September to January. 17 weeks. 16 games. 32 teams all across the country fighting for one 7 pound, 22 inch Tiffany Silver trophy, (and bragging rights for a lifetime.)
Ever since I was a little girl my whole family has spent every second of every Sunday during the football season glued to the TV studying the Baltimore Ravens. My grandfather was your typical hard-working, blue collar man from Baltimore, Maryland. He used to fix telephone systems for AT&T and he raised an even harder working father of four. My dad and my grandfather only saw eye to eye on one thing: the Baltimore Ravens. Well, first the Baltimore Colts actually, but that’s a different story.
I have spent my whole life aspiring to be just as amazing and my dad and my grandfather. I learned at a young age if I wanted to be just like them I had to learn football. I remember laying on my stomach and resting my head on my hands glued to the TV. As my grandfather sat in his green plaid rocking chair and my dad propped up on the yellow and green plaid sofa.
Because of my countless football memories I acknowledge that I know way more than the average women about football. And it is totally okay if you don’t know as much as the boys do and just focus on the hotness of the guys slinging the pig skin on the field, but I am going to give you some vocabulary so at least you can understand what the boys are talking about.
Easy Definitions:
Redzone- This is the area between the 20-yard line and the goal line. This means your team is one or two good plays away from scoring.
Blitz – This is a charge of the quarterback after the ball has been snapped. The term comes from World War II , when German planes waged a “Blitzkrieg” or “Lightning War” against Europe.
Bootleg – This is when quarterback pretends he is going to give the ball to the running back and then runs the ball himself like the running back would to trick the defense.
Hail Mary – This is very important and is one of the most amazing things to see as a fan when it goes successfully , because the majority of the time it doesn’t. Typically happening late in the game the quarterback will throw the ball as far as he possibly can in a last hopes to score.
Line of scrimmage – Marked at the beginning of each play this is where the referee places the ball on the ground between the offense and defense.
Lateral – Any pass that is thrown parallel to or in a backwards direction from the team’s goal line.
Neutral Zone – imaginary zone running sideline to sideline from the front to the back point of the football.
Pocket – the area behind the offensive line where the quarterback stands to throw the ball.
Penalties:
Helmet to Helmet – When one player drives his helmet directly onto another player’s helmet. This is a new rule put in place to help prevent concussions.
Horse Collar – When a player stops another player by grabbing their shoulder pads or jersey and yanks them down to the turf.
Personal Foul – Risking the health or safety of another player.
Pass Interference – Judgment call made by referee who sees a defensive player make contact with receiver before the ball is caught , therefore restricting the receiver to catch the ball.
Offsides – When any part of a player body is beyond the line of scrimmage.
Intentional Grounding – This is typically when the quarterback feels threatened and wants to get rid of the ball to avoid being sacked so he throws it in a panic. Causing him to thow to no one or not 5-10 yards within a receiver.
History & Famous Players:
Lombardi Trophy – What you get if your favorite NFL team wins the superbowl. Made every year out of Tiffany Silver in New York.
Vince Lombardi – One of the most famous NFL coaches of all time. Coach the Green Bay Packers from 1959 – 1967 and Washington Redskins in 1969.
Bo Jackson – Graduating from Auburn University (illiterate I might add) Bo was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was the first athlete ever to play two major league sports. He was also the start of the Nike Campaign “Bo Knows”.
John Elway – Denver Broncos Quarterback who won them two Super Bowls. Who now serves as the General Manager for the Broncos.
Manning Family – The manning family has had three NFL Quarterbacks. Archie who is the father of Peyton and Eli. Archie played for the New Orleans Saints. Then Peyton who won two Super Bowls one for the Indianapolis Colts and for the Denver Broncos. Peyton is debated to be one of the best Quarterbacks in NFL history. The youngest brother Eli is still in the league playing for the New York Giants and winning one Super Bowl.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Not only are they the closest NFL team to Morgantown , but this team has the most Super Bowl wins the whole league as well an over all record of 6-2 .
Hopefully this gives you some help whether you are sitting at Mountaineer Park , watching an NFL game or even a High School game.