God blessed me with a lot of free time this summer.

It was the pressure. This was the first time they had to be in a situation where we have a lot of good kids and there?s this many people watching, and there?s the pressure of the state meet. So they made little mistakes.

I think we are ready. We want to take one game at a time. We are playing a pretty good team. They finished fourth in the region, but could have finished second.

Imagine a very long time passing - and I find my way out, following someone who already knows how to leave Hell. And God says to me on Earth for the first time, "Xas!" in a tone of discovery, as if I'm a misplaced pair of spectacles or a stray dog. And he puts it to me that he wants me in Heaven. But Lucifer has doubled back - it was him I followed - to find me, where I am, in a forest, smitten, because the Lord has noticed me, and I'm overcome, as hopeless as your dog Josie whom you got rid of because she loved me.' Xas glared at Sobran. Then he drew a breath - all had been said on only three. He went on: 'Lucifer says to God the He can't have me. And at this I sit up and tell Lucifer that I didn't even think he knew my name, then say to God no thank you - very insolent this - and that Hell is endurable so long as the books keep appearing.

God did not intend the human family to be wafted to heaven on flowery beds of ease.

When kids are happy to see their group succeed, and not have to be the leading part all the time, I think they like that. The key thing is the 'We.' It's the offense, it's the defense, and it's the special teams. We want to make teams defend the whole field.