Thursday, September 4, 2008

How Can You

NOT LIKE FOOTBALL??? I'm sorry people, but I just don't get it. I love football!

My sweet friend, Lysa TerKeurst, wrote on her blog, http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/2008/09/who-moved-my-field.html, the other day:

The football season is now upon us. Yeah. I say that with the same enthusiasm that I might muster up to express my joy over cleaning my base boards with a toothbrush. Yeah.While my family hoops and hollers and cheers with all things pigskin, I express my excitement by plucking my eyebrows.

The same enthusiasm that she musters up to express joy over cleaning her baseboards with a toothbrush? What? Lysa, what's up, you need to hang out with me. Football rocks!

I especially like college football. The atheletes aren't yet spoiled by millions of dollars. There is a band and a fight song. I love fight songs. And loyal fans ban together like family. It's just good fun.

Last Saturday, we started watching games at 11:00 am. We stopped at 11:00 pm. All day. Barbeque, friends, family, cheering, booing, high fives, and in your faces. I was just as happy when my favorite teams won as I was when my least favorite team (Clemson Tigers) lost:) Is that very nice? Who cares, it's football. Even as I write this, I'm watching my Gamecocks (South Carolina) play Vanderbilt. Go Gamecocks! I was raised a Gamecock. My parents had season tickets and I could say, "Go Gee Cocks, Boo Kitties" before I could even say, "MaMa and DaDa". I did not go to college there however. I went to Appalachian State. By the way, they have won the National Championship in football in their division 3 years in a row. They also beat Michigan last year. Do you even care about this? I'm telling you, I just love football!

My 13 yr old son, Hayden, is trying out for his middle school football team. He's the only athelete in our family. He already plays for a Pop Warner league. I am praying he makes his school team. He has football in his blood like I do. He is so passionate about it. He trained all summer, on his own. His dad set up a 40 yd dash area and Hayden practiced in the hot summer sun every day. He also worked on push ups, planks, and back flips (not really football related, but it takes lots of talent to do a back flip!). He worked on this by his own motivation. He'll find out Friday or Monday if he makes the school team. Ooh I hope he does. Once when he was watching a game and his favorite team (Florida Gators) lost to Auburn (they usually lose to Auburn), he threw the remote control across the room. It totally fell apart into lots of pieces. Like I said, he's passionate about football. (He did get punished for his inappropriate behavior.)

I love football so much, it even affects my speaking schedule. Barb Spencer, our speaker coordinator at Proverbs, has learned. She's also an avid football fan. And a sad one. Her Hokies (Virginia Tech) lost last weekend (sorry Barb), anyway, she books my speaking engagements. When I get a request in the fall, she knows I have to check the Gamecock and Gator schedules first. There are certain weekends I just can't be away. I can't believe I just admitted that! (with that said, if God was telling me to go somewhere and speak, I would....I may argue with Him if there was a good game on that day, but I would go. I'm not totally crazed...I don't think I am at least.)

So, back to Lysa. She ended her football post with this comment:

Are you a football fan? Do you have some little tidbit of football knowledge that you'd like to share? Is there any hope that I could be more entertained by people smacking into each other than by my own eyebrows?

Yes I am a football fan. And Lysa, I do have some knowledge I'd like to share. Pick a team and follow them. Wear their colors. Wave their flags. Learn their fightsong. Watch ESPN and read the Sports section to see where your team ranks. And come over to my house on Saturdays to watch some good ole southern football! I'll feed you and I'm pretty sure that you will be more entertained than plucking your eyebrows! You can even bring your family! You can even bring your tweezers if you like! And if you are really bored, well, I'll let you clean my baseboards with a toothbrush :)

So, what do you think of football? And just FYI my Canadian and English and other worldwide friends, we ain't talkin' soccer or futbol here. This is full contact, tight pants, and helmets. You play mostly with your hands, not your feet. So, why do they call it football? Well I don't know that and I really don't care either.

Well, I gottta go. It's 7-3 and I can't just sit here any longer.

I hope you are happy, healthy, and having a great day wherever you are and whenever you read this. And may your team win! Unless they are playing mine!

Go Team,

Melissa

****Update: :( I'm sad. The Gamecocks lost. To Vanderbilt for goodness sakes! 24-17. One thing about being a Gamecock fan, you learn to hope. And believe. That one day we'll really be good!!!! :) Still smiling! There are more games on Saturday!

8 comments:

Joyful said...

Girl, you are too funny! I thought of you immediately when I read Lysa's post the other day. From reading your blog over the last several months, I knew you were a major football fan!

I can't say that I'm an avid sports fan - of any sport, so I'm not just bored by football. Although, in saying that, because my husband enjoys watching the games, I will sit in the same room (with my laptop) and watch the re-runs of highlights of the game. My husband was actually watching New York and Washington play tonight, and I caught glimpses of the game - in between yawns.

Hope your son makes the team! I watch any sport my son participates in!

Dusting off my pom poms, (is that what they're called?) Hope we can still be friends,
Joy

Unknown said...

Melissa we need to hang out! I heart me some football. College and NFL. I even play fantasy football. And when football season is over, sadness.

Wishing your son luck in his tryouts!

Lysa TerKeurst said...

Okay... see I could totally cheer for your son. Not because I like the sport of footbal but because I have a relationship with you.

When I was in college I went out with a guy that played college footbal and I love it--- because I knew the person I was cheering for.

Now that I'm old... I don't know any of those people playing.

So, I have a hard time picking a team... I always think, "I'm sure there are nice guys on both sides."

Then I just walk away from the TV shaking my head and go find my tweasers.

Deb said...

Melissa,
I can so relate to you. I love college football. I also like to watch our local high school football team. My youngest son, who is a senior in high school this year, got me started watching college ball a few years ago. I am now an avid fan. My favorite team is Ohio State (go bucks!) but we watch football all day Saturday at our house.

Have a great day!

Deb

Sharon said...

Now that was a funny post!! I LOVEEEEEE football... Big Bucanneer fan. So glad it's started back up, I use to get depressed when the season would be over. And Yes College football can be more exciting, they play harder, and much younger, they are looking toward there futures.
Enjoyed your post today
Have a Great weekend
Sharon

Anonymous said...

May I say, "Thank you, Lord, football season is upon us!" I love football! I prefer college over pro, but I watch both.

College football has created a friendly rivalry between my husband and me. He is a Gators fan. I'm a Tennessee Vols girl. As long as the Vols beat the Gators, I'm a happy camper.

I hope your son makes the team. My seven year old started midget league football this year...yikes! He is having fun. Watching football from a mom's perspective is exciting and tough at the same time. Go Vols!

Jen said...

Football is awesome!!! I love the atmosphere of it... ESPECIALLY COLLEGE (and high school)..... My step-brother played football in hs and college... He actually went to college for 5 years for football... scholarship... so yeah I like it...

Teresa said...

Girl! Were we seperated at birth?! Love football! and loved this post! I'm a TN Volunteer all the way and goooo Colts..(Peyton, of course!)
When the movie.."Facing the Giants" came out...I praised danced for days...I felt my Abba had said.." You know I think I 'll make a movie for my daughter, Teresa...it'll be about my Son and football"....
Thanks for sharing and I'll be back!
Blessings!
Teresa
ps: after having two darling daughters the Lord blessed me with a boy...heehee a hefty 10 lb linebacker