Griff's fantasies of his starting quarterback throwing legendary Doug Flutie style Hail Mary passes was tempered in his mind by potential issues with his backup quarterback. Griff knew very well why Durango had recruited a backup quarterback, who had a tendency to forget that he was not allowed to tackle the opponent's defense unless they were carrying the ball. He was considering whether or not it would be necessary to talk with his backup quarterback and whether to eat more barbecued ribs or barbecued chicken.

Out the window of the coach's cottage, evening sun was casting shadows on the green grass of . Presidents yard, "The problem is that although I know quite a few of the men who came back from the war and started ski areas," Mac continued. "I have no idea what happened to Pete Lafitte or even if he survived. The 10th Mountain Division suffered heavy casualties when, beginning with the assault on Riva Ridge, they led the attack to knock out the mountain-situated 'Gothic Line' that protected Nazi-held territory from Allied advance up the Italian peninsula."

Griff was interested in the battle plan. He wanted to look again at the map of Riva Ridge that was painted on one of the six sides of the music box base. And he wanted to know it’s sequence in the series of paintings.