Both teams need to play w/emotion, but still control their emotions.

Photo by Scott G. Winterton

I also wanted to build on the emotion of this week and mention how important it is for both teams to play with emotion, -but at the same time be in control of their emotions. This game -more than others- it’s easy to pursue personal battles with red/blue jerseys. With your emotions running at def-com 9 it’s easy to forget about your team and instead try and humiliate the  faceless foe standing awkwardly in-front of you.

It can come in the form of a late hit, a face mask, some elegant words -well…that’s not too bad-, a love tap to the body….I think you get the picture. Rivalry games bring out -not only the best- but the worst in players, fans, kids, teachers, Zoobies and Yewte’es making it easy to justify an on-field open hand fight. While these fights can increase the intensity of the game and keep the fans watching the whole field, they don’t improve your teams standing on the scoreboard. Instead leave the blatant blasphemy and belligerent comments for the zealots of both fan bases. I just can’t wait for the Rice Eccle bleacher fights to hit youtube -cell phone videos are all the rage - where I can watch a heavily sedated Yewte get his trash kicked by a gangly white guy with Bill Gates glasses and a perfect hair part.

Trust me I enjoy watching Travis and Dallas lying on helpless red/black clad DB’s and LB’s as much as the next guy, -you know what I mean…where they’re lying on the defender, arms and legs extended so all you see are flailing arms and legs- but don’t let the emotions of the rivalry deter from the all important goal, winning. After the initial rush of emotion both teams will need to settle in and find a rhythm, but which ever team finds that rhythm while maintaining their emotional “high” will have the advantage throughout the game. Snap decisions normally make you and your team look pathetic -reference the 06′ Weddle incident and the video tribute I posted.

Besides, red is a hard color to disguise between the whistles. There isn’t anywhere to hide and the game consists of four, 15-minute quarters. Chances are you’re going to run into each other again.

But, exercise judgment in retaliation, 15 yards could mean the difference between a 4th and 3 or a 4th and 18.

But hey…that sounds manageable, right McCain.

p.s.-I probably shouldn’t take so many pop-shot, but they keep the dialogue light