Two weeks flies by quickly, especially during exam season.
For the Bruins athletes, this is undoubtedly an agonizing and painful period of time. They would rather spend eight hours on the court training arduously than spend an hour sitting in the library struggling with textbooks. . Unfortunately, they have no choice. The team only trains for two hours every day. During the rest of the time, they must return to their status as students and devote themselves seriously to their daily studies.
At the end of the exam week, every student on the entire campus breathed a sigh of relief, cheered wildly, and celebrated crazily, not only because Christmas was coming and the rare holiday time was once again ushered in; but also because the Rose Bowl was about to take place. Taking place in two weeks, this is an annual carnival for any UCLA student - because the Rose Bowl where the game is hosted is their home field.
Traditionally, the Rose Bowl is held on January 1st every year. If that day happens to be a Sunday, the game will be postponed by one day to Monday, January 2nd - mainly to avoid the church's Sunday service.
Three days ago, the event organizing committee officially announced this year’s two participating teams. According to the rules and regulations, the Pac-12 Conference and the Big Ten Conference each select a team for each opponent, not necessarily the champion, but based on the team's results, performance and schedule strength, and then issue invitations.
In the end, it was the UCLA Bruins who represented the Pac-12 Conference, and the University of Wisconsin Badgers who represented the Big Ten Conference.
This will be the Bruins’ first appearance in the Rose Bowl in eleven years; it will also be the Badgers’ first appearance in the Rose Bowl in ten years. Both teams are returning to the stage after many years and are highly anticipated.
It is worth mentioning that on January 1, 1999, the Rose Bowl faced off against the Bruins and the Badgers. The Badgers were at their peak at the time, reaching the Rose Bowl for two consecutive years in 1999 and 2000, and winning the championship for two consecutive years. ——The one they defeated in 1999 is the opponent they will face again this year, the Bruins.
For the Bruins, this game is naturally of great significance. Not only is it the first time in the 21st century to return to the Rose Bowl, but it is also an excellent opportunity to defeat the strong enemy of the year and win the Rose Bowl again! After the Trojans, it’s the Badgers’ turn this time? Bruins supporters are full of confidence right now.
After the exam week is over, the entire campus has entered holiday carnival mode. Everyone is looking forward to the arrival of Christmas and, of course, more importantly, the arrival of the Rose Bowl!
The Bruins have entered the stage of intense preparations. Every player is full of interest and motivation. From freshmen to seniors, without exception, the Rose Bowl is their ultimate stage, equivalent to the NCAA Super League. Bowl—at least for the Pac-12!
At the Rose Bowl, the top scouts from all over North America will be present. Not only are the rookies who are expected to participate in the draft this year, but it is also a rare stage for freshmen and sophomores to show themselves; before the Rose Bowl, , those players who have not had the opportunity to enter the professional league will use this stage as a farewell to their careers. This cannot be more perfect.
Therefore, every team member worked hard and completed every day's training meticulously, showing unprecedented enthusiasm! Lu Ke is naturally no exception.
Another early morning, another 10,000 meters, another fixed route, but this time there was something different.
While running at a constant speed, Lu Ke suddenly started to speed up, and within just one hundred meters, he sprinted forward with all his strength. This was not a hundred meters among ten thousand meters, but a pure sprint like a 100-meter race. , the state of muscles and the rhythm of breathing are a test to the limit of the body. After completing one hundred meters, you cannot stop, but continue to jog at a constant speed - real jogging. Running like this consumes physical strength far beyond imagination.
Even though Lu Ke has successfully completed daily training in the past two weeks, it is obvious that his body is still not able to fully adapt to the heavy burden of such variable-speed running. He needs more training and more persistence.
After completing the 10,000 meters, Lu Ke gasped for air, slowed down, adjusted his breathing, and walked slowly to the locker room. But what is certain is that the yoga practice in the past two weeks plays an important role in the adjustment and rhythm of breathing, but the effect is still limited now and needs more time to settle.
Entering the indoor passage, Lu Ke moved forward calmly, slowly recovering from the soreness in his muscles. This was a great improvement compared to two weeks ago. He still remembered that on the first day of trying, his knees were shaking. It doesn’t feel like I’ve completed 10,000 meters, but like I’ve completed 50,000 meters.
It was now a quarter past seven, and the players arrived at the training ground one after another. As they passed by, they greeted Lu Ke one after another. Everyone's face was filled with bright smiles, looking forward to a new day of training. It can be seen that the impact of the Rose Bowl is penetrating into every moment of their lives.
At the end of the player tunnel, after turning the corner, you can see various spaces such as treatment rooms, gyms, bathrooms, tactical meeting rooms, etc., and then the coaches' offices, ice baths, examination rooms, etc. At this time, a large group of people gathered at the door of the coach's office, bustling with discussions, excited and gearing up. The whole lively atmosphere was as if spring had arrived three or four months earlier.
But among them, there was a small group of people with stern faces and frowning brows, full of frustration. Several of them were familiar faces. Marcus kept shaking his head with an obscure expression; John put his hands on his hips and sighed. It seemed that he always had something to say but couldn't express it; Logan standing next to him had a hot temper, shaking his head constantly and mumbling, "This is wrong, this is wrong... Jesus Christ, How is this possible? This is ridiculous?"
"Bambi!" John shouted when he saw Lu Ke, his expression suddenly froze, almost as if he had seen a ghost.
Immediately afterwards, everyone turned their heads and looked at Lu Ke blankly. Logan stepped forward and said in a panic, "Bambi, you... you completed the 10,000 meters today." Yes? It’s faster than yesterday. It seems that your training results are good."
Lu Ke chuckled, "What's wrong with you? Why do you look like aliens?" He patted Logan's chest, "I don't mind you being my coach and being responsible for timing every day. In this way , my watch can be retired.”
Xiao Qi records the 10,000-meter running results every day. As long as Lu Ke is willing, he can call up the records and take a closer look at whether his training is effective.
This was originally a joke, but Logan didn't laugh today. He only twitched the corners of his mouth, not smiling at all. Lu Ke raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's wrong with you?" But he didn't think much about it, but walked between them, stopped at the door of the office, and looked at the list posted on the door.
This is the player list, including the starting list and substitute list.
There is only the last week left before the Rose Bowl game. The coaching staff must announce the starting lineup and then arrange for the main players to start further tactical training and targeted training.
This time their opponent, the Wisconsin Badgers, is by no means a good team. They achieved ten wins and two losses in the Big Ten Conference, ranking second at the end of the season. They are one of the teams with the most powerful offensive firepower this year. 1. He averaged 43 points per game and scored more than 70 points in three games!
Of course, they're also one of the worst teams in the league in points allowed. It can be said that this is a luxury battleship that relies on offense to win games. For the Bruins' defensive team, the task is arduous.
Standing in front of the list, Lu Ke still looked for his name in alphabetical order. The list of surnames starting with "L" was very limited. Looking along the way, Lu Ke didn't see his name. This made him stunned and subconsciously I checked it again, but it turned out there was still nothing.
He took his eyes off the starting list and searched skillfully among the substitutes. Then he successfully found his name, "Lu, Ke, Quarterback." The same position, the same as the past five months, without anything. Variety.
Lu Ke was dazed for a moment. He truly believed that his performance in the last game at the end of the season had proven himself, which was enough to make him a starter in the Rose Bowl; but unfortunately, he was disappointed. The quarterback on the starting roster is still Kevin Price, and he and Darius Bell are still backup quarterbacks.
The moment of loss, he dragged his ankle and pulled it down hard, and the suffocation that came from the sudden intrusion made him panic.
"Sorry, man." John's voice rang in his ears, full of regret and sigh. He raised his right hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally landed on Lu Ke's shoulder. He squeezed it gently, but it was as heavy as a stone.
They all know it.
Lu Ke didn't respond. He just stood there and looked at the list blankly, with mixed emotions that were indescribable. The mixed flavors on the tip of the tongue were almost indistinguishable, and the whole chest just felt empty and unfulfilled.
Turning around, Lu Ke saw his teammates fighting side by side. Marcus stepped forward and tried to express comfort, but he didn't know what to say. He just muttered a vague "Sorry" in a low voice; Logan He lowered his head heavily and kicked the corner unwillingly without saying a word; other teammates also cast their gazes with pity, sympathy, disappointment, anger, regret...
Lu Ke gently twitched the corner of his mouth and showed a smile, but it was so bitter. "I'm ready for basic training. Is anyone willing to join me?" After speaking, Lu Ke quickly left the coach's office without stopping. range.
Watching Lu Ke leave, Logan kept shaking his head, "This is not fair! This is not fair!" No one responded, only a sigh of silence.
