Winners Adjust: The Matt Fisher Story

By Marterricus Thomas

I’m a talented under-sized wide receiver, and my ultimate goal is to make it to the pros so that I can provide for my family.
I have just completed an impressive senior year of high school football. However, I find myself with zero scholarships.
I decide to quit football and go to college to focus solely on my education.
With assistance from a former coach, I’m offered a football scholarship at the perfect University, and I manage to have an outstanding career.
I have been invited to two All-Star games, and I manage to earn an MVP award in the first game. My performance has gained attention from pro scouts and I’m now added to their scouting lists.
My ultimate goal is in arm’s reach, and I’m betting it all on accomplishing it. I have one more All-star game to play, and from here, I will prepare for the draft.
If I follow up with another great performance, I will find myself on a team’s roster. If I don’t, I will have to attend tryouts to convince teams that I’m worthy of an opportunity.
Either way, I will have an opportunity which will allow me to provide for my family.......or will I?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781728364544

Marterricus Thomas

Marterricus “Smook” Thomas is from Quincy, FL., and he is a fervent of honor, loyalty, leadership and excellence. He is a former All-American football player that played wide receiver at Missouri University of Science & Technology. While attending Missouri University of Science & Technology, he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business & Management Systems with a Minor in Communications. He is very passionate about sports and helping individuals reach their full potential. He is a community leader who is dedicated to mentoring youth so that they can become future leaders of the world.

Book preview

© 2020 Marterricus Thomas. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue

in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Published by AuthorHouse  06/16/2020

ISBN: 978-1-7283-6455-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-6454-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020910682

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

EPIGRAPH

Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.

-Roy T. Bennett

Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.

-Rikki Rogers

Adversity can be turned to opportunity simply by adjusting our perception and our attitude.

-Gail Lynne Goodwin

No matter how many difficulties and obstacles you face in life, DON’T QUIT! With hard work, perseverance, and dedication, no one can stop you, except you. You are in control of your destiny.

-Marterricus Thomas

DEDICATION

To Vernadean McMillon, my world, my lifeline, my second mom, my granny who made me value my education. I miss you so MUCH! I wish you were physically here to see me grow into the man I am today. I hope I have made you proud. Love you to infinity! Rest In Heaven

To Marquita McMillon, my mom, my EVERYTHING. Thank you for all the sacrifices you made in order for me to be the man I am today. As a child, I didn’t understand the sacrifices that were made but now that I’m an adult, I realize that you put me before you just so I could live a happy life. Thank you for all of your support. I could never repay you for all the things you have done for me. LOVE you so MUCH!

To Geraldine Thomas, thank you for all the love and support that you display on a daily basis. I Love you!

To Antwon Frost, my brother, my right hand. Thanks for all the laughter and joy you brought to my life. Thanks for all the memories created. Wish you were still here with me. Rest In Heaven #LongLiveFrost #YBG4Eva

To Patricia Jackson, thank you for all of your love and support, and for helping me become a better man. You will always hold a special place in my heart. Love you forever.

To everyone who are experiencing trials and tribulations. Tough times don’t last forever, but tough people do. Always remember that if you make another attempt, that one attempt could possibly be the one that help you accomplish your goal. #NeverGiveUp

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To Harrison Smith, thanks for helping me receive a football scholarship that allowed me to major in Engineering as well. Sorry that I put you through all that hard work to find the perfect match just for me to switch to a Business major. Thank you for helping and motivating me to continue my football career after high school even though I wanted to quit. Also, thanks for the advice that you gave me when I wanted to drop out of college. You are a great mentor and you played a HUGE role in helping me become the man I am today.

To Shannon Baker (Shake-N-Bake), thanks for giving me the opportunity to start my career with a great company. At the time, I was very vulnerable and on the brink of making some very bad decisions. My job saved me from heading down a road to destruction. From the first day I met you, you stated that I could have a long career with the company if I wanted to. You also stated that I would move up in the company fast as well. Four years in, these words became a reality. Thanks for thinking and speaking highly of me. You believing in me made me step it up because I DID NOT want to let you down. Thanks for speaking favor on my life. LEADERSHIP!!! YOU KNOW!!!

To DeCody Fagg, my big cousin/brother, you were a great mentor to me growing up and one hell of an athlete. You are the reason why I became involved in sports. Thanks for teaching me how to be a great wide receiver. Thanks for attending my high school football and basketball games. Each time you attended, it motivated me to put on a great show because I knew you were present. Thanks for bringing me around while you were in college. Introducing me to the college life at a young age created a hunger within me which led to me wanting to follow in your foot-steps. By the way, I’m still the best wide receiver in the family LOL.

To Donald Fagg, thanks for introducing me to training and working out at a young age. This instilled work ethic and toughness in me. As an adult, I now understand that work ethic is essential to success. All the times of us getting up every morning at 4am to go workout played a vital role in my life. Even though I was the smallest and the youngest, you held me to the same standards as my older cousins. Little did we know, in my adult life, I would be the smallest in many occasions. My childhood had me well prepared for this. Wolves run with wolves no matter their size.

To Isis Ware, thank you so much for helping me with the design of my book. You are a very smart and creative individual. You also have a good eye when it comes to designing. Remember, you can be anything you want to be in this world as long as you work hard and NEVER give up. #GirlsRock!

CONTENTS

Introduction

Pre-Game

Who is Matt Fisher?

1st Quarter

High School

2nd Quarter

Life in College

College class experiences

3rd Quarter

Football

Senior Year (Let the game begin)

4th Quarter

Post-College Football Career

The Pros (It was all a dream)

Overtime

Post-Graduation

Staying on the Right Track

Post-Game

Wrapping things up

Afterword

INTRODUCTION

"On a warm, sunny Sunday, I left Panama City Beach and headed to Daytona Beach, to attend my 2nd All-Star game. Everything was going according to plan. I was fresh off an MVP performance in my first All-Star game, and I was