Deadline

Football is a symbol of community. Ben Wolf joins the team after receiving his prognosis because he wants to challenge himself and have “a new experience” (18). He initially sees the sport as a form of entertainment and excitement, and therefore cannot imagine the ways in which playing with the Trout Cougars will contribute to his self-discovery and personal growth. On the first day of practice, Coach Banks tells his players that football isn’t “a microcosm of life” or “a religious or patriotic experience” (13); however, he does argue that it’s a beautiful game that can teach them all the importance of teamwork. His speech about the sport foreshadows its symbolic significance in Ben’s life over the course of the novel. The longer that Ben plays with the Cougars, the more he understands about forming unlikely friendships. The connections he builds with his coach and teammates make him value community and camaraderie. In Chapter 22, Ben says that his relationship with his brother is “like playing ball in some way” (288). In much the same way that he would give his life for Cody, Ben discovers that he must be “willing to lay down [his] body” for his teammates to be the best version of himself on and off the field (288).