For a school like Boston College, “back-to-school” means football season. My season tickets were purchased months ago and my SuperFan shirt is clean and ready to be worn. I’ve been eagerly waiting to sing “Sweet Caroline” in the stands with my friends, not to mention planning for our road trip to Notre Dame!
SuperFans…more excited by the camera than what’s happening on the field?
It recently occurred to me, however, that going to football games should be more than tailgating, singing “For Boston,” and yelling “Eagles First Down!” After all, it’s about watching the game. It’s then that I realized the limited extent of my football knowledge entails:
- “Left side, strong side.”
- The NFL had a strike
- Matt Hasselbeck (BC alum!) left my team this year, the Seahawks, for the Tennessee Titans
Sure, I know the absolute basics of football after years of watching my brother play. But when it comes to terms, plays, and positions, I’m lost. When people hear that I go to BC, they always make a comment about our football team. So I’ve decided I’ll actually be a SuperFan this year and really watch the games. In order to understand the game better, I enlisted boys who are either huge fans and/or used to play the game themselves. They helped simplify football into terms I could understand, and which will hopefully help all you Collegiettes™ know what’s going on as well.
BC Football
Coach: Frank Spaziani
Captains: Donnie Fletcher (defensive back), Luke Kuechly (linebacker), Ifeanyi Momah (wide receiver), Nate Richman (offensive guard)
Conference: ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference)
Opponents: Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, UNC, NC State, UVA, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest
Basic structure of the game
Object of the game: score the most points
Alumni Stadium
Field: sometimes called the “gridiron,” the field is outlined by end lines and sidelines (going outside of these lines is out of bounds). There are two end zones (each distinguished by a goal line), with 100 yards in between. At the back of each end zone stands a goal post. Yard lines are numbered every 10 yards from each goal line to the 50-yard line (midfield).
Timing: games are made up of four 15-minute quarters; each team gets 3 time-outs per half
Teams: each team is made up of three separate units
Offensive team: 11-man team in possession of the ball, tries to advance the ball down the field (by running with it or throwing it) to its end zone
– Quarterback: passes or hands off the ball
– Center: snaps the ball to the QB, blocks the defense
– 2 Guards and 2 Tackles: block the defense
– 2-4 Wide Receivers: usually faster players, catch the ball thrown by the QB, try to advance the ball
– 1-2 Running Backs: take the ball and run with it
– 1-2 Tight Ends: usually bigger and stronger players, line up next to tackles, catch passes, block the defense
Defensive team: 11-man team, tries to stop the opposing offensive team
– Linebackers: push forward to stop the run or tackle the QB while he has the ball; drop into pass coverage
– Defensive Line (ends and tackles): battle with the opposing offensive line; tackle runners; try to sack the QB on passing plays
– Cornerbacks and Safeties: try to stop the pass from the QB to the wide receiver; try to stop the run
Special team: 11-man team, comes on field for kicking situations (punts, field goals, kickoffs)
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Plays
Kickoff: starts the first and third quarters. The ball is placed at the defense’s 30-yard line and the kicker kicks it to the opposing offense. The kick return man from the offense will try to catch the ball and advance it. Wherever the kick return man is stopped by the defense is where the offense will begin its drive.
Downs, First Downs: all progress in a football game is measured in yards. With each play, the offense tries to get as much “yardage” as possible toward its end zone. When a team gets possession of the ball, its offensive team has four downs (or opportunities) to gain 10 yards. If it successfully advances the ball 10 yards, the offense gains a first down, as well as a new set of four downs possible. This is the moment when the band plays their special song and all of us SuperFans yell “Eagles First Down!” As long as it continues getting first downs, the offense keeps possession of the ball and continues advancing toward its end zone. But if the offense fails to move the ball 10 yards after four downs (because the opposing defense is aggressive), it loses possession of the ball.
Moving the Ball: both teams line up at the line of scrimmage (the position on the field where possession turned). When the quarterback calls out a play, the center snaps the ball under his legs to the quarterback, and the play begins. Once the quarterback has the ball, he can throw it to a teammate, hand it off to a running back, or run with it himself. Any member on the offense, except linemen, can pass the ball as long as they throw it from behind the line of scrimmage. The pass is complete if the ball is caught by another offensive player, and it’s incomplete if the ball hits the ground before being caught.
Stopping the ball: the defense tries to stop a play by tackling whichever offensive player has the ball. When the defense brings a player down (so at least one of his knees touches the ground), or runs him out of bounds, the play is over. A blitz is when a player (usually linebacker or defensive end) from the defense abandons his normal responsibilities in order to pressure the QB (by tackling him behind the line of scrimmage or forcing him to hurry his pass). A sack occurs when the QB is tackled at or behind the line of scrimmage.
Turnovers
The offense may accidentally turn the ball over to the defense in three ways:
- Failed to get enough yards on the fourth down to convert a first down
- Fumble: when the ball carrier or passer drops the ball. Any player on the field can then recover the ball by diving on it or running with it toward their end zone.
- Interception: when a defensive player catches a pass meant for players on the other team.
When a team loses possession of the ball, you see players running on and off the field. This is each team swapping their respective offensive and defensive teams.
Sorry BYU, we’ll take that ball.
Scoring
Touchdown (6 points): getting the ball into the end zone. Touchdowns can be scored on offense, defense, or by special teams (the ball must be carried across the goal line into the end zone, be caught in the end zone, be recovered from a fumble in the end zone, or be an untouched kickoff recovered in the end zone by the kicking team).
Extra point (1 point) or two-point conversion (2 points): after a touchdown, the ball is placed at the opponent’s two-yard line. The offense has an opportunity to gain one or two more points. It can kick an extra point, gaining a point if the ball goes through the goal posts. Or it can try to earn a two-point conversion by running or throwing the ball into the end zone, like a touchdown. An extra point is usually considered a “gimme,” while the two-point conversion is trickier.
Field goal (3 points): field goals can be attempted from anywhere on the field on any down (but typically occur from inside the defense’s 45-yard line on the fourth down, if the offense can’t score a touchdown). The placekicker must successfully kick the ball through the goal posts while the defense tries to block the ball. Field goals are typically attempted when the offense is approaching the fourth down and needs to score. Often, teams would rather go for a somewhat “guaranteed” 3 points (short distance kick), rather than risk being stopped on the fourth down and turning over possession.
Safety (2 points): the team on defense can score two points when they tackle the offensive ball carrier behind his own goal line.
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Penalties
Most penalties result in either a loss of yards or a loss of a down for the team at fault.
- Off sides: when the defense jumps ahead of the ball (crosses the line of scrimmage) before the play begins (ball is snapped).
- False start: when the offense jumps ahead of the ball before the play begins.
- Ineligible receiver: some players (usually linemen) are not allowed to catch the ball unless they announce it to the official, who then announces it to fans.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct: fighting, taunting, or excessive verbal abuse (player can be kicked out of the game).
- Personal foul: when a player hits another player in a harmful way (blow to the head, hitting the knees, or hitting a player that is already out of bounds).
- Face mask: grabbing the face mask of a player’s helmet (which can cause neck injuries).
- Holding: grabbing hold of a player who does not have the ball.
- Intentional grounding: when the QB throws the ball at the ground to avoid being tackled for a sack.
- Interference: when the defense interferes with the offensive receiver’s fair chance to catch the ball (tackling him before the ball is passed, holding him, or pushing him away from the ball) or when the offense interferes with the defensive player’s fair chance to intercept or defend.
Challenges
Coaches can challenge certain calls on the field if they think the refs missed something or made a bad call. If a challenge is successful (“overturned” or granted), the team wins the issue (i.e. they did or didn’t score, they did or didn’t fumble) and gets to keep their time-out. However, if a team loses the challenge, the ruling stands and the team that challenged loses a time-out.
Try and stop us!
And there you go – the game of football simplified for Collegeittes™/SuperFans. If this cheat sheet doesn’t make sense and you’re still confused (unlikely, since it’s written so well), go find someone who can help you. Once you understand the game, it’s easy to follow along, you won’t have to ask everyone what just happened, and the games become way more interesting. See you in the stands! GO EAGLES!
Photo Sources:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/sioncampus/12/13/campus.clicks1213/
http://www.thegamingtailgate.com/forums/showthread.php?1531-Help-Shape-NCAA-Football-Band-Locations/page5
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=272&sid=495220
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sportscollegesports/929255-222/eagles-have-higher-hopes-for-2011-season.html