Hank, who is still reveling in the glory of his high school running back days, is determined to get Bobby to join the football team. But when it's clear that Bobby lacks both the talent and the motivation, Bobby becomes the towel manager instead.
With Dale's tips acquired from his former days as a towel manager, Bobby does an outstanding job. Hank is proud that Bobby is finally part of a team. But it soon becomes unbearable as Bobby must deal with the growing abundance of dirty towels and the coach's constant berating.
Trudging home from practice, Bobby stops by the Souphanousinphones' yard to smell their roses. Bobby takes in their breathtaking beauty and simplicity. Bobby promptly quits his towel manager job and is determined to grow roses. Peggy reassures Hank that Bobby's interest in roses is normal and that he should be supportive. Hank, who realizes that Bobby can finally be a winner at something, offers to help him win a rose contest. But fearing what the neighbors will think, Hank refuses to let Bobby plant the roses in the garden. He instead insists they grow them in Bobby's room.
As they grow the roses, Hank becomes too obsessive and rejects most of Bobby's input. At the competition, as Hank and Bobby argue over the rose's presentation, Bobby accidentally knocks the rose off the table, crushing it. Hank is determined to fix it and despite Bobby's protests, pulls off a petal. The judges notice the missing petal and tell Hank that it's too bad because with the petal, the rose would have been flawless. Hank realizes his mistake and to make amends, plants the roses in the Hills' yard.