September 03, 2006

That time of year again...

It's officially football season.  Why all of a sudden I like football, I have no idea. But over the last decade, I have really built up a love for it.

As a girl, I hated it.  couldn't relate.  Too violent.  Silly.  Boring.  A waste of my precious reading time.  An obstacle to GOING HOME, PLEASE, until halftime or the end of the game after lunch at my Grandmother's house on Sunday.

Now I can't wait.  College, NFL, I don't care.  I watch it like one of those freaks with a fantasy team.  I know the teams, the coaches, the players.  I'm still learning the lingo, like "west-coast offense" and "slant pass into the flat", but I get it.

I appreciate the nuance of it.  Learning the strengths and weaknesses of the your own team and the opponent.  Special plays that are emblematic of  your own offense or defense.  the irony of the detailed and meticulaous preparation required to bash your opponents brains out.

From a scientific point of view, it's interesting too.  Sociologically, it's entertaining to watch men bond and reinforce social norms over some beer and pigskin-related violence.  Evolutionarily, it's amusing to see us put men dressed in costumes that emphasize their "manliness" (broad shoulders, thighs, and calfs; small waist, flat stomach.  Think about where the pads are and how different it makes them look...) up on a pedestal.  The ugliest-ass football player can still get a hot chick, just because he's a baller.

So, I've been immersed in it since yesterday morning.  GameDay came on at 7am, and since then I have been making up for a winter and summer of lost time.  I think I watched all or part of at least 7 games yesterday, between 4 channels.  And I am quite proud that I called that Tennessee stompin' of Cal.

Ov-er-ra-ted clap clap clapclapclap!

I was also rooting for GTech, mostly because I'm a Trojan fan and ND is anathema to me, but I was glad to see a good game, and I think GT still busted a lot of the ND hype.

Texas, Auburn, and OSU all played chump games (yes, Wazzu is a CHUMP team), so I'm waiting to see how good they REALLY are.

In other news, JD Booty lives up to the hype and my Trojans are starting to look like new faces in old places.  If they keep it up, the rest of the NCAA better watch out.

Biggest Chump of the Week: Wisconsin Lutheran, who lost to Valparaiso 54-0.
Happy Surprise of the Week: Navy beats ECU
I Expected it of the Week: Richmond beats dook.  By a shutout.
Shit Call of the Week:  A tie: The questionable helmet to helmet on GT vs ND, and the non-whistle which took a TD away from my Tar Heels, leading to a Rutgers score and victory.

Bad Officials of the Week:  Again, a tie: Pac-10 ref crew at the UofO/Stanford game and the Big 10 crew running the ND/ GT game (both for blown replay calls)

Posted by caltechgirl at September 3, 2006 01:57 PM | TrackBack
Comments

As one of those freaks with a fantasy team as well as a die hard ND fan - you know I gotta give you some crap!! ;-)

Actually I'll just say I get what you're sayin'.

I'm ALLLL about the football.

Posted by: Tammi at September 3, 2006 02:15 PM

I'm one of those football freaks in which you spoke. This time of the year is the best for me, I look forward to it all year long. Except I don't like College ball.

As for emphasising the manly parts, you said flat stomachs... Have you seen the linemen in these games, they have guts on them.

Posted by: Contagion at September 3, 2006 03:20 PM

Go Navy!

Posted by: Bou at September 3, 2006 07:12 PM

I know what you mean. For some bizarre reason, I actually made a point of watching the opener of UGA. Did I attend? No. But Uga is cute.

Posted by: Nancy at September 4, 2006 05:50 PM

Agreed. The helmet to helmet seemed scetchy. I really wanted GT to win. Keep it in the ACC.

GO NOLES!

Posted by: Morrigan at September 5, 2006 07:41 AM

I *so* envy you ...

Football is one of those things I have always hated too, and I really WANT to relate, yet I find myself unable to ... perhaps because I find the technical lingo so daunting ....

Football talk is just waaaay too intimidating for me.

What's your secret?

Posted by: erica at September 6, 2006 02:50 PM