College Bowl Championship Playoffs - Demystified

Let's get to the brass tax on this whole College Bowl Playoff Championship madness.  To understand it, a little history is in order.  

Years ago, like, before 1998, college football teams would play their regular games, week in and week out.  This was before 24 hour tv, the early days of ESPN, and frankly, a period of years when college football took place on SATURDAYS, and we focused on other things during the rest of the week, like feeding our families, mending socks, and trying to figure out if Captain Kangaroo was a creepy old guy or not.  Nowadays, we have college football on weeknights, all day Saturday, and yes, the "big game" every Saturday night. 

 

What we really fear in November!

It's that time of year.  I'm not talking about football, the start of the NBA season, or whether it is appropriate to put up your Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving.  I'm talking about the one thing that plagues moms (and dads) everywhere, Parent Teacher conferences.

 Parent teacher conferences are one of the few times when when parents truly have no idea what to expect.  Your child is coming home with good grades on his papers, but the teacher informs you "Sure, he's bright, but he is disruptive in class."  or, "He doesn't follow directions."    I can still remember the time my son's first grade teacher told my husband and me that our son had "Oppositional Behavior Disorder."  I mean,  granted,  I was prepared for something along the lines of  "He can be very stubborn."  or, "He is behind in his reading skills."  But, "Oppositional Behavior Disorder!"  Little did she know I was frankly relieved to know there was a name for it.  He did have his moments.

Katy Perry - Meet Some Rock Star Moms

So the NFL announced Katy Perry is the Superbowl XXIX halftime performer.  Keep it family friendly Katy!!  

 

 

In the meantime, this is for every Rock Star Mom out there.

 

When I was about 9 years old, there was this book that sat on the bathroom vanity called, “I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can.”  It was there for two or three years before we moved.  On the cover was a blonde lady, as I recall, with a tutu and a pair of jeans, capris maybe.  She didn’t look very happy about the dancing, exasperated

THE CHALLENGE FLAG - NOW YOU CAN USE IT TOO!

 

If you have watched an NFL game in the last few years, you may be aware of the new rule allowing coaches to officially challenge a call made on the field by the use of a "challenge flag."

Previously, coaches could yell and scream at the refs, to no avail.  The only time a call was reviewed and possibly overturned was if the referees were debating the call amongst them and decided to review the play.  Now, the coaches can officially challenge up to two calls per game, and if the call is overturned, the coach is happy and feels justified.  If the call is not overturned, then the coach loses a time out, and feels like a fool. 

Those details are not as important as the fashion in which the coach “asserts” his challenge.  The NFL, consisting of some of the most testosterone driven minds in sports,  opted for the throwing of a red flag onto the field, in order to assert a challenge.

                                                              EXHIBIT A -

 

 

 

 

WHAT IS YOUR FOOTBALL FANTASY?

Many of us have heard of Fantasy Football.  It is the game all of our husbands, brothers, co-workers, and sons play, every year, to try to get even more enjoyment out of the football season.  Here’s how it works, each person is team owner, and they get to “draft” NFL players for their team.   The players come from all of the NFL teams combined.   So for each fantasy league, for example, only one person can “draft” Peyton Manning.  That person, once they have Peyton Manning as their quarterback, cant “draft” Tom Brady.  Everyone is trying to put together the best possible team, and like the real NFL draft, they take turns either at a draft meeting, or nowadays, online.  Once the season starts, the real games

THE SCOUTING REPORT - WHAT IS IT AND WHY???

If you have a high school football player, you are likely in the middle of the scrimmage portion of your season.  The scrimmages begin after “two a day” practices, and before the regular season begins.  Scrimmages used to be of some value, but because of SCOUTING, I believe they have become a complete waste of time.

(First) PRE SEASON MEMO TO MOMS

If you are not quite ready for the football season to begin, that's OK, there are still a few weeks left to enjoy summer,vacation, and avoid those annoying catalogs that say, "Back to School!"  Granted, some of us, in another two weeks, will be asking, "Why aren't they back to school?" 

Still, much of the rest of the world is well aware that the NFL season is well under way, and the college season not far behind, which means your high school, junior high, and pee wee players will be suiting up before you know it.

A NICKNAME FOR MOMS?

The Great One.  When I first heard those three words I assumed it was a reference to the person who invented hot fudge sauce, or maybe the dishwasher.  No.  In fact the phrase "The Great One" refers to Wayne Gretzky, one of the best (obviously) hockey players of his time and probably of all time.    Gretzky played for the LA Kings for much of his career and scored lots and lots of goals, had hundreds of assists, blah, blah, blah.  Still, why does he get to be "The Great One?"  Has he ever fed a baby, while making a peanut butter sandwich for his three year old, while talking on the phone?  I doubt it.  But most moms have done that, and more, all at the same time.

The Legends Football League – Underwear NOT under there

So I must be a little behind the times, because how this escaped me I have no idea.  I blame the laundry.  Nonetheless, I have recently learned about the Legends Football League (LFL), formerly known as the Lingerie Football League, which was truly a more appropriate name.  Yes, this is women, playing football in their bra and underwear.  I’ve had two weeks to mull it over and here are my thoughts.  I say why not.

Richard Sherman – A good pick for Madden ’15?

This past Friday evening was a big announcement in the world of sports and video games.  Richard Sherman, cornerback (not quarterback) for the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks was selected as the cover player to grace the Madden 15 video game.  First of all, understand that making the cover of anything is, nowadays, a huge media deal.  Sherman,  was  on hand for a  mini “Oscar” winner announcement moment, and was presented with his “Madden 15” Cover.  He was chosen by a vote of the fans.  The question is, is Sherman a good cover guy for the video game most of our kids are playing. 

FIGHT SONGS – WE ALL NEED ONE…..OR MORE

Everyone knows colleges and universities have fight songs.  The purpose of a fight song is to cheer on the team when a touchdown is scored, or when the “three pointer”  takes the team into the lead.  A fight song is critical when the team is in a slump and needs pumping up.  It occurred to me we moms need our own set of fight songs.  Wouldn’t it be nice when we are carrying a gigantic load of laundry from the top of the stairs to the bottom if our kids started cheering, “Go, go mom, go go go Mom!”  Or when we pull the dinner from the oven, “Go, Go mom, We love lasagna!”  When the chips are really down, the obvious selection would be “Give me an M” “M,” “Give me an “O” “O,”  well, you get the picture.

Playing Time – Every Parent’s Nemesis…

Let’s face it.  We all want it, and when we get it, we want more of it.  I’m not talking about a twisty cone with sprinkles here, I’m talking about playing time for our athletes.  Nothing will make a parent nuttier at a simple third grade soccer game than when his child does not get enough playing time.   It doesn’t matter if your child is playing third grade soccer or D1 football under a full scholarship.  If you aren’t getting what you want, your life is misery.

Welcome to Football4Moms!

Why “Football4Moms”?

Several years ago when two of my three sons were playing grade school football, I decided to write a book to explain the game to mothers. Most moms know something about a lot of sports, and many moms have played a sport or two, but football has remained a male dominated sport, and thus, when our little 5th graders decide they want to play, we are left a bit in the dark. I felt this way to some extent, but over the years, with a great deal of patience from my sons and my husband, I really learned a lot about the game. So I wrote “Football for Moms” (check out My Book!)