I was born in Texas. In fact, I was actually born in Fake Cow County and since returning here to go to college, I've now lived here longer than anywhere else in my life. Naturally, I was born with the prerequisite football appreciation gene. I like football, I really do.
I understand the difference between the I formation and the shotgun. I know where the tight ends line up and why certain receivers are ineligible down field. I even kind of like the vague, witless, palm-reader style of the college playoff system. I'm cool with that.
But I still think football fanaticism is pretty stupid.
Unfortunately, I married a damn pigskin freak. Jackson's family is all about the sports. He had a try-out with the Cincinnati Reds and had 'em real interested until they learned he lied about his age and he was only 17. He was all sorts of good at football and played one year in college before he got irreversibly injured.
So, I spend my Friday nights huddled in various low-rent sports venues watching whatever game has caught his attention for the week. A lot of times those are 6-man football games.
Jackson's brother is the head coach and athletic director at a tiny school about 40 miles from Fake Cow. There are so few students that they don't have enough kids to play regular football; not even if they recruited a girl to kick the field goals.
6-man football is like basketball played in cleats. It's actually a lot of fun to watch. My favorite part is the mercy rule - as soon as one team gets 45 points ahead of the other, the game ends and we all get to go home early.
Anyway, I told you all that to tell you this: this past Friday we went to see Coach-in-law's game with their number one rival. I took my camera, just for the heck of it. Here is a shot of the entire team and coaching staff watching the play from the sidelines:
See what I mean by small? Naturally, the school doesn't have a lot of money to spend on stuff like trainers and medics and such. Coach-in-law was a medic in the navy before being discharged for a knee injury. (It happened while playing football. Who wouldda guessed?) So, when something happens to one of his players, he doctors them on the sidelines. Friday night one of the guys dislocated a finger. Might have broken it. I managed to get a shot of CIL fixing the finger while keeping an eye on the action happening downfield. You should've heard the horrible crack it made when it popped back into place. Everyone in the stands said "Ooh!" and shuddered in unison. And I snapped a photo! Doesn't this make you cringe?
I'll be sort of glad when football season ends...
15 comments:
I'm so glad I'm not the only woman to understand football. I once had a guy break-up with me because I knew more about football than he did. (My pop played college ball). I called a clipping penalty & he swore it was holding - you guessed right it was clipping. I've learned its best to just keep your mouth shut.
I work Sunday's now and get to avoid the whole NFL thing and the boys aren't old enough for HS Football. Yet.
Oh, wow! OUCH!
I feel that boy's pain, I do.
You would probably pass the football referee test without taking the class. ;)
Ouch! I wish I had not read this post all the way to the end!
dijea - you know what drives me crazy? By the second quarter, Jackson can predict what play will be called next by each coach. And he's always freakin' right about it. Drives me nuts! Too bad he can't do the same prognostication at the horse races! I'd be a wealthy woman...
Linda - ugh. I know, huh?
PG - Yeah, maybe the rules part, but not the run up and down the field all night long part.
annie - makes yer toes curl, don't it?
I read this to El Jefe who remembers 6 man football fondly but is proud that Borger was (just) big enough to play regular football in his youth.
Love the pictures, but OUCH. I'm sure the team appreciates you and Jackson being fans!
LOVE the mercy rule.
I totally agree with cheese...love the mercy rule.
And I love me some 6 man football. Who knew?
OMG...I can hear the snap just by looking at that pic!! ~cringes~
*gasps* Jon said sodomize! Does he know what that means?!?!?!
Yes I do know what it means, I deleted the coment thinking that was a little too much, but the attitude toward high school football really ticks me off. I wanted to see if I could get the link to work as well, but I seem to be incapable of wizardry ... so here's the site, again.
http://vacantstares.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_archive.html
and I still think the kid in the picture is a wimp.
I'm glad our football season is over.
Had I not been restrained, I would have catapulted over the crowd and down onto the field a few times.
Yay, another woman who knows and loves football! Great pics! Dave says that some towns in Wyoming have six-man football, too.
Cringing, too, over the crack - brings back memories of when I broke my arm.
Love me some football and I am not even a Texas native. It was everything to do on Friday night in Brownsville Tennessee. Now...big question about these football men...did Mr. Finger go back in the game after a quick wrap up?
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