The courage of position players in football is measured in various ways. Quarterbacks are judged by their ability to deliver a pass with defensive linemen bearing down on them.
Defenders earn respect by fearlessly hurling their bodies into ballcarriers.
Going across the middle is the ultimate test of a pass-catcher's courage. Receivers are vulnerable to vicious hits when they venture into the center of the field because they are concentrating on the ball and often don't see defenders closing on them. Hoofbeats are what he's really listening for. He is scheduled for 31 rodeos this season, including the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association regional in Ogden, Utah, and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event at the Wyoming State Fair in Douglas. But Brooks just can't get enough adrenaline.