasn't.
Unlike the NFL, the NCAA didn't have formal post-game press conferences. However, the media attention was no less intense. Reporters always waited near the player tunnels, eager to seize brief moments for interviews.
Today, there were plenty of hot topics, but none more prominent than Lance. From the excited crowd of reporters jostling to get closer, it was clear he was the top story.
The atmosphere was crowded, dense, and filled with enthusiasm.
The reporters were like sharks that had smelled blood.
Instinctively, Lance glanced at the unfamiliar faces.
It seemed they weren't from ABC.
"Hello, Lance. Houston Chronicle here," one reporter called out. "Could you share your thoughts on the Crimson Tide's dominant 55-3 victory in the season opener? The offense, which has been criticized in the past, performed outstandingly today. What's your take?"
Lance raised his chin slightly, face full of sincerity, and replied, "Not bad."
The entire room froze: …
Not bad?
Not bad?
This game had set the largest margin of victory since the Cowboy Classic was established in 2009. It had also set a new record for the largest defeat in USC Trojans' history, surpassing the infamous 0-51 loss to Notre Dame in 1966.
And Lance's response? "Not bad?"
To the uninitiated, they might have thought they were reading a basketball score. Lance's calm and understated demeanor left the reporters in stunned silence.
They had seen arrogance before, but this was on another level.
The strange thing was, Lance's expression was so calm, sincere, and composed—no arrogance, no mockery, no disrespect. There was nothing to suggest he was boasting, leaving the reporters uncertain about how to interpret his words.
Lance, too, was puzzled.
Honestly, he didn't have a clear grasp of what constituted a good football score, especially in college games where blowouts could happen more frequently. He simply assumed this kind of score was common. Besides, in Eastern cultures, humility was key—even in victory, you didn't show off. It was important to stay modest.
Seeing the reporters' bewildered expressions, Lance felt even more innocent:
Wasn't he just being honest? What was wrong with that?
Amid the awkward silence, another reporter stepped forward, breaking the stillness.
"Lance, Dallas Morning News."
"Before the season started, there was widespread concern about how the Crimson Tide offense would function without Derrick Henry. Do you think today's performance by the running back group has filled the void left by Henry?"
Lance chuckled.
The room was stunned.
This question was clearly a trap—one that would be tough for any player to navigate.
After all, Derrick Henry had set an almost unreachable standard during his time in the NCAA. No matter who stepped into his shoes, they were bound to struggle with expectations.
No one expected Lance to laugh.
Reporters: ???
Was he a master of the game? Some kind of mysterious football guru?
Still smiling, Lance replied earnestly, "Why do you make it sound like Derrick Henry has passed on? He's just moved to the pros, starting a new challenge, and we're all excited to see how he does in the league. Please, be careful with your wording, okay?"
The room erupted in laughter.
That was why Lance had laughed.
"As for the Crimson Tide, we're not trying to replace Derrick Henry because no one can. Trust me, we tried, and the results were terrible. So, instead, we're building a new offense together."
"We're playing as a team, winning as a team, and facing challenges as a team."
Brilliant!
Without a doubt, the question about filling Derrick Henry's shoes was the trickiest, yet Lance had handled it effortlessly.
The room fell silent once again.
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