Not a Kenny Chesney fan but I think Sean Payton does a great job of describing it for many of us.

For all of you guys who have responded to my question, when and how did you decide to play football?

 

I was one of those kids that people used to see and say, "I'll bet he's going to be a football player" from the time I was 3 or 4. Even just playing pick up games in the backyard I used to dominate my older brothers and their friends. The fact that I grew up a the son and grandson of Colonels helped a little bit with my football bug too, especially since I grew up down the street from Donnie Bieger, who was quarterbacking for Cov Cath when I was in my early formative years. I don't think I missed a single game the whole time he played.

 

Anyway, it took a few years of convincing by my dad and a couple of my uncles, as well as a good deal of pleading on my part to finally talk my mom in letting me play in the NKYFL, and the rest was history. I was exclusively an O-line man for 8 years, and even though I had always wanted to hear my name announced over the speakers (never did until senior day at Cov Cath), I still enjoyed - and miss - all of it. Conditioning, weight training, running program, two-a-days, shooting the breeze in the locker room, getting my first set of "CCH" stickers for my helmet, practice until dark after school, walk-throughs, wearing your jersey to school on game day, film nights, running out of the locker room for Saturday afternoon game days, bus rides, state games, Beechwood games, Highlands games, side-line pep talks, half time speeches (the Mud Bowl speech was priceless) - I think about it, and quite honestly, even as great as the on-field experience was, it pales in comparison to everything else involved.

Watching NewCath circa 1990 was when I made my mind up. Nothing was cooler than watching Mann throw to Reedy and Atwood. I still hate Danville to this day for knocking them out of the playoffs.

 

As for fun....uh no. Baseball was fun for me. Football was about commitment. As everyone has said, Friday's made it all worth it. At Hanover, the practices were soooo much easier than at NewCath physically that they were much more enjoyable, but the games didn't have the same community feel. High School football demands that you earn your "fun," and that's not always the funnest thing.

The short answer to the questions is 1) yes it was fun 2) started in the 5th grade

 

Football is the one sport that when it is done its done. There is no getting that feeling back. Flag Football is no where close to playing full go. 7th grade year. Roz 49 (toss sweep to the left). I was the FB and hit the OLB. There are certain "1st" in your life you never forget. Hitting a kid pure is one of those and I spent the rest of my playing career chasing that feeling. There is almost nothing in this world that feels as good as that does.

 

Honestly this sport is not for everyone. Even guys that have on the field success might not be true football "players". It takes a certain personality. You have to be a little off. It is a violent game where you will get knocked around and you get the chance to knock some guys around. Where I am from it was the poor kid sport. You were a kid from the country or from the poor part of town.

 

I was very luck to play against some of the best program/teams in the state at that time. I have a ton of good memories. Its funny how little you hear the crowd. Its like its just you and your friends out in a field somewhere playing against some other neighborhood. The ball is snapped and all you hear is your breathing and heartbeat. I miss it just about every day.

Football was just fun for me! It started in the town of Bath, PA. When as a youngster I made a move on the field as a wide receiver and the pee wee announcer made some colorful commentary about a couple boys picking up straps and a group of us would talk about it that entire year. Then my father became ill and a coach stepped in and really helped me through a trying situation. I was on some horrible high school teams (3 seasons of 1-10); but still have unbelievable passion for the game. I love giving back to the game and is the reason I coach today. So much about life can be taught on the football field. I really get emotional when I see those young boys enthusiastic and working hard and enjoying the game.

Fun is an interesting word when it comes to football. There is so much work involved in some ways you don't think of the word fun. I started playing when I was young so I can't even remember why I started playing. I just did. But I think the things that made football fun are the comraderie and brotherhood that lead to lasting friendships, the intense physical competition that you just don't have in any other sport (guys need that hormone release, especially in high school), good coaches and winning (winning games, winning plays in games, winning battles in practice). If you are a competitior and you enjoy pushing yourself physically, football is fun for you in a football kind of way, if that makes sense. And now the fun is often reliving "Glory Days" with your guys.

 

Football is the one sport that when it is done its done. There is no getting that feeling back. Flag Football is no where close to playing full go. 7th grade year. Roz 49 (toss sweep to the left). I was the FB and hit the OLB. There are certain "1st" in your life you never forget. Hitting a kid pure is one of those and I spent the rest of my playing career chasing that feeling. There is almost nothing in this world that feels as good as that does.

That is a good point. With limited exceptions, unless you go on to play at the next level which seldom happens, there is a very slim chance you will ever suit up again in an organized setting. Other sports are different in that regard.

I don't know how to describe or explain something is fun. It just is or it isn't. Yes, football is fun. But there are 2 kind of players. One is those that love all of it- hot summers, conditioning, weights, drill work, 3-a-days, etc. Others that HATE that part, but know that Friday night makes it worth it. If you are in the first category, you should consider going into coaching.

 

Alot of why football is special goes way beyond fun. The being part of a team that has endured weather, drills, tough coaches, etc. The feeling of accomplishment for a kid that makes great improvement, survives preseason practice without quitting, has that moment or play on Friday night- the list is long.

 

As a head coach, Mason and Paris have had a lot more success than I experienced as a player. But, 28 years later, if I had a choice for one more Friday night, it would be to put on a red helmet and play one more game for Coach French.

 

Sadly, alot of these kids won't realize the experience until it is over. For those that do, what a blessing.

"You play to win the game" Herm Edwards

 

Each play there is a victory and a loss. Each play you are part of that victory/loss and have a brief opportunity to experience the elation or defeat. Football teaches you how to handle that with class, pride, and dignity. But the best thing is that you have a split second, then it's erased from your memory. You have to do it all over again and have an opportunity to possibly redeem yourself. Football is fun because it is rewarding. Everyone mentioned what you get out of it and they were spot on but if you didn't have a chance to win in your experiences....there is no way you had as much fun as those who did. To officially answer the question, most people play because they love the "game" of football. They love how the game is played. They love how certain rules govern the game. The more knowledge you have about the game, the more you appreciate the men involved. Most who played can recall countless memories with friends and former teammates. Those memories can conjure many different feelings about a very important time in your life. There is always one constant, everyone will always remember the last time they wore pads....

Not a Kenny Chesney fan but I think Sean Payton does a great job of describing it for many of us.

 

That about says it.

Not a Kenny Chesney fan but I think Sean Payton does a great job of describing it for many of us.

 

Well, I love Kenny, but I have never seen this video or heard this song. Thanks for posting...brought a little mist to my eyes this early morning. BRING ON SOME FOOTBALL - I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Not a Kenny Chesney fan but I think Sean Payton does a great job of describing it for many of us.

 

I'm with you, I could pretty much do without everything in the video after the 1:55 mark, but Sean Payton's little sermon at the beginning was pretty spot on - gave me chills 2 or 3 times.

I'm not from Kentucky, I'm from West Virginia, and when I was in the 6th grade all my friends were playing pop warner football, so that's when I decided to play, because all my friends were playing. Was playing football fun? Well all of the hot August days when you were sweating (when I playied you couldn't start till August 1) from the heat, practicing in the rain, snow, cold was not fun. But starting at QB as a sophmore, winning a state championship, playing on one of the best High School teams ever to come out of my county was fun. Friday night were a blast. I guess that's one reason I'm officiating football now, It WAS AND STILL IS FUN!!!