It’s time again to put on your smack-talking boots, Aztecs—football is officially back in full swing.
I, for one, couldn’t be happier. As summer ends and football begins, it signifies the end of the dark, freezing winter that is the NFL off-season. A fresh spring dawns upon the league’s 32 unique fan bases, each with high hopes of their teams finding a way to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in early February 2015. No longer are we reading training camp reports as if we were scavenging dogs hungry for scrap; We’ve already seen one week of juicy, choice-cut NFL action.
But the joy of football returning isn’t reserved only for the pro game. College football also makes its triumphant return this time of year, full of high-intensity rivalries and high-scoring affairs.
Speaking of college ball, how about our Aztecs? Although the team has a 1-1 overall record, it’s looked darn good through two games. Yes, the Aztecs lost to the University of North Carolina last Saturday, but the Tar Heels were a nationally ranked team—No. 21 to be exact—and in case you didn’t know, there are more than 120 teams in the FBS. So while losing to a top-25 team is indeed heartbreaking, it isn’t the end of the world. We’ll have our spirits lifted when the University of Hawaii Warriors come to town mid-October for a scarlet and black beat down at Qualcomm Stadium, believe me.
On the topic of recovering from loss, my favorite pro team is already 0-1 with a good chance to lose a bunch more games by the time the season ends. This is especially unfortunate for my wallet, which already takes a beating from weekly and obligatory Wings N Things trips. It’s a simple financial formula: Undying fandom plus more losses equals more beer being consumed by yours truly. Don’t judge me—I know I’m not the only person on this campus who deals with certain issues by dousing them with alcohol.
Another aspect of this season that could drive me to alcoholism is the way illegal contact and defensive holding penalties are being called in the NFL this year. If you don’t understand what those penalties are, ask Siri or something because I’m too fired up to stop and explain. God forbid a defensive back brushes against a wide receiver in the middle of his route when the offensive and defensive lineman smash their heads and bodies together on literally every single play. There are already too many terrible pass-interference calls as it is, and now defensive backs have to worry extra about the other two fouls being called more often. If I wanted to bore myself with contactless hogwash I’d go to a Padres game.
Fantasy football also returns in September, which is a load of hogwash in itself. Naturally, I’m in two leagues and couldn’t be giddier about the rosters I’ve put together. On one hand fantasy football brings out my inner smack-talker like no other, raising me on a metaphorical pedestal above my peers. On the other hand I find myself cheering for players on rival teams surrounded by people in bars wearing rival teams’ jerseys. The struggle is real, people.
If you’ve ever questioned why football fans are so passionate, consider this: Unlike baseball or basketball, the professional football regular season consists of only 16 games spanning 17 weeks. Major League Baseball teams can drop 25 games for pure giggles and still make the postseason but in the NFL, every week—every game—counts. There are no throw-away games in the NFL, nor are there seven game series’ in its postseason. If your team is fortunate enough to make the playoffs then it better not screw up because it’s either win or go home.
So later this December when you’ve got a hot cup of coffee while watching the Chargers take on the Kansas City Chiefs in frigid Arrowhead Stadium, be joyous. Football season is the most wonderful time of the year and, like all great things, it doesn’t last forever.
