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Football fever must be in the genes
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Published: September 10, 2009
It's that time of the year again. Time to throw on your jersey, flip on the big screen and scream at the TV as if it will help your favorite football team.
At least, that's how I spent my Saturday. I had never been big into sports growing up, and neither was my family. My dad could care less how many points were scored at the latest game and my brother was too busy playing video games to worry about who was making a touchdown. The only one in my family who spent many weekends in front of the tube screaming, clapping and, in general, freaking out over men tackling each other was my dear grandfather.
He would trudge down to the basement with his snacks, plop in the recliner and thoroughly enjoy every hand-off and safety made throughout the game. Woe betide you if you happened to call during a Marshall game (his alma mater) or a Virginia Tech game (where he ended up teaching law for a few years and retired in Blacksburg).
My grandmother knew better than to plan anything for the days when he was wearing green and white or maroon and orange. It makes me smile to think of how excited he would get watching his 13-inch color TV, scooting closer and closer to the screen, only to get up out of the chair and mutter directions at the players like they could hear him.
When I married my husband, I knew he was a University of Tennessee fan, but I had no idea how orange his blood was. He literally counts the days until the games and this Saturday was no different. I came home from work to find him shushing me, wearing his blindingly neon shirt and dancing in his chair at every touchdown.
Now, I grant that it was an exciting game, with Tennessee just pummeling Kentucky but he was way too excited. It was pretty hilarious, and it was also contagious. I found myself screaming right along with him, jumping out of my seat and yelling at the TV. I'm currently keeping in tradition with my grandfather and watching the Virginia Tech game, and throwing up my hands because at the moment, they're losing to Alabama, 16-10. My husband has fallen asleep and was recently startled awake by me leaping up at the touchdown that finally lead to the score of 17-16 in favor of Tech.
I don't yet know the final score of this game, but the very fact I'm watching it instead of 'The Sound of Music' may mean I have some residual football blood in my veins after all. I'm sure my husband is proud and I know my grandfather would be, too.
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