Football Genius

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2007

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-16

Chapters 17-21

Chapters 22-28

Chapters 29-34

Chapters 35-41

Chapters 42-50

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Chapters 35-41Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 35 Summary

After hearing the details of the plan, Tessa is angry and embarrassed that Troy is trying to manipulate her into helping his football plan that could cost Tessa her job. The two argue again. His mom pounds her fists on the table, and Troy goes to his room. He strangles and punches his pillow in anger and frustration. When he comes downstairs later, he sees that his mom outside talking to Gramp on her cell phone.

Troy eavesdrops on the conversation is stunned when he hears that his mom sees herself as undesirable because she has a 12-year-old-child. Tessa realizes he has overheard what she said, and she hangs up the phone, apologizing to Troy. Troy assures her he’s alright: “It’s okay,’ Troy said, finding his voice. ‘I know what I am. That’s why I want this so bad. I want to do something. I want to be something. I thought this was my chance’” (185).

As Troy hears the rumble of the train in the distance, Tessa agrees to help.

Chapter 36 Summary

The next week, the Falcons are playing the Raiders. Troy is in the stands with Tate and Nathan, armed with Seth’s cell phone. His mom is on the sidelines with her phone ready to receive the plays and pass the signals on to Seth. After a slow start, Troy finally predicts a play. He relays the information to his mom, who passes it on to Seth, who in turn passes it on to Bryan Scott.

Chapter 37 Summary

Troy is right. Seth blitzes the quarterback; Bryan Scott intercepts the ball and runs it back for a touchdown. Troy is happy. Tate kisses him on the cheek, and he cries tears of joy. Seth gets yelled at by Krock, but he still gives Troy a thumbs up.

On the sidelines, Seth gives Tessa a quick hug, but Troy sees Krock heading their way. Troy calls his mom just in time to avoid Krock seeing Seth and Tessa together. As Tessa walks away, she can hear Krock yelling at Seth for changing the defense. Troy lets her know Seth will have to do it again. As the game goes on, their plan is working. Unfortunately, Krock figures it out and suddenly appears beside Tessa, shoving her and snatching the phone out of her hand. He speaks into the phone to Troy: “you’re finished” (193).

Chapter 38 Summary

Krock breaks Troy’s mom’s phone and yells at Seth, benching him. Tessa sneaks over to Seth on the bench, and together they hatch a new plan. A Raiders interception and touchdown now gives the Raiders the lead. Tessa gets a phone from one of the security guards and calls Troy.

Chapter 39 Summary

When Troy hangs up the phone, Tate asks what his mother said: “They want me to go to Mr. Langan” (199). Tate scans the upper level and points out the luxury box where Mr. Langan is sitting with his wife. Tate leads them through an emergency exit, and they climb the concrete steps to the sixth floor where the luxury boxes are located. They make their way inside as security guards close in on them. Suddenly, Nathan grabs his throat and pretends to choke. As the security guards react to Nathan, Tate screams that her friend is dying.

Chapter 40 Summary

Tate shoves Troy down the hallway as she and Nathan create a diversion. As a crowd of security guards and EMT’s gather, Troy tries to find Mr. Langan’s suite.

Troy pleads with Langan’s bodyguard, Bob McDonough, to be allowed to see Mr. Langan. McDonagh recognizes him as the kid that was dragged out of the Cowboys game and locks the door while he consults with Mr. Langan. Meanwhile, police and security approach Troy.

Chapter 41 Summary

McDonough dismisses the other guards and brings Troy into Langan’s luxury booth. Troy tells Langan the whole story; his strange ability, his conflict with Krock, and why Seth has suddenly been benched. Mr. Langan gets on a red phone to speak to Coach McFadden. On the sidelines, McFadden and Krock argue. McFadden reports the outcome to Langan. Hearing the news, Langan hangs up the phone and rises from his seat. As he exits the luxury box, he makes sure Troy follows him.

Chapters 35-41 Analysis

When Troy and his allies press forward to bring Troy’s ability out into the adult world, the ogre who defends this world, Krock, puts up strong resistance, and Troy and his allies are forced to find a way to defeat him.

The flight up the stairs to the sixth floor and into Mr. Langan’s world is another classic part of the hero’s journey. Nathan and Tate’s wild methods of evasion are tropes of the Magic Flight phase of the Hero’s Journey. Once there, Langan is like Gramp in that he serves the role of a supernatural aide to Troy. Sometimes referred to as the Rescue from Without, it is as if Langan is somehow connected to the consciousness of the greater universe that wants Troy to succeed.

The fact that Bob McDonough, a former Secret Service member, allows Troy to pass is notable. An agent proximal to the ultimate power figure allowing Troy to enter signifies the Troy’s success is somehow ordained or at least rubber stamped by the men who control and protect access to the established power of the nation.

It’s also important that Tessa participates in this plan, despite the risk to her job. It becomes clear in this section that Tessa believes in her son’s destiny and is willing to sacrifice her job to see him succeed. When Tessa agrees to help him, and Troy hears the train in the background, the train signifies Troy’s transition into manhood and that his destiny is coming to fruition. That Troy considers what kind of man he will be when he hears the train has led us to this moment, when he decides to pursue what he values.