Football: A Game That Became a Beautiful Obsession

I love football.

I’ve been obsessed with it since I was a little tike.

The sights, sounds, and smells of the game, the orchestrated violence, the smash-mouth ballet, all of it appeals to me.

Football has been a part of my life since I can remember. I owe that to my brother Dave, who has an even greater love for the intricacies of the game than I do.

My love affair started back in 1971 when I watched my first NFL game on TV. It was the Redskins against the Rams on Monday Night Football. Washington won easily, but I was impressed with LA quarterback Roman Gabriel and right then, for better or worse, the Rams became my team.

Backyard football was a fixture in my neighborhood. We played it constantly, every week. No exceptions. It’s a lot different with the kids today in the age of Facebook, smart phones, and iPads.

We didn't have those distractions back then.

The first snowfall would always bring my brother and me outside. We would play each other, one on one, every first snow of the season. I can still see it like it was yesterday, running through the snow and having the time of our lives.

It was a great feeling, an innocent time that you pine for but know you can’t ever get back.

Some of my warmest memories are of me alone in the backyard with my imaginary teammates, pretending that I was Walter Payton, slashing and cutting through the line of scrimmage.

Heck, I was so into the game that I would reenact the previous weeks highlight reel, running in slow motion with that great NFL Films music playing in the back of my mind.

I’m not alone with my feelings for the game. It’s like that with a lot of people. It’s a passion that can’t be described adequately.

Baseball may be America’s pastime, but football is America’s obsession.

The game has become a part of our culture, a core fabric of our lives. In our cultural psyche, football is up there with mom, apple pie, and the Fourth of July.

It’s only been in the last few years when I’ve developed an even deeper appreciation for football.

Thanks to my opportunity covering the Pittsburgh Steelers for CBS, Pat Kirwan, and my brother's coaching job in the Bellefonte (PA) High School system, I’ve learned how complex football can be.

Things I never knew as a fan and 15-plus years as a sportswriter became known.

Like when the tight end goes out wide, if the Sam (strong side linebacker) lines between the tight end the tackle, the defense is in a zone.

Or if the center and guards take three feet splits, but the guards and tackles are two feet apart, nine times out of 10, the play is going to be a run.

I’ve learned what a Fake Pump Draw is, what the responsibilities are in a 4-3 and 3-4 defense, gap integrity, X blocking, and what 21 personnel means.

One of the highlights of my life was Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau explaining his Fire Zone Blitz and me trying to understand it all.

These nuances and intricacies of the game have made it much more fun to watch. I see it now in a totally different light than I had before.

The real game is a chess match, a cerebral game much more complicated than most realize. With this new enlightenment I have come to respect the men who coach football even more.

It isn’t easy. To be successful at it takes hours and hours of dedication, passion, and commitment.

Pro and college ball are great, but nothing beats the Friday night lights of a high school football game.

The fans, the marching bands, and the game itself are magic to my senses.

High school football is pure football. The coaches and players aren’t in it for money, accolades, or fame. The play and coach for the love of the game, and the desire to compete and win. That’s what football is all about.

Do yourself a favor and go to your local games and soak in the moment. You’ll be glad you did.

The dog days are almost behind us and fall, my favorite season, is about to begin. The air gets cooler, the leaves change and paint a majestic picture, and football begins again.

What on earth could be better than that?

Nothing, except maybe rolling back time for another backyard snow game with my brother.