Some coaxing did pry a response out of him, though. I'd get him a ticket to Nepal, so he can go climb Mt. Everest. He'd like that. For most players, spending Christmas away from home is a hardship. But the team does its best to ease the discomfort.
Players can attend an optional chapel service in the morning, and there is no practice.
After a trip to Sea World today, the team will sit down to a Christmas dinner. Each class sings some sort of Christmas carol. Even the coaches get in on the act. But sorry, the lyrics can't be printed in a family newspaper. But then, everybody runs up to the phone to call their folks.