My Losing Season

Prior to providing a recap of the Bulldogs’ game against Jacksonville University, Conroy begins Chapter 21 recounting a discussion that he had with Greg Connor, one of the team’s sophomores, about the sex life that they are missing out on by not attending a civilian college. Both players had dates lined up after their game in Jacksonville, but both suspected that Thompson would not make an exception to his rule forbidding it after road games, even if they won. Their suspicion was correct. The team played far better against Jacksonville than when the two teams met earlier in the season, and they even led for much of the game, but they ended up losing in overtime. This game was unique because Conroy’s aunt, uncle, and several of his cousins lived in Jacksonville and attended the game. Following the game, Conroy’s Uncle Joe relayed to him that he had seen his father play years earlier and said to him, “he was never as good as you, and that’s a promise” (268). 

Conroy covers the next game, versus The College of William and Mary, in Chapter 22. The game represents perhaps the happiest time of the entire season for Conroy because he had finally become a good basketball player and allowed himself to celebrate his transformation.