Time to Focus

When you enter the locker room you become overwhelmed by the smell of dirty jerseys, and you hear the noise of thirty rowdy athletes; only a football player would appreciate this atmosphere. Each player has their own space filled with their gear, schoolwork, and good luck charms. It’s not like being at home where your mother tells you to clean up after yourself. The outdated tile is covered with cleat-patterned grass clumps everyone tracked in. Dirty socks and knee pads wander off from their owners and scatter themselves under the beaten wood benches. The history of the football program is taped to the walls with scores telling the outcome of past games. When a game is won, it’s an accomplishment to add a piece of history we can call our own. The cruel smell of body odor being covered up by Febreze and Old Spice lingers throughout the crowded space. When everyone starts to gather in the locker room, the beat of rap music pulsates out the doors. Because of the comfort level between players, there is no reservation when we begin to dance and sing. The tone of the locker room becomes more serious as game time approaches. As coaches appear in the locker room, the players become silent, soaking in each motivational speech given. Each player isolates themselves, head down and arms crossed, mentally preparing for the night to begin. Although the wrinkled posters from the eighties are just about to fall, they still bring motivation to the eyes glancing up at them. The locker room may not be up to date, it may smell horrible, and it may be too small, but it serves its purpose.