Also, despite the fact that I dated a football player (although, it was off-season). He was very nice about and I think even a little amused by my ignorance of the sport. I regularly referred to him as My Big Dumb Jock, and he was nice enough not to point out that in this particular area, I was the dumb one.
And then in college I was surrounded by other music majors. The majority of us had been in marching bands, but we didn't talk about football. Until I started dating a guy (also a music major) my sophomore year who was appalled at my lack of football knowledge. We started dating in November, and he almost immediately began trying to teach me about it. I was not an enthusiastic student. I did, however, agree to watch the SuperBowl that year. I brought homework to do and only really looked up during the commercials, such was my enthusiasm for the event.
He managed to teach me one thing. I think we were at a diner when it finally sunk in. There may have been sugar packets involved in the explanation. But, the one piece of football knowledge I have retained is this: A sack is when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage.
At the wedding of this ex-boyfriend, my husband actually thanked him for working so hard to teach me that one thing, because he wasn't getting anywhere with furthering my football knowledge.
That's it. That's all I know. I know the definition of a sack. It's like my party trick. I now live in a land obsessed with college football, and when accused of knowing nothing, I pull out my one piece of knowledge. (Also, I knew that this year OSU managed to do very well with their 3rd string quarterback. But you can't really live here and NOT know things like that.)
Or at least I THOUGHT that was all I knew. Until last night.
Benjamin: So, while I was sitting outside the trainer's icing, I heard this really weird thud come from the football field and there was our one shining hope for a decent football season. He's an incredible linebacker and now it looks like he's out for the season!
Me: Oh, no! What happened?
Benjamin: They think his ankle is fractured. It was an incredibly hard sack.
Me: [getting all excited!] But that wasn't a sack. He's not the quarterback.
Benjamin: Yeah, but it doesn't always have to be the quarterback for it to be a sack.
Todd: [reading the definition of "sack" from my phone] "Sack-In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback (or another offensive player acting as a passer) is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass.
Me: Yes, but linebacker isn't an offensive position.
Benjamin: [glowers at me]
Me: Face it. I know more about football than you. [I totally don't, but it's fun to egg him on.]
Benjamin: You really don't, Mom.
Me: Apparently, today I do.
Benjamin: Okay, what's a wide receiver?
Me: Someone who catches the ball...you know, but far away from things.
Benjamin: I'm just not going to talk anymore.
At which point Todd and I high-fived and we continued with dinner. Also, it should be noted that I had NO IDEA that I knew what linebackers and wide-receivers were! They must put something in the water in Columbus....
5 comments:
Yes, I think for an observant and social person like yourself, it would be hard not to absorb a little football knowledge in Columbus. It is so omnipresent!
Dear mom. You said linebacker in your post. Kalil was the wide receiver for our team not the linebacker. You do have it right that a linebacker is not an offensive position but wide receiver is. therefore he can be sacked.
Yes, Benjabooboo, but you didn't say wide receiver at the dinner table. You did, however, say runningback NOT linebacker. So I stand corrected in that, but he still was tackled, not sacked.
Susan, I have worked really hard over the years to neither observe or socialize where football is involved. That being said, it is trickier to live here and maintain my football ignorance!
What I meant when I said he got sacked I was using it to imply that he got wrecked during practice not that it was an actual sack.
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