FREEZE FRAME: JACKIE SHERRILL

It happened at least once a practice, and usually more than that. The team would be running through drills - it never really mattered which drills, because there was no discernable pattern to this - and there he'd come, busting through the line and snatching the ball from a very confused center or halfback or whomever.

"CATCH THE JACKALOPE!" he'd shriek. "PRACTICE AIN'T OVER TIL YOU CATCH THE JACKALOPE!"

The other coaches had tried everything. Ignoring him didn't work. Hiding his candy stash was always a failure; the man would produce a Charleston Chew from the most bizarre locations. They'd even tried hypnosis.

"GOTTA BE FAST IF YOU WANNA CATCH THE JACKALOPE!"

With a weary sigh, the whole team began the chase anew.