First and...WHAT? Football Follies

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I will start with a confession. When I was in junior high, which I think they now call middle school, I was a cheerleader. (No photographs of this exist.)

I was a terrible terrible terrible cheerleader. Good in my imagination and good in my yearning desire to be accepted, but pitiful, I’m sure, in real life. Tragically ungraceful, and extremely unathletic.

I was also completely clueless about the games I was cheering for. In football season, I would just wait, to see if anyone would start the “first and 10 let’s do it again” chant, because I had no idea what that meant. So I could not start it myself.

In fact, I did not know it was “first AND 10” until I was in my 20s at least. I thought it was “first IN 10.”  Which back then, I never knew.

Anyway, that said. I live in Boston, and that means sports is on the radar, and my darling husband is a big football fan. Not in general, but of the New England Patriots. So, in support of the common weal, I sometimes watch football with him, and it is much more fun if you know the rules. First and ten, now, I get it! I am still iffy on why sometimes it’s offsides and sometimes it is false start, but that is another blog.

But let me just ask you all. It’s football season now, with Thanksgiving being football central. And then the Super Bowl. Do you care? Do you have a team?

LUCY BURDETTE: Cheerleading is a tragic topic Hank! At our high school, the mascot was the Highlanders (we lived in New Jersey, not Scotland!). The cheerleaders wore the cutest short plaid skirts and stylish hats and I think knee socks, and I desperately wanted to be one. I was not chosen, so I ended up performing as a highlander sword dancer. (Longer skirts=not as cool, that’s all you need to know.)

That said, football is not my thing. I kind of like having it on in the background while John watches, and I’ll wander in and ask who’s winning. (He’s a Steelers fan.) For the Super Bowl, I definitely go for the food!

HALLIE EPHRON: I loved going to high school football games and sort of learned the rules by osmosis. I was on the drill team which, in retrospect, is pretty dumb. Our outfits were orange and white, in a thick felt fabric that retained… odor. White boots with tassels – that was the best part.

I like watching the Super Bowl but that’s about it. Once a year. Not rooting for any teams. Just annoyed when a game preempts Wheel of Fortune. Pathetic, I know.

JENN MCKINLAY: I’m a diehard Pats fan married to a Cowboys loyalist. Things get tetchy around here during football season, although we both root for the AZ Cardinals. I was in marching band (percussion) in high school so everything I know I learned at Friday night football games. That being said, if football disappeared tomorrow, I don’t know that I’d miss it over much as I’m not much of a watcher other than to check in from my office when I hear yelling.

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I’m a little envious of those of you who have husbands who are fans. I kind of like the sound of Sunday football in the background, and the whole snacks/social aspect of it, but Rick does not like football at all. I have to twist his arm to get him to watch the Superbowl. Even though he professes not to like the game, he knows all the rules and that makes it more fun for me. I am not a Cowboys fan, which is heresy in this part of the world. Maybe I’m just contrary. My team of choice is the Chiefs (even pre-Taylor!) but I couldn’t tell you what their standing is so far this year.

As for cheerleading, a big no. I was a hippie chick, and uncoordinated to boot!

RHYS BOWEN: Big 49rs fan here. We watch every week I’d enjoy the games more if I were not sitting with someone who lets out loud exclamations every time a player drops the ball or the quarterback is sacked. Strange to say for an Englishwoman but I am a student of the game. Maybe that came from living in Houston for three years!

Actually I’m a big fan of most sports and can be found glued to the TV for any tennis match, soccer game etc. Not so much baseball until the World Series.

And since I went to an all girls school there were no cheerleaders and I played netball and tennis.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Ross and Spencer enjoyed the Pats, since that seems to be a requirement for living in New England, but the big family football passion has always been college ball, specifically the SEC. My father was a grad of the University of Alabama, and my grandparents lived in Tuscaloosa, so I was taken to games when I was just a tiny tot. Roll Tide!

Sadly, I find it’s just not that much fun watching games by myself. Without others to get excited or groan with, it looses a lot of its appeal. Plus, I’m not making nachos and chile and guacamole for one.

Some of my favorite games were the Bonny Eagle High School football team’s home appearances when Spencer was the percussion leader for the pep band. Go, Scots! The cheerleaders wore cute but sensible leggings and jackets, because it gets COLD in Maine during high school football season.

HANK: How about you, Reds and Readers? Were you a cheerleader? And how about football--do you have a TEAM?

(And...thank you again for checking in on Friday! It was so wonderful to see you all.  But! Blogger will STILL not let me respond to you. SO silly. But I read every single comment, and each one filled me with joy.)