[center][img]http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo63/NMShape/coollogo_com-8436315_zpsd02f9fa5.png[/img][/center] [h3]Philadelphia, PA[/h3] [b][u]The Present Day[/u][/b] Isaac felt the familiar clatter on the concrete as much as heard it. Stepping delicately through the artificially lit tunnel in order to keep his footing, the sound dulled as he hit the laid out carpet and was replaced with the murmur of 27,000 people and the bright summer's sun as he punched out from the tunnel and onto Talen Energy Stadium. He ran onto the grass and raised his head to the sun, looking around the stands. He sighed. [b]"What. In the hell. Are you doing here?"[/b] He asked himself for perhaps the hundredth time. [h3]Lost Haven University - The Dean's Office[/h3] [b][u]3 Months Ago[/u][/b] [color=6ecff6]"Good morning, Isaac."[/color] The man spoke from behind the desk, standing and offering his hand. Isaac turned and looked back at him blank-faced whilst Brandon closed the door behind them. [color=6ecff6]"Okay then..."[/color] he said, sitting back down and rubbing his hands together, as if to attempt to awkwardly wipe away the fact that Isaac hadn't shaken his hand. The Dean had about 20 years on Isaac, who in turn had about 10 years on Brandon-- [color=6ecff6]"So, I trust Brendan here told you what this was all about?"[/color] Ok. Brendan. Isaac had ten years on "Brendan". The guy's name was Brendan. Moving on... [color=a2d39c]"Umm, actually sir, I hadn't done that yet. I thought we could do that now."[/color] [color=6ecff6]"Oh..."[/color] Said the Dean, giving Brendan a disappointed look and now understanding Isaac's standoffish nature in his office. [color=6ecff6]"I apologize if we've worried you at all, with the unknown nature of this meeting. As it is, this is about--"[/color] [color=a2d39c]"Rugby!"[/color] Beamed Brendan, excitedly interrupting, stepping forward and standing next to the Dean on the other side of the desk. [b]"'Kay. What about it?"[/b] Isaac replied, eyebrow cocked. Checking to make sure Brendan wouldn't interrupt again, the Dean continued. [color=6ecff6]"As you may be aware, earlier this month there was an incident led by a horiffic monster called Nightmare. He, and three other monsters, both literal and figurative, attacked an internal practice game amongst the football team. This tragedy... well, for want of a better term, essentially decimated the football program. The majority of players, present members of the cheerleading squad and coaching staff were slaughtered, less importantly thousands of dollars worth of damage was done. All in all the human and financial costs to the football program... were devastating. Beyond which, we suspect that had these monsters remained at large student enrollment and drop-out rates would likely have shut down the college."[/color] [b]"Okay. Kids and parents terrified of school. LHU no longer a desirable location. The school goes under, I get it. But what does that have to do with rugby?"[/b] [color=6ecff6]"Well. A football program is a very expensive thing to operate. Pads, equipment, new goalposts, transportation... the booster club obviously does what they can to lend a hand, but there are limitations there. After the financial hit to the football budget, and by extension the school's current financial status... it would likely be about 2 seasons away. Football also generates cheap publicity, gives the school representation in the public eye."[/color] [b]"Yeah.  American football does.  It’s the most popular sport in this country.  Again, what does that have to do with rugby?"[/b] [color=6ecff6]"Well, Brendan has some insight here on this.  See, he’s been studying ECON and seems to thinks he’s found some interesting trends and an interesting angle for investment out of current events.  Brendan?"[/color] [color=a2d39c]"Well, whilst recent troubling metahuman events seem to have a negative impact on locals with…"[/color] [b]"A large chunk of school property getting destroyed and students slaughtered en mass?"[/b] Isaac interrupted.  Taking offence with how things had been minimalized down to ‘recent troubling metahuman events’and ‘a negative impact’. [color=a2d39c]"Well… yes.  But even though metahuman sightings appear to have a negative connotation here, there is another factor to consider."[/color] Isaac looked baffled. [color=a2d39c]“Tourism.  With metahuman events seem to centralize around – although not exclusive to – our city for some reason, an interesting trend appears.  We see a strong rise in the tourism industry in connection to times of greater metahuman activity, year-to-year, decade-to-decade.  It’s actually quite remarkable.”[/color] Isaac still looked on, non-committed to where this was going. [color=a2d39c]“These tourists seem to have interesting traits as well…  British, Japanese, people from other English speaking nations like Australia and New Zealand.”[/color]  He pointed at Isaac.  [color=a2d39c]“Terraria…”[/color] Isaac’s face grew dour.  He could see where this was going and didn’t buy it for a second. [color=a2d39c]“What they all have in common, are tendencies to take out Student Visas when visiting—“[/color] [b]“…and they’re rugby playing nations.”[/b] Finished Isaac. [color=a2d39c]“Exactly!”[/color] Grinned Brendan. [b]“But aren’t Chinese and Saudi Arabians more likely to take out student Visas in the US than anyone from the nation’s you just mentioned?”[/b] [color=a2d39c]“N—No!”[/color] Brendan stammered.  He wasn’t expecting Isaac to actually question anything he’d brought up to convince the Dean, let alone contradict it.  [color=a2d39c]“Well… yes.  In the U.S. as a whole.  But the figures.”[/color] [b]“You’re telling me wild roaming packs of New Zealanders are descending on American schools...”[/b] Brendan got firmer, defending his findings.  [color=a2d39c]“What I’m saying, is that the numbers of people who come to Lost Haven.  IN MAINE.  Around times of metahuman activity.”[/color] He emphasized.  [color=a2d39c]“Spike on these nationalities.  I mean, it’s not much point in marketing to Chinese and Saudi students… when the state isn’t competitive with attracting people from those nations.  Chinese students tend to lean more to the New York region, whilst Saudis tend to distribute through the other larger cities which aren’t New York.”[/color] [color=a2d39c]“If we lose local students… and possibly the temporary positive marketing boost that a football team brings, the school will certainly need to bring new students in to remain competitive.  Making ourselves attractive to international students just makes sense.”[/color] Isaac opened his mouth to counter the statement and found himself incapable of responding. [color=a2d39c]"Now rugby is a growing collegiate sport here, we'd be riding a growing interest due to a World Cup and it's inclusion in the Olympics this year..."[/color] [b]"Sevens."[/b] Was the only thing Isaac could spit out. Not an argument. Just a correction. [color=a2d39c]"Yes, Rugby Sevens in the Olympics. There's also a major collegiate sevens tournament in just three months. It gets broadcoast coast-to-coast with NBC Sports..."[/color] [color=6ecff6]"But what we're going to need is a coach."[/color] Stated the Dean in a matter-of-fact tone. [color=6ecff6]"And preferably one at no increased cost to the school, given the circumstances. Brendan here suggested you'd be qualified and interested in the role, given your age..."[/color] This made Isaac wince. He already felt eyes on him on campus due to being a 28 year old freshman. There were teachers at LHU younger than him. Not many, but there were. [color=6ecff6]"...and your own experience with the sport back in Terraria."[/color] This was borderline offensive, although again Isaac found himself powerless to refute it. Yes, he'd played some rugby back in high school and was alright at it, but he was hardly a schoolboy star or potential professional in the making. This was akin to telling a Canadian he'd coach ice hockey purely because he grew up in Canada. So why couldn't he say as much? Minutes later Isaac walked from the office red-faced... but the new coach of LHU rugby. And not the least bit happy about any of it.