<p>I LOVE high school football. We live for Friday night lights. The entire town is full of spirit. It’s just better when you KNOW all the players. We tailgate before the games. Steaks on the grill, bbq ribs, tons of side dishes, yum !</p>
<p>My S played all through the years. He was All Conference last year. Nothing like having a senior player. All the mom’s sit together and cheer. Stand & clap for kick off…yell like crazy for a touch down. It is so much fun ! Oh…when your son intercepts & runs it in…</p>
<p>I am hoping to get to a few college games this fall. No player this time. We’ll still go to the HS games. </p>
<p>By the end of the season, bundled in gear, covered with a blanket…or torrential downpours with the rain suit.</p>
<p>I’m not sure who enjoys it more, H or myself.</p>
<p>We hang the Blue & white flag on our pole, “Welcome to the Jungle” sign in the yard, car flag on top…</p>
<p>I have a wife from Spain who will never, ever understand football. Also 2 teen daughters whom I’ve spent hours upon hours trying to explain football to. It’s almost like there is something genetic in most females that makes them immune from grasping football. Based on what I’ve been through in the past decade, I’d suggest:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Lock yourself in a room with any American male over the age of 4, and vow not to leave before you have even the slightest idea what a “first down” is. This could take up to a week.</p></li>
<li><p>Check out a few books on football from the library, and take a couple days to try to figure out the difference between a “field goal” and a kicked “extra point.”</p></li>
<li><p>Be aware that in the coaches’ minds, every play, if run correctly, would gain a lot of yards. Like cross-country family trips, they all look GREAT on paper. That’s why the guy with the ball keeps running straight into the big mob of fat guys in the center of the field…if all the fat guys on his team blocked all the fat guys on the other team like they were SUPPOSED to, the little guy with the ball would run far enough for the fans of his team to high-5 each other.</p></li>
<li><p>Be aware that every guy feels flattered and smart when you ask him a question about football. It’s when he’s asked to explain the very same thing for the 30th time that his patience will begin to fade a little bit.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>When I first moved to Texas, I totally didn’t get that people who didn’t have kids on the team went to high school games. I’d hear people talk about going to games and think “wait, their son is only in 8th grade.” </p>
<p>It is a great community event. We’ll have a gap year between when older D is done with drill team and when younger D is a varsity cheerleaders (we’ll be in JV purgatory). I wonder if we’ll be able to stay away from the HS games.</p>
<p>Here’s a place to start. I bought the book for my sister so we could be better fans when we go to my kids college football games. She says it’s a great resource. Plus we luv, luv, luv Howie Long! </p>
<p>EK, I admit that I am addicted to football. I haven’t always been a football fan but, when I married my husband 25+ years ago, I decided I could be bored and lonely during football season or I could join my hubby at the games or in front of the TV. We had season tickets for many years to watch our Vols play. Admittedly, in the beginning, I couldn’t wait for the clock to show 0:00. Once I started to understand the game, though, I really got in to it. In the mid 90’s, my FIL’s advertising agency was very involved in the “NFL Yes” campaign in Nashville that would bring my beloved Tennessee Titans (formerly the Houston Oilers) here to play. I got involved with the whole process and my life has pretty much revolved around football since then. We schedule our vacations, family functions and other activities around the football schedule. We have had season tickets for our Titans since they came to town and I can’t imagine missing a game. </p>
<p>The season, IMO, is far too short! I love both college and NFL games. My husband and I both take a sports radio and ear buds with us to the games so we can watch the game but listen to the radio commentary as it provides immediate updates on injuries, calls, etc. Listening to the radio also prevents us from hearing some of the comments from other “fans” when our team is not faring so well. We enjoy having people over to watch away games, but they all know and accept the “no talking” rule during play. I would suggest that you ask your husband to watch some recorded football games with you and ask him to point out different players and their positions, certain plays, first downs, etc. It couldn’t hurt to read about football and how it’s played but, quite honestly, it’s much easier to learn by watching. Ask questions … your husband will love your interest!</p>
<p>It’s very nice when our school’s electronic scoreboard announces “FIRST DOWN” (in huge, jumping up and down letters no less.)</p>
<p>Just as an aside, it’s also fun to sit by the band parents sometimes. Unless someone falls down (which has happened), the band shows basically look and sound good to me. It’s educational and entertaining to get a play by play of the show from a seasoned band parent.</p>
<p>EK…I was not a football fan growing up (loved baseball though). DH and now DS are both HUGE football fans. Son went to big FB school. After a few years of learning the game, I now think it’s fun. I watch the last quarter (sometimes) of our NFL team. I prefer college ball though. Overall, I can’t imagine spending the time my guys do watching the games…but I do enjoy it (hockey was our problem this year…HATE that game yet our team made the Stanley Cup…and was on for what seemed like 10 years to me!)<br>
Anyway, my thoughts:
Get a bigger tv. They’re pretty cheap and they do enhance the viewing experience. Plus it makes it easier to have friends and family over. </p>
<p>Use the resources mentioned on this thread to help learn about the game. </p>
<p>See if you can find a friend or family member who would be willing to tolerate answering LOTS of questions during the game. My H was actually very patient with me…mostly because he was happy I had interest. </p>
<p>Get to know some of the players. Watch interviews. Read articles. It’s much more fun when you know the names and personalities under those big helmets. It’s even fun to complain about players you don’t like (for me, T.O. and Michael Vick would be in that category!) </p>
<p>EK - You might try reading articles online at Rivals.com. Click on the NCAA football page and start reading away. Rivals will give you a good heads up on which teams are expected to win, which teams are ranked for the upcoming year, and special stories on special moments or players. </p>
<p>Rivals.com might come in extra handy for you when you have to meet with your D’s boyfriend’s family: Just click on the Alabama page and brush up on who’s on the team this year, what position they play, etc. Also, since 'Bama is expected to be good this year, there will be plenty of articles about them as the season swings into action.</p>
<p>You know, you can always avoid having to say much by simply asking, “So, how do you think the team will do this year?” (Or in the case of 'Bama the question might be, “Do you think they are going to win the National Championship again this year”) Nod politely, slip in the occasional “um hum”, and ask follow up questions based on whatever the speaker is enthused about. You can learn alot about a team by just listening to their biggest fans! :)</p>
<p>I don’t know…that is one way to make me hate the game…for years I tried to act interested as the guys at work droned on and on about such burning issues as whether Baylor should replace their defensive coordinator …bor-ing! I would advise going to some live football games (high school, college, whatever) with a patient person who will explain it play by play.</p>
<p>missypie - lol! I’ve been guilty of droning on and on about coordinators, coaches, and why certain players are or are not used more during the game. My kids are so use to my rants that as soon as they see our team line up in the 5 wide they groan with me, “NOT the 5 wide.”</p>
<p>Still, EK might do best to let the 'Bama folks do the talking since they probably know every player, every play, and every glorious (and disasterous) moment The Tide has ever been graced (or cursed) with. It will be almost impossible for her to keep up with them on that front. </p>
<p>A fun way to learn the game might also be to play the video game versions of it. As a player, you suddenly have a vested interest in whether the plays you pick work. You can play against the machine so no one has to know how much or little you actually know about the game until “Voila!” one day you actually know what a 5 wide attack means. :)</p>
<p>I sooooo identify with SplashMom. School football is so full of spirit and loyal fans, it’s hard not to catch it. Walking on the campus of any big school on game day is just downright fun, even if you don’t go to the game. </p>
<p>I went to U of Michigan back in the 70’s. A year ago, when I met a client for the first time, we exchanged info, and found out he went to Ohio State. For one split second we looked at each other, then both laughed. It’s amazing that after all these years, our schools’ rivalry was still the first thing we both thought of.</p>
<p>In California, “mixed marriages” aren’t blacks and whites marrying - it’s a graduate of UCLA marrying a graduate of USC ! :)</p>
<p>In California, “mixed marriages” aren’t blacks and whites marrying - it’s a graduate of UCLA marrying a graduate of USC !</p>
<p>In baseball- as long as you aren’t a Yankee fan- at least to me, all is good.</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>Basketball I understand & I even used to go to a lot of the games, high school womens * also a long time ago the Sonics ( but I didn’t really care that much that they left)</p>
<p>Football just sounds so complicated- but if some of those goombas I have met can keep track of the plays, I better be able to!</p>
<p>Oooooooh . . . Youdon’tsay. Are you trying to get EK in trouble?! lol. </p>
<p>EK - so glad you’re an intelligent woman!!! You’ll be just fine with the football crowd. Start small - just a quarter of the game to start and listen to the comments flying around the room. After a while, some of it will start to make sense. Pay special attention to the replays - everything goes in slow motion. Just enjoy the ambience and the food during game day. That’s half the fun of the game!</p>
<p>EK, during any Bama football talk, all you need to say is, “I can’t stand that Phil Fulmer” and you won’t have to say another word for the rest of the day. You’ll automatically be “in” with the Tide fans. Of course I loved him! :)</p>
Just enjoy the ambience and the food during game day. That’s half the fun of the game!</p>