This weekend was the kickoff of College football. Now don't get me wrong - I enjoy a good football game as much as anyone - but I really do not get the cult following I see in particular with college football. I live in Springfield, Oregon where the UO Ducks are king. 45 miles up the road are the OSU Beavers in Corvallis. You see people driving around with team colors on their cars, team flags and pomp pomps and other assorted decorations. Both teams lost yesterday. The sun still came up this morning. These are young men playing this game - typically 19 - 24 year olds. These kids are still learning...and football is ONLY a game. Win or lose, life will continue.
We yell and scream at the players, coaches and referees. We question the coaches decisions. We cheer when something good happens, and boo when something bad happens. We spend huge amounts of money to see our favorite team play. We wonder why these kids make what we consider "stupid" decisions taking special perks, or driving too fast, or getting into a fight. Yes, those were not smart decisions, but those things happen every day to other college students who are not athletes, and no one ever hears about them unless someone is hurt or killed.
These kids who may be away from home for the first time are under huge amounts of pressure to perform. They are expected to attend classes, and do well, be at practice and play hard, and not make mistakes on game day. They love to play the game, and they love to please their coaches and fans.
So the next time you are watching a college football game - keep this is mind. Have some compassion for those kids - they are not being paid for what they are doing (don't give me the "they are getting their education" line) that's for another discussion on another day. They still are still growing up. For that matter, as a fan, behave as the adults you should be - to set a good example.
More later.
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