The use of steroids by professional athletes and sports persons is an open secret now. The stories about pro sports stars taking steroids in sports led sports organizations and leagues to fabricate strict polices on steroids.
There are cleansing drinks that can be bought from the health food stores that can totally remove all traces of drugs from a player's system. But there is no way that a concoction like this could help a steroid-using NFL player at all times, because random drug tests means that he will never know when to expect one. He may think that he'll never get caught, or that he's playing the best he has in his career. What the NFL player who decides to use steroids should know, though, is that he can and will be caught, sooner or later. He may get away with it for a while—even a long while, but with rules becoming stricter and stricter, he will eventually be caught, and dealt with accordingly.
Presently, steroids stand banned by the International Olympic Committee, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and many professional sports leagues including the Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Football League, and National Hockey League.
The National Football League (NFL) brought out its policy of steroids in football as early as 1987. The NFL banned the use of steroids in football players because steroids have potentially dangerous side effects and they give players an unfair advantage.
Lyle Alzado is probably the most famous instances of the use of steroids in football. The Brooklyn, New York born footballer, Alzado is one of the most remembered US sports stars to admit to abuse of steroids in football. Alzado, who died of brain cancer at the age of 43, asserted that his use of steroids in football directly led to his final illness. Using natural growth hormone, harvested from human corpses, as opposed to synthetic growth hormones, Alzado now lies buried at River View Cemetery in Portland.
Vernon, Connecticut born Bill Romanowski is another famous instance of the use of steroids in football. Romanowski was infamous for his altercations in game. Romanowski revealed in a book that he was using steroids in football, and he was introduced to several performance enhancing compounds, notably anabolic steroids by Victor Conte, the founder and president of Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO).
Upper Marlboro, Maryland born - Shawne Merriman - an American football outside linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the NFL was suspended for using steroids in football in 2006. On October 22, 2006, reports were made public by CNN that Merriman would face a 4 game suspension for violating the NFL's steroid policy.
On October 22, 2006, CNN reported that Merriman would face a 4 game suspension for violating the NFL's steroid policy. Chris Mortensen of ESPN cited a source that claimed the suspension was "definitely for steroid use and not a 'supplement-type' suspension.”
Many NFL players are so desperate to enhance their performance that they are willing to risk getting caught and suffering the repercussions. They think that steroids are so great, like a magic drug, when in fact they are the total opposite. Sure, they can increase a player's energy level, stamina and muscle definition, but what they don't realize, though, is that they're risking more than just being suspended from the NFL. They are also risking their health.
Surely no man, especially popular NFL players, would want to suffer from any of these horrible side effects. If they want to be the best professional football player there is, then they need to workout regularly and practice as often as they can. Remember: Practice makes perfect. So whatever goal a professional football player sets for himself, he can, and will eventually reach it, and even exceed them—without the illegal usage of hazardous steroids
Steroids In Football
What would prompt a young, fit professional football player to use steroids, especially with the new, stricter NFL rules? The NFL released a newly revised steroid use rule booklet earlier this year, which means that they're even more on top of catching these users than ever before. They may perform random drug testing, when the players least expect. Unusual behavior or sudden, noticeable increases in performance or strength may trigger suspicion at any time, resulting in drug testing for one of all of the players on the team.
The use of steroids in sports is not a secret now. The BALCO scandal is eye opener for baseball buffs. The Game of Shadows, a book written by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, reporters for the San Francisco Chronicle, reveals the facts about use of performance-enhancing drugs, including several different types of steroids and growth hormones by several baseball stars.
BALCO also did reveal the use steroids in football of America. The policy on steroids in football and the National Football League NFL started in 1987. Lyle Alzado is one of the most notable instances of the use of steroids in football. After having a triumphant career of seven years in the NFL, in 1992, Alzado passed away from brain malignant neoplastic disease.
Alzado was 43 at that time, but in the years preceding it, he became a habitually used icon of the risks of steroid mistreatment. There is completely no medicinal relation between steroids and brain cancer, and there is absolutely no explanation for Alzado to judge his situation was linked to steroid use.
The story of Bill Romanowski is also highly revealing on steroids in football. Even though Romanowski wasn't accused in the BALCO scandal, he afterward composed a book, in which he accepts that Victor Conte acquainted him to various performance enhancing compounds, notably anabolic steroids.
The use of steroids in football is believed to have started in the early half of 20th century. The anabolic steroids came into sports arena in the 1940's and 1950's. FIFA banned the use of steroids in football in 1966, and the body has very strict policies on steroids. There hasn't been any high profile case about the use of steroids in football, but steroids in football are reportedly being used at school, college, and university level football. High use of steroids in football has been reported among young footballers. The lower agencies will have to little more vigilant to curb the use of steroids in football.
Steroids are extremely dangerous drugs, and are nothing to play around with. They can cause heart disease, blood clots, strokes, liver damage and even cancer. Maybe some NFL players feel that since they are so young and healthy that steroids couldn't possibly have such serious effects on their bodies. This is a misconception, and they need to realize that they are not invincible. It doesn't matter how young or healthy a player may be; steroids will damage his body. They can even alter the production of testosterone in their bodies, resulting in decreased sex drive, low sperm count, enlarged prostate and even impotence.
The use of steroids in sports is not a secret now. The BALCO scandal is eye opener for baseball buffs. The Game of Shadows, a book written by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, reporters for the San Francisco Chronicle, reveals the facts about use of performance-enhancing drugs, including several different types of steroids and growth hormones by several baseball stars.
BALCO also did reveal the use steroids in football of America. The policy on steroids in football and the National Football League NFL started in 1987. Lyle Alzado is one of the most notable instances of the use of steroids in football. After having a triumphant career of seven years in the NFL, in 1992, Alzado passed away from brain malignant neoplastic disease.
Alzado was 43 at that time, but in the years preceding it, he became a habitually used icon of the risks of steroid mistreatment. There is completely no medicinal relation between steroids and brain cancer, and there is absolutely no explanation for Alzado to judge his situation was linked to steroid use.
The story of Bill Romanowski is also highly revealing on steroids in football. Even though Romanowski wasn't accused in the BALCO scandal, he afterward composed a book, in which he accepts that Victor Conte acquainted him to various performance enhancing compounds, notably anabolic steroids.
The use of steroids in football is believed to have started in the early half of 20th century. The anabolic steroids came into sports arena in the 1940's and 1950's. FIFA banned the use of steroids in football in 1966, and the body has very strict policies on steroids. There hasn't been any high profile case about the use of steroids in football, but steroids in football are reportedly being used at school, college, and university level football. High use of steroids in football has been reported among young footballers. The lower agencies will have to little more vigilant to curb the use of steroids in football.
Steroids are extremely dangerous drugs, and are nothing to play around with. They can cause heart disease, blood clots, strokes, liver damage and even cancer. Maybe some NFL players feel that since they are so young and healthy that steroids couldn't possibly have such serious effects on their bodies. This is a misconception, and they need to realize that they are not invincible. It doesn't matter how young or healthy a player may be; steroids will damage his body. They can even alter the production of testosterone in their bodies, resulting in decreased sex drive, low sperm count, enlarged prostate and even impotence.
The Rules of Football
There are rules in the game of football. Football is a game played by many, but understood by few. At any given game, half of the barroom or stadium will erupt in cheers on the cue of fellow fans, without really knowing what just happened. This will assist those of you who have yet to learn the game, and act as a refresher course for those in the know.
The object of football is to score as many points as possible. The team that scores the most points within a given time period is the winner. That's the easy part.
Football rules can be confusing. When it's not called "football", the game is referred to as "gridiron", because that's what the playing field is called. The gridiron has markings that resemble a grill and is 120 yards long and 53-1/3 yards wide. The 120 yards are split into five sections, each 20 yards in length. Yard lines are marked every five yards and are numbered from each goal line to the middle of the field, also called the fifty-yard mark. Confused yet? Listen to this: a gridiron consists of sidelines and end lines, and has field posts near each end zone. The end zones are 10 yards wide, located just before the field post. Field posts are used to mark field goals; they are 18.5 feet apart.
That's just a description of the field. We haven't even starting on football rules. A football game is played between two teams. NFL teams typically have fifty members or more, but only eleven may be on the playing field at any one time. Because the game is so complicated, most of the fifty players will have the opportunity to play in every game. Each team member has a specialized role, either offense or defense. Players wear systematically numbered uniforms. Every football team also has special teams.
It's hard to specify the duration of a football game, because coaches and players can be called on penalties and fouls that will extend the time of a game. Important games, like the Super Bowl, can take hours to complete. Every call must be made because there is so much riding on a game of this caliber.
Football rules dictate that each team tries to advance on the field and gain as many yards at a single time as possible. The closer the advancing team is to the goal line, the harder the opposing team must play to stop a touchdown. When defensive players tackle and get the advancing runner to the ground, the play is done and the ball is dead.
The point of football is to get touchdowns and field goals, because that is what gets the points. The team with the most points takes all the glory. If it's a championship game, the winning team will take the title as well. Get points and win the game. If those are the basic football rules, maybe it isn't so confusing after all.
The object of football is to score as many points as possible. The team that scores the most points within a given time period is the winner. That's the easy part.
Football rules can be confusing. When it's not called "football", the game is referred to as "gridiron", because that's what the playing field is called. The gridiron has markings that resemble a grill and is 120 yards long and 53-1/3 yards wide. The 120 yards are split into five sections, each 20 yards in length. Yard lines are marked every five yards and are numbered from each goal line to the middle of the field, also called the fifty-yard mark. Confused yet? Listen to this: a gridiron consists of sidelines and end lines, and has field posts near each end zone. The end zones are 10 yards wide, located just before the field post. Field posts are used to mark field goals; they are 18.5 feet apart.
That's just a description of the field. We haven't even starting on football rules. A football game is played between two teams. NFL teams typically have fifty members or more, but only eleven may be on the playing field at any one time. Because the game is so complicated, most of the fifty players will have the opportunity to play in every game. Each team member has a specialized role, either offense or defense. Players wear systematically numbered uniforms. Every football team also has special teams.
It's hard to specify the duration of a football game, because coaches and players can be called on penalties and fouls that will extend the time of a game. Important games, like the Super Bowl, can take hours to complete. Every call must be made because there is so much riding on a game of this caliber.
Football rules dictate that each team tries to advance on the field and gain as many yards at a single time as possible. The closer the advancing team is to the goal line, the harder the opposing team must play to stop a touchdown. When defensive players tackle and get the advancing runner to the ground, the play is done and the ball is dead.
The point of football is to get touchdowns and field goals, because that is what gets the points. The team with the most points takes all the glory. If it's a championship game, the winning team will take the title as well. Get points and win the game. If those are the basic football rules, maybe it isn't so confusing after all.
The History of College Football - Part 3
Athletic departments and institutional officials have become obsessed with the potential for profits from televised big games or bowl games. Big-time teams in the NCAA try to manipulate the organization so that they will be able to have more coaches, scholarships, and only minimal academic requirements. Players commit acts of violence and brutality, then manage to avoid the consequences. College presidents whose salaries and prominence fall far short of the head football coaches dutifully show up at football games and related alumni events, treading cautiously around the mire of big-time college athletics.
All of this has added up to major athletic scandals, most of them involving big-time football. Scandals such as the pay-for-play violations at Southern Methodist and Auburn from the late 1970s to the early 1990s man-aged to create internal disruptions and negative publicity at numbers of big-name institutions. Yet, in spite of the obvious flaws in college football, it continues to enlarge its grip on the major universities. The athletic foundations persist in enlarging their massive gridiron complexes, selling the rights to buy tickets for upscale luxury boxes and suites, and then collecting additional revenues for the sale of high-priced tickets. The major teams have created indoor facilities out of donations that might have gone to deserving but impoverished non-athletes for scholarships. While quasi-professional student-athletes play the game, ordinary students have little to do with the sport. In an atmosphere of highly specialized career coaches, publicists, trainers, and tutors, college football reflects more than ever the professionalism that reformers long ago set out to de-emphasize.
No one would deny that football constitutes one of the most entertaining and enjoyable spectator sports. In the early days some faculty believed that the student enthusiasm for football would enable the institutions to alleviate the pervasive antisocial behavior of undergraduates. Being aware of its appeal, most athletic critics and reformers attempted to change football rather than to abolish it. The few colleges that dropped football did so it because the school had no choice or, occasionally, because a college president happened to wield unusual power at a critical moment in football's history. Far and away the largest group of thoughtful gridiron critics have attempted to reform football and to reshape it in such a way that it fit more reasonably and appropriately into the spirit and life of the university. Why have they not succeeded?
The number of officials at a college football game grew from a single referee in 1885 to a trio in 1894. These three college football officials were a referee, an umpire and a linesman. Eventually, a field judge was added to the team of college football officials in 1915, then a back judge in 1955, a line judge in 1972 and finally, in 1983, a side judge. By 1894 the officiating crew had grown from a single referee (first required in 1885) to a trio: referee, umpire, and linesman. A field judge was added for a brief period starting in 1908, and was made a permanent part of the crew in 1915. A back judge was not added until 1955, with a line judge added in 1972 and a side judge in 1983.
Beginning in the 1890s and continuing into the 1990s, reformers have spent tens of thousands of hours attending meetings and conferences, devising new rules to solve the latest problems that have cropped up, and generally trying to work out better systems for their own institutions. In 1905 there was such an outcry about the violence of a college football game that a governing body was needed to oversee changes in the game. This became the National Collegiate Athletic Association and it still exists to create rule changes and procedures to ensure the safety of college football players.
In the early 1900s moderate reformers founded the NCAA to deal with deaths and brutality and to put football securely under the thumb of the faculty and college presidents. Again in the early 1950s, in a groundswell of outrage against cheating, gambling, and subsidies for athletes, college presidents and faculty members tried to create stricter standards to reduce the greed and professionalism in football rather than to drop it altogether. In the 1980s and early 1990s an outbreak of scandal in big-time football resulted the same response of temporary uneasiness and halting reforms which had become by then a pattern in the history of college football.
The outbreak in the 1980s once again clearly emphasized the failure of reform to bring about real change. In three major periods of gridiron upheaval the colleges have been unable or unwilling to eliminate the causes of chronic cheating. While political reforms by Congress and the states have achieved some enduring success, football and big-time athletics generally have had to face the same issues again and again—much like Sisyphus repeatedly pushing the stone uphill. Why does big-time football manage to be almost constantly in a state of crisis? Is there some quality about football, or college sports generally, or a flaw in higher education which causes this turmoil? If the Greek ideal of education stands for the training of body, spirit, and mind, why have the colleges failed so abysmally at their mission?
All of this has added up to major athletic scandals, most of them involving big-time football. Scandals such as the pay-for-play violations at Southern Methodist and Auburn from the late 1970s to the early 1990s man-aged to create internal disruptions and negative publicity at numbers of big-name institutions. Yet, in spite of the obvious flaws in college football, it continues to enlarge its grip on the major universities. The athletic foundations persist in enlarging their massive gridiron complexes, selling the rights to buy tickets for upscale luxury boxes and suites, and then collecting additional revenues for the sale of high-priced tickets. The major teams have created indoor facilities out of donations that might have gone to deserving but impoverished non-athletes for scholarships. While quasi-professional student-athletes play the game, ordinary students have little to do with the sport. In an atmosphere of highly specialized career coaches, publicists, trainers, and tutors, college football reflects more than ever the professionalism that reformers long ago set out to de-emphasize.
No one would deny that football constitutes one of the most entertaining and enjoyable spectator sports. In the early days some faculty believed that the student enthusiasm for football would enable the institutions to alleviate the pervasive antisocial behavior of undergraduates. Being aware of its appeal, most athletic critics and reformers attempted to change football rather than to abolish it. The few colleges that dropped football did so it because the school had no choice or, occasionally, because a college president happened to wield unusual power at a critical moment in football's history. Far and away the largest group of thoughtful gridiron critics have attempted to reform football and to reshape it in such a way that it fit more reasonably and appropriately into the spirit and life of the university. Why have they not succeeded?
The number of officials at a college football game grew from a single referee in 1885 to a trio in 1894. These three college football officials were a referee, an umpire and a linesman. Eventually, a field judge was added to the team of college football officials in 1915, then a back judge in 1955, a line judge in 1972 and finally, in 1983, a side judge. By 1894 the officiating crew had grown from a single referee (first required in 1885) to a trio: referee, umpire, and linesman. A field judge was added for a brief period starting in 1908, and was made a permanent part of the crew in 1915. A back judge was not added until 1955, with a line judge added in 1972 and a side judge in 1983.
Beginning in the 1890s and continuing into the 1990s, reformers have spent tens of thousands of hours attending meetings and conferences, devising new rules to solve the latest problems that have cropped up, and generally trying to work out better systems for their own institutions. In 1905 there was such an outcry about the violence of a college football game that a governing body was needed to oversee changes in the game. This became the National Collegiate Athletic Association and it still exists to create rule changes and procedures to ensure the safety of college football players.
In the early 1900s moderate reformers founded the NCAA to deal with deaths and brutality and to put football securely under the thumb of the faculty and college presidents. Again in the early 1950s, in a groundswell of outrage against cheating, gambling, and subsidies for athletes, college presidents and faculty members tried to create stricter standards to reduce the greed and professionalism in football rather than to drop it altogether. In the 1980s and early 1990s an outbreak of scandal in big-time football resulted the same response of temporary uneasiness and halting reforms which had become by then a pattern in the history of college football.
The outbreak in the 1980s once again clearly emphasized the failure of reform to bring about real change. In three major periods of gridiron upheaval the colleges have been unable or unwilling to eliminate the causes of chronic cheating. While political reforms by Congress and the states have achieved some enduring success, football and big-time athletics generally have had to face the same issues again and again—much like Sisyphus repeatedly pushing the stone uphill. Why does big-time football manage to be almost constantly in a state of crisis? Is there some quality about football, or college sports generally, or a flaw in higher education which causes this turmoil? If the Greek ideal of education stands for the training of body, spirit, and mind, why have the colleges failed so abysmally at their mission?
The History of College Football - Part 2
If you are interested in football, especially in college football, read on to learn some interesting insight into the roots of the game.
In the 1890s college football had already created strong emotions of love and hate. Big-time eastern football had demonstrated that it could draw large crowds, create alumni support, and build an identity that would attract new students. The fact that it had little to do with classical education bothered only the traditionalists on campus and a handful of crotchety purists elsewhere who wrote critically of football in magazines, newspaper articles, and official college reports.
We know that the prototype for athletic organization began at eastern institutions in the 1880s and 1890s. Yale's Walter Camp, "the father of American football," became the model for the coach and athletic director. While pursuing a business career, he also acted as Yale's de facto vice president for athletic operations, who dominated the rules committees and ceaselessly publicized the game. From the profits of big games in Boston and New York, Camp created an ample reserve fund that supported lesser sports, afforded lush treatment for athletes, and provided the money that eventually went toward building Yale Bowl, the first of the modern football stadiums. By making Yale into an athletic powerhouse, Camp built the school's reputation, making it second only to Harvard. Because he succeeded so well, Camp became the first big-name foe of sweeping football reforms—and an especially hard-core opponent of the forward pass.
By the turn of century the deaths of players in football led state legislators to introduce laws banning the gridiron game. Players for big-time teams, critics charged, were coached to injure their opponents or "put them out of business." The nature of the game, with its mass formations and momentum plays, made football less an athletic contest than a collegiate version of warlike combat. Eventually the violence in football led to attempts to reduce its brutality through reforms. New rules put a strong emphasis on better officiating and on less dangerous formations, but they did not necessarily improve the athletic environment.
The deaths and brutality presented an excellent opportunity to root out the worst excesses of the runaway football culture. In the 1890s and early 1900s, responding to public opinion, professors and presidents spent a great deal of time talking about the overemphasis of intercollegiate athletics—and, in some cases, passing rules at the conference and institutional level to regulate college sports. Why, then, did college presidents and faculty, who had far more authority over their students than their modern counterparts, fail to control the gridiron beast? Put differently, why did school presidents and faculty often themselves become part of the athletic problem?
One problem might be that faculty members played major roles in introducing early football. In addition to Woodrow Wilson, who served as a part-time coach at Wesleyan, an English instructor at Oklahoma who had recently come from Harvard, Vernon Parrington, taught the fundamentals of football on the windswept practice field in Oklahoma. At Miami University of Ohio the president called upon all able-bodied members of the faculty to go out for football. In a game between North Carolina and Virginia a member of the North Carolina faculty scored the winning touchdown. Often the faculty proved helpful to the budding football programs in other ways such as giving athletes passing grades or writing articles arguing that football built intellect. Only a handful, like Wisconsin's Frederick Jackson Turner, made a determined effort to root out the abuses in the culture of college football such as the intense media attention given to the sport and its tendency to cushion star athletes from academic requirements. That was more than a century ago.
When we turn to the 1980s and 1990s what do we encounter? Outward appearances of football may have changed, but the problems appear hauntingly similar. Big-time football teams induce players to attend their institution with offers of cars and money as well as running booster operations to funnel cash to blue-chip players. Players who obtain special admission or enter the institution fraudulently do so only to play football and often leave without graduating. Schools manage to keep their players eligible by manufacturing credits or by easing them into simple courses in which they are assured of receiving passing grades. Some coaches engage in violence toward players in practice and even try to drive them out of school so that they can use their scholarship slot.
In the 1890s college football had already created strong emotions of love and hate. Big-time eastern football had demonstrated that it could draw large crowds, create alumni support, and build an identity that would attract new students. The fact that it had little to do with classical education bothered only the traditionalists on campus and a handful of crotchety purists elsewhere who wrote critically of football in magazines, newspaper articles, and official college reports.
We know that the prototype for athletic organization began at eastern institutions in the 1880s and 1890s. Yale's Walter Camp, "the father of American football," became the model for the coach and athletic director. While pursuing a business career, he also acted as Yale's de facto vice president for athletic operations, who dominated the rules committees and ceaselessly publicized the game. From the profits of big games in Boston and New York, Camp created an ample reserve fund that supported lesser sports, afforded lush treatment for athletes, and provided the money that eventually went toward building Yale Bowl, the first of the modern football stadiums. By making Yale into an athletic powerhouse, Camp built the school's reputation, making it second only to Harvard. Because he succeeded so well, Camp became the first big-name foe of sweeping football reforms—and an especially hard-core opponent of the forward pass.
By the turn of century the deaths of players in football led state legislators to introduce laws banning the gridiron game. Players for big-time teams, critics charged, were coached to injure their opponents or "put them out of business." The nature of the game, with its mass formations and momentum plays, made football less an athletic contest than a collegiate version of warlike combat. Eventually the violence in football led to attempts to reduce its brutality through reforms. New rules put a strong emphasis on better officiating and on less dangerous formations, but they did not necessarily improve the athletic environment.
The deaths and brutality presented an excellent opportunity to root out the worst excesses of the runaway football culture. In the 1890s and early 1900s, responding to public opinion, professors and presidents spent a great deal of time talking about the overemphasis of intercollegiate athletics—and, in some cases, passing rules at the conference and institutional level to regulate college sports. Why, then, did college presidents and faculty, who had far more authority over their students than their modern counterparts, fail to control the gridiron beast? Put differently, why did school presidents and faculty often themselves become part of the athletic problem?
One problem might be that faculty members played major roles in introducing early football. In addition to Woodrow Wilson, who served as a part-time coach at Wesleyan, an English instructor at Oklahoma who had recently come from Harvard, Vernon Parrington, taught the fundamentals of football on the windswept practice field in Oklahoma. At Miami University of Ohio the president called upon all able-bodied members of the faculty to go out for football. In a game between North Carolina and Virginia a member of the North Carolina faculty scored the winning touchdown. Often the faculty proved helpful to the budding football programs in other ways such as giving athletes passing grades or writing articles arguing that football built intellect. Only a handful, like Wisconsin's Frederick Jackson Turner, made a determined effort to root out the abuses in the culture of college football such as the intense media attention given to the sport and its tendency to cushion star athletes from academic requirements. That was more than a century ago.
When we turn to the 1980s and 1990s what do we encounter? Outward appearances of football may have changed, but the problems appear hauntingly similar. Big-time football teams induce players to attend their institution with offers of cars and money as well as running booster operations to funnel cash to blue-chip players. Players who obtain special admission or enter the institution fraudulently do so only to play football and often leave without graduating. Schools manage to keep their players eligible by manufacturing credits or by easing them into simple courses in which they are assured of receiving passing grades. Some coaches engage in violence toward players in practice and even try to drive them out of school so that they can use their scholarship slot.
The History of College Football - Part 1
The very first university football game was played between Princeton and Rutgers on November 6th, 1869 at New Brunswick in New Jersey. There were different things between the game played that day and the games we watch today. In the early days of college football, the football was round and the field 120 yards long and 75 yards wide and each team had 25 players.
The first real college football uniform was designed in 1877 and included a tightly laced canvas jacket, black knee pants, stockings and a jersey with orange trim. This form of college football uniform did not offer the players very much protection, unlike the college football uniforms used today and a number of college football players suffered serious injury and some were even killed.
Outward appearances may have changed, but the gridiron problems in that era appear remarkably similar to the present. In the 1890s big-time recruiters and alumni contacts scoured the eastern prep schools for talented juniors and seniors ready to entice them to Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. Occasionally, unscrupulous alumni convinced students to quit high school before they graduated in order to enroll at an institution with a big-time team. Boosters funneled tuition money to poor but athletically talented boys from the coal fields of Pennsylvania and the industrial towns of the Northeast to preparatory schools in order to prepare them for big-time college athletics. Some of these young men were in their mid-twenties when they finally entered college. Other athletes went from school to school selling their services, phantom players who had no academic ties with the institution.
Big-time alumni football entrepreneurs—the counterpart of today's athletic directors—arranged a schedule of games which began with weak teams and worked up to big money games held in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Gridiron profits supported stadium building, sumptuous living quarters and training tables for players, as well as Pullman cars for retinues of trainers, massagers, alumni coaches, and other hangers-on who followed the team to the big games. What was left over went to support an array of lesser sports that big-time football had eclipsed.
At the major football schools critics complained that football players became the campus elite, admired by their fellow students and regarded skeptically by many faculty. In the absence of professional football, players basked in the attention of the media, and the names of the gridiron stars appeared regularly in the sports pages of big city newspapers. Even college faculty and presidents had to be properly worshipful of football and its elite because they knew that football advertised their schools and helped to retain the loyalty of alumni. As a result, they often ignored or remained blissfully unaware of scams to admit unqualified students, play athletes who never enrolled, or resort to stratagems to keep weak players eligible.
Though booster organizations did not exist outside of alumni groups, booster alumni and townspeople, student managers, and even faculty engaged in unethical acts. A Princeton alumnus named Patterson entertained football players and made every effort to entice them to his alma mater. Authorities at Swarthmore lured the huge lineman, Bob ("Tiny") Maxwell, from the University of Chicago and arranged for the president of the college to pass his bills to a prominent alumnus. Professor Woodrow Wilson, a fanatic Princeton enthusiast, shamelessly used football when he spoke to alumni organizations and vigorously opposed football reform in the 1890s and early 1900s. In contrast, Theodore Roosevelt, a Harvard graduate, who gloried in the strenuous life and strongly supported Harvard football, turned against football brutality in 1905 and initiated the first efforts in his capacity as president to reform the spirit in which big-time football teams competed.
The popularity of college football was fairly low in the early days and there were only 6 teams by the time a rugby ball was adopted for playing with and the first officials of the game were used. In the following year a crossbar was added to the goalposts and these remain in use for college football games to this day. The college football field was also made smaller and the members of each team were reduced to 15.
In 1876 a crossbar was added to the goal posts at a height of 10 feet (in effect to the present day), and the field was reduced to nearly modern dimensions. At the same time the number of players on each side was lowered to 15.
It took until 1880 before more revisions were made to the rules and the teams were limited to 11 players. In 1882, the downs system was introduced in college football games although it began as a requirement for a team to make 5 yards in 3 downs which remained in effect until it was changed to 10 yards in 4 downs in 1912. The college football game now became much more popular and widespread with over 250 colleges playing by 1900.
The first real college football uniform was designed in 1877 and included a tightly laced canvas jacket, black knee pants, stockings and a jersey with orange trim. This form of college football uniform did not offer the players very much protection, unlike the college football uniforms used today and a number of college football players suffered serious injury and some were even killed.
Outward appearances may have changed, but the gridiron problems in that era appear remarkably similar to the present. In the 1890s big-time recruiters and alumni contacts scoured the eastern prep schools for talented juniors and seniors ready to entice them to Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. Occasionally, unscrupulous alumni convinced students to quit high school before they graduated in order to enroll at an institution with a big-time team. Boosters funneled tuition money to poor but athletically talented boys from the coal fields of Pennsylvania and the industrial towns of the Northeast to preparatory schools in order to prepare them for big-time college athletics. Some of these young men were in their mid-twenties when they finally entered college. Other athletes went from school to school selling their services, phantom players who had no academic ties with the institution.
Big-time alumni football entrepreneurs—the counterpart of today's athletic directors—arranged a schedule of games which began with weak teams and worked up to big money games held in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Gridiron profits supported stadium building, sumptuous living quarters and training tables for players, as well as Pullman cars for retinues of trainers, massagers, alumni coaches, and other hangers-on who followed the team to the big games. What was left over went to support an array of lesser sports that big-time football had eclipsed.
At the major football schools critics complained that football players became the campus elite, admired by their fellow students and regarded skeptically by many faculty. In the absence of professional football, players basked in the attention of the media, and the names of the gridiron stars appeared regularly in the sports pages of big city newspapers. Even college faculty and presidents had to be properly worshipful of football and its elite because they knew that football advertised their schools and helped to retain the loyalty of alumni. As a result, they often ignored or remained blissfully unaware of scams to admit unqualified students, play athletes who never enrolled, or resort to stratagems to keep weak players eligible.
Though booster organizations did not exist outside of alumni groups, booster alumni and townspeople, student managers, and even faculty engaged in unethical acts. A Princeton alumnus named Patterson entertained football players and made every effort to entice them to his alma mater. Authorities at Swarthmore lured the huge lineman, Bob ("Tiny") Maxwell, from the University of Chicago and arranged for the president of the college to pass his bills to a prominent alumnus. Professor Woodrow Wilson, a fanatic Princeton enthusiast, shamelessly used football when he spoke to alumni organizations and vigorously opposed football reform in the 1890s and early 1900s. In contrast, Theodore Roosevelt, a Harvard graduate, who gloried in the strenuous life and strongly supported Harvard football, turned against football brutality in 1905 and initiated the first efforts in his capacity as president to reform the spirit in which big-time football teams competed.
The popularity of college football was fairly low in the early days and there were only 6 teams by the time a rugby ball was adopted for playing with and the first officials of the game were used. In the following year a crossbar was added to the goalposts and these remain in use for college football games to this day. The college football field was also made smaller and the members of each team were reduced to 15.
In 1876 a crossbar was added to the goal posts at a height of 10 feet (in effect to the present day), and the field was reduced to nearly modern dimensions. At the same time the number of players on each side was lowered to 15.
It took until 1880 before more revisions were made to the rules and the teams were limited to 11 players. In 1882, the downs system was introduced in college football games although it began as a requirement for a team to make 5 yards in 3 downs which remained in effect until it was changed to 10 yards in 4 downs in 1912. The college football game now became much more popular and widespread with over 250 colleges playing by 1900.
College Football Betting
College football has no salary cap and there's nothing stopping a school from signing many top recruits in the country. In fact, a recent report showing the top high school possible recruits revealed that a strong majority had USC and Texas on their list of college choices. Good players want to play at a good school. As a result good schools get better and poor schools get worse.
Year in and year out we hear the names of top programs like Ohio State over and over. College football is a freer game than the NFL. Coaches are not afraid to try trick plays and run the option. As a result, the points can really add up. One trap that many college football bettors that also bet the NFL fall into is handicapping the game as if it was the NFL. In the NFL, each and every player—no matter how bad they seem—is one of the top players in the entire football world. In college football, there are handfuls of NFL type players with scores of just average players.
In the NFL, you would never see a spread between two teams in the 40s. However, it's a common occurrence each week in college football. Yes, those favorite teams cover too. One aspect of the game that must be on any bettors mind is motivation. If the game features two bitter rivals, the game could be a hot contest no matter what the talent level. If nothing else, the worse team could remain closer to the favorite. It's important to analyze the coaches as well. What type of coach does each team have? Does the coach like to run often? Does the coach like to fire away even when the game is won?
Here's an example. For years Air Force was a team that would run the ball 80% of the time—effectively too. If they were playing a team that's soft on the run, look out. By knowing the team's game plan, you can forecast the outcome better. If Air Force were playing a poorer team, record wise, that had a really solid run defense, what would you do? If you were simply a college football handicapper that looks at wins/loses, you would most likely fail.
In the pros, teams are more apt to adapt. If the run is not working, they go to the air. However, in college football, some programs are built a certain way and they stick to their game plan for the most part. If the team is built as a running powerhouse, they are going to keep at the run, because that's all they can really do. The grand lesson here is to not look at college football like you would the NFL. While it's football, it really is not the same game.
Year in and year out we hear the names of top programs like Ohio State over and over. College football is a freer game than the NFL. Coaches are not afraid to try trick plays and run the option. As a result, the points can really add up. One trap that many college football bettors that also bet the NFL fall into is handicapping the game as if it was the NFL. In the NFL, each and every player—no matter how bad they seem—is one of the top players in the entire football world. In college football, there are handfuls of NFL type players with scores of just average players.
In the NFL, you would never see a spread between two teams in the 40s. However, it's a common occurrence each week in college football. Yes, those favorite teams cover too. One aspect of the game that must be on any bettors mind is motivation. If the game features two bitter rivals, the game could be a hot contest no matter what the talent level. If nothing else, the worse team could remain closer to the favorite. It's important to analyze the coaches as well. What type of coach does each team have? Does the coach like to run often? Does the coach like to fire away even when the game is won?
Here's an example. For years Air Force was a team that would run the ball 80% of the time—effectively too. If they were playing a team that's soft on the run, look out. By knowing the team's game plan, you can forecast the outcome better. If Air Force were playing a poorer team, record wise, that had a really solid run defense, what would you do? If you were simply a college football handicapper that looks at wins/loses, you would most likely fail.
In the pros, teams are more apt to adapt. If the run is not working, they go to the air. However, in college football, some programs are built a certain way and they stick to their game plan for the most part. If the team is built as a running powerhouse, they are going to keep at the run, because that's all they can really do. The grand lesson here is to not look at college football like you would the NFL. While it's football, it really is not the same game.
How To Handle College Football Betting
College football has been called a pure game. The players are out there on the field playing for glory and school pride. They don't get paid and many of them are hoping to get a shot at the NFL.
With the college gridiron campaign currently in full swing, bettors would be wise to join experienced bookmakers in analyzing these three key factors:
The Gap Factor
The difference between upper echelon teams and middle to bottom teams can be enormous in college football betting. When you have that situation, certain odds-making criteria go out the window. For example, when you have an Ohio State or a USC on the road, the talent level versus an Indiana or an Arizona is going to be so wide that it will negate any home field advantage those teams may have. Of course, that goes for other college super powers such as a Florida or a Texas.
So, although most books use Power Ratings as a place to begin the point-spread making process, they're not nearly as reliable as they are for the NFL. For example, when Texas opened the season with a sparring partner in North Texas State, it was difficult to know what the right number was. Most books settled on 42 with the knowledge that the final score would depend on the mercy of the Long Horns. Alas, Texas showed little sympathy for its overwhelmed opponent, crushing North Texas State, 56-7 for the cover.
Given the above example--Louisville (-40) versus Temple was another--typically, bookmakers often add a touchdown or so to the raw numbers. Conversely, if you're using pure Power Ratings, they can be skewed if you're looking at scores such as 56-0, 62-0 and 72-7 heading into conference play. That's a different level.
The People Factor
From year to year you have a much greater turnover of personnel in the college game than you do in the NFL. That means there's a sharper learning curve each year for the colleges. You might get every bit of information about a team for two months but then every thought and every projection you had for that team could change after the first game. New players really can't be judged until bet takers see them in a game. Admittedly, the college football betting public is in the same boat.
So even though responsible bookmakers put in an incredible amount of work during the summer to get a feel for the college teams, they never know if their assessments are valid until the teams start playing.
The Numbers Factor
There's no doubt that it's easier to keep tabs on 32 NFL teams than it is to keep track of over 100 college squads. The NFL is all there for you, on television every weekend. In college football betting, the big games are there but most bet house personnel aren't going to see a lot of Wyoming or Louisiana Tech on the tube. As odds makers, they need to be right on every game. The bettor only has to be right on a few games each week to be successful. Obviously, from the perspective of the bookmakers, it's a lot more dangerous posting numbers on 50 college games than it is on 16 NFL games.
There are a number of other differences between the collegiate gridiron game and its NFL cousin.
For one, in general, bettors are far more willing to lay big numbers in college than they are in the NFL. It's just the nature of the non-professional gambler to lay it rather than take it. Or as one prominent bookmaker pointed out, "You have to give them a minus or they don't know which side to take. When in doubt, they go with the favorite."
Scheduling also is more of a consideration in college football betting because the players lack maturity and are more susceptible to the emotional high of playing a rival, not to mention the letdown often associated with games preceding or following one of those contests.
Being able to run the ball in college football has always been a key factor in the overall success of a team. The same adage also goes for teams who have the ability to stop the run. Putting these two factors together can produce a positive result in gambling because there is minimal risk for turnovers with teams that possess a dominating running game.
With the college gridiron campaign currently in full swing, bettors would be wise to join experienced bookmakers in analyzing these three key factors:
The Gap Factor
The difference between upper echelon teams and middle to bottom teams can be enormous in college football betting. When you have that situation, certain odds-making criteria go out the window. For example, when you have an Ohio State or a USC on the road, the talent level versus an Indiana or an Arizona is going to be so wide that it will negate any home field advantage those teams may have. Of course, that goes for other college super powers such as a Florida or a Texas.
So, although most books use Power Ratings as a place to begin the point-spread making process, they're not nearly as reliable as they are for the NFL. For example, when Texas opened the season with a sparring partner in North Texas State, it was difficult to know what the right number was. Most books settled on 42 with the knowledge that the final score would depend on the mercy of the Long Horns. Alas, Texas showed little sympathy for its overwhelmed opponent, crushing North Texas State, 56-7 for the cover.
Given the above example--Louisville (-40) versus Temple was another--typically, bookmakers often add a touchdown or so to the raw numbers. Conversely, if you're using pure Power Ratings, they can be skewed if you're looking at scores such as 56-0, 62-0 and 72-7 heading into conference play. That's a different level.
The People Factor
From year to year you have a much greater turnover of personnel in the college game than you do in the NFL. That means there's a sharper learning curve each year for the colleges. You might get every bit of information about a team for two months but then every thought and every projection you had for that team could change after the first game. New players really can't be judged until bet takers see them in a game. Admittedly, the college football betting public is in the same boat.
So even though responsible bookmakers put in an incredible amount of work during the summer to get a feel for the college teams, they never know if their assessments are valid until the teams start playing.
The Numbers Factor
There's no doubt that it's easier to keep tabs on 32 NFL teams than it is to keep track of over 100 college squads. The NFL is all there for you, on television every weekend. In college football betting, the big games are there but most bet house personnel aren't going to see a lot of Wyoming or Louisiana Tech on the tube. As odds makers, they need to be right on every game. The bettor only has to be right on a few games each week to be successful. Obviously, from the perspective of the bookmakers, it's a lot more dangerous posting numbers on 50 college games than it is on 16 NFL games.
There are a number of other differences between the collegiate gridiron game and its NFL cousin.
For one, in general, bettors are far more willing to lay big numbers in college than they are in the NFL. It's just the nature of the non-professional gambler to lay it rather than take it. Or as one prominent bookmaker pointed out, "You have to give them a minus or they don't know which side to take. When in doubt, they go with the favorite."
Scheduling also is more of a consideration in college football betting because the players lack maturity and are more susceptible to the emotional high of playing a rival, not to mention the letdown often associated with games preceding or following one of those contests.
Being able to run the ball in college football has always been a key factor in the overall success of a team. The same adage also goes for teams who have the ability to stop the run. Putting these two factors together can produce a positive result in gambling because there is minimal risk for turnovers with teams that possess a dominating running game.
How To Bet College Football
A number of dicey factors, including the disparity between the nation's finest teams and those that still have struggling programs, the massive turnover of personnel each year, and the absurdly large number of teams involved, conspire to make college football betting far more difficult than its NFL counterpart.
In order to be above board in betting, these are some key factors that could help you in football betting:
1) Rate your plays based on units. Every selection we make is based on a unit system. Most plays rate as 4-unit selections. Top Games usually draw 5-unit or 6-unit consideration. Our College Game of the Year is the only 7-unit play we release and finally, the Big Ten Game of the Year is an 8-unit selection. Stick with this system the entire season for best results.
2) Focus in on your local teams. Research local papers daily and often times use the Wisconsin Badgers as a selection (either for or against). There are chances of great success with this formula.
3) The Momentum Factor. While momentum does not play that big of a role in pro football, it takes a big role in college football, especially late in the season. Teams that have gotten off to a bad start and have no chance at making a bowl game will often throw in the towel. Go against these teams even if it requires you to lay double-digit points.
College Football falls under the standard betting where you must lay a juice of 10 percent of your investment. That means in order to win $100, you must bet $110. If you win you will receive $210 from your ticket.
Betting on college football Odds is not the same as with the NFL, so make sure you separate the two. Because of the vast number of teams, the parity between college football programs is slight, and therefore you are going to see some high numbers in the NCAA. The talent disparity is big especially in the non-conference portion of the schedule where teams enter hostile environments just to collect a hefty check with no visions of being competitive.
Getting into the nuts and bolts of college football means looking at the many stats in order to beat the number. As opposed to pro football, college football is less dependent on situations and angles and more dependent on certain statistics. Rushing offense and rushing defense, pass efficiency offense and defense, and turnover margins are huge. These are vital in the NFL, but even more so when it comes to college football.
Another thing to watch is the emergence of a betting glamour team. It's a team that gets hot early and captures the imagination of the college football betting public. LSU did that when it went 11-2 against the spread in 2003. Auburn was the hot team a year before that. Bookmakers are aware of these teams and are constantly adjusting the numbers, but until that team loses a couple of times, the public bets them every week.
In order to be above board in betting, these are some key factors that could help you in football betting:
1) Rate your plays based on units. Every selection we make is based on a unit system. Most plays rate as 4-unit selections. Top Games usually draw 5-unit or 6-unit consideration. Our College Game of the Year is the only 7-unit play we release and finally, the Big Ten Game of the Year is an 8-unit selection. Stick with this system the entire season for best results.
2) Focus in on your local teams. Research local papers daily and often times use the Wisconsin Badgers as a selection (either for or against). There are chances of great success with this formula.
3) The Momentum Factor. While momentum does not play that big of a role in pro football, it takes a big role in college football, especially late in the season. Teams that have gotten off to a bad start and have no chance at making a bowl game will often throw in the towel. Go against these teams even if it requires you to lay double-digit points.
College Football falls under the standard betting where you must lay a juice of 10 percent of your investment. That means in order to win $100, you must bet $110. If you win you will receive $210 from your ticket.
Betting on college football Odds is not the same as with the NFL, so make sure you separate the two. Because of the vast number of teams, the parity between college football programs is slight, and therefore you are going to see some high numbers in the NCAA. The talent disparity is big especially in the non-conference portion of the schedule where teams enter hostile environments just to collect a hefty check with no visions of being competitive.
Getting into the nuts and bolts of college football means looking at the many stats in order to beat the number. As opposed to pro football, college football is less dependent on situations and angles and more dependent on certain statistics. Rushing offense and rushing defense, pass efficiency offense and defense, and turnover margins are huge. These are vital in the NFL, but even more so when it comes to college football.
Another thing to watch is the emergence of a betting glamour team. It's a team that gets hot early and captures the imagination of the college football betting public. LSU did that when it went 11-2 against the spread in 2003. Auburn was the hot team a year before that. Bookmakers are aware of these teams and are constantly adjusting the numbers, but until that team loses a couple of times, the public bets them every week.
Pre-Season NFL Games
While some sports services you will find suggest that the NFL pre-season offers valuable wagering opportunities, I could not disagree more and recommend that you stay way from these games. Here are the four major reasons why you should always pass on the NFL pre-season:
1. These pre-season games are not played to win. These contests are merely practice scrimmages and try-out sessions for rookies and the team's supporting cast. Think of pre-season games as nothing more than tune-ups for the upcoming regular season. Coaches often do not care very much about the outcomes and do not necessarily call their plays to maximize getting points. Therefore, since the final score is often irrelevant to the teams involved, you should not risk your money on this outcome either.
2. Teams' lineups are in constant flux. It very difficult to judge which players are going to actually participate in the game and for how long. The entire starting lineup may be in the game for just a few series or downs. Does it seem possible to realistically analyze matchups when you do not even know which athletes are going to be on the field? It just does not make sense to wager your money on all these very important unknown factors.
3. Questionable coaching decisions. Coaches will take greater risks than they would normally in a regular season game. Again, wins and losses are not the goals of these games, but rather they are used to evaluate talent and test out new plays. Teams will not necessarily punt on 4th down and long or even make a field goal attempt when in range. If the coaches want to work on a particular aspect of its teams performance, they will make unorthodox play calls, which can affect the outcome of the game.
4. There are going to be plenty of stronger opportunities during the regular season, so do not waste your money on these tune-ups. It easy to get caught up in the excitement of watching football after a lengthily off-season, but patients will payoff. Wait for the regular season to start when the games actually count in the standings and each team is playing for the same goal - to win the game.
You should not discount the pre-season altogether. These games are good for information gathering purposes -- learning more about new players and coaches -- but not good for wagering. Be sure to pass on the pre-season and save your bankroll for the games that count.
1. These pre-season games are not played to win. These contests are merely practice scrimmages and try-out sessions for rookies and the team's supporting cast. Think of pre-season games as nothing more than tune-ups for the upcoming regular season. Coaches often do not care very much about the outcomes and do not necessarily call their plays to maximize getting points. Therefore, since the final score is often irrelevant to the teams involved, you should not risk your money on this outcome either.
2. Teams' lineups are in constant flux. It very difficult to judge which players are going to actually participate in the game and for how long. The entire starting lineup may be in the game for just a few series or downs. Does it seem possible to realistically analyze matchups when you do not even know which athletes are going to be on the field? It just does not make sense to wager your money on all these very important unknown factors.
3. Questionable coaching decisions. Coaches will take greater risks than they would normally in a regular season game. Again, wins and losses are not the goals of these games, but rather they are used to evaluate talent and test out new plays. Teams will not necessarily punt on 4th down and long or even make a field goal attempt when in range. If the coaches want to work on a particular aspect of its teams performance, they will make unorthodox play calls, which can affect the outcome of the game.
4. There are going to be plenty of stronger opportunities during the regular season, so do not waste your money on these tune-ups. It easy to get caught up in the excitement of watching football after a lengthily off-season, but patients will payoff. Wait for the regular season to start when the games actually count in the standings and each team is playing for the same goal - to win the game.
You should not discount the pre-season altogether. These games are good for information gathering purposes -- learning more about new players and coaches -- but not good for wagering. Be sure to pass on the pre-season and save your bankroll for the games that count.
How To Have A Healthy Football Season
As the headlines from the draft and minicamps fade from the headlines, coaches, scouting staffs and players all tend to head in separate directions this time of year for some final R&R before the last minicamps and final preparations for training camps begin in a few weeks.
The NFL has become a year-round job in the past 20-25 years, and many team employees regularly put in 80-hour weeks or more throughout the year. This time is much needed by many to recharge before the grind of the season begins.
The Football season seems provide a plethora of reasons to eat badly. It starts near Labor Day, and goes right on past to New Years. Typically during this time of year our eating habits include foods and drinks that are so delicious, yet carry negative effects.
Below are some tips that could possibly help you have a healthy footbal season:
1. Don't think about dieting during the holiday season. That is, don't start a new diet. Your biggest goal during our most favorite season is to maintain your weight. This way you can partake in your favorite beverage and snacks without any guilt.
2. Another good way to avoid packin' on the pudge is to stay seated, and far away from the food table.
3. The beverages tend to favorites for many during this time of year, so be wise in your selection. If you must have a mixed drink, try something like a clear liquor and diet soda, a light or ultra light beer, or a nice glass of wine. I know wine doesn't scream manly, but it is an alternative. Remember this shouldn't be painful, just well thought-out.
4. Good or bad, football games tend to be lengthy, use this to your advantage, and take part in the eating and drinking at a slow pace. The slower your intake, the better chance you will fit in those size 38's come spring time.
5. Chase the kids, or take a walk, whatever it is, make sure you keep up on some type of activity other than couch coaching, and channel surfing. Winter time is hard enough for many people with the cold and darkness, so some activity will help you gain or maintain physical and mental acuity.
6. Eat at home before you head to the football stadium, or over a buddies house. This should help prevent a complete submersion in to the food and drinks. Believe me when I tell you, you will feel much better knowing you don't have to drive home with your pants unbuttoned, either because of pressure or an untimely stomach pain.
7. Eat some chicken wings, not the entire chicken. I think that's clear, and best of all it applies to all food! And anyway, who wants to get stains all over their new Dallas Terrell Owens jersey.
8. If you have the chance to host a football game, stack the odds on your side by putting veggies, and light snacks out rather than the pizza and wings. I mean really, do we as men pay any attention to what we eat while we are watching a game. So long as the drinks are cold, and our food crunches, we are in heaven.
9. This rule applies all year long. Stay far and away from fast food joints. It may seem like a good idea while you're on your way to the game, but we all know it's not filling, and it's to exit.
Regardless of what happens, team officials around the league may be trying to take it easy these days, but everyone will breathe a little easier when players report for the season and the time for distractions and trouble has passed.
The NFL has become a year-round job in the past 20-25 years, and many team employees regularly put in 80-hour weeks or more throughout the year. This time is much needed by many to recharge before the grind of the season begins.
The Football season seems provide a plethora of reasons to eat badly. It starts near Labor Day, and goes right on past to New Years. Typically during this time of year our eating habits include foods and drinks that are so delicious, yet carry negative effects.
Below are some tips that could possibly help you have a healthy footbal season:
1. Don't think about dieting during the holiday season. That is, don't start a new diet. Your biggest goal during our most favorite season is to maintain your weight. This way you can partake in your favorite beverage and snacks without any guilt.
2. Another good way to avoid packin' on the pudge is to stay seated, and far away from the food table.
3. The beverages tend to favorites for many during this time of year, so be wise in your selection. If you must have a mixed drink, try something like a clear liquor and diet soda, a light or ultra light beer, or a nice glass of wine. I know wine doesn't scream manly, but it is an alternative. Remember this shouldn't be painful, just well thought-out.
4. Good or bad, football games tend to be lengthy, use this to your advantage, and take part in the eating and drinking at a slow pace. The slower your intake, the better chance you will fit in those size 38's come spring time.
5. Chase the kids, or take a walk, whatever it is, make sure you keep up on some type of activity other than couch coaching, and channel surfing. Winter time is hard enough for many people with the cold and darkness, so some activity will help you gain or maintain physical and mental acuity.
6. Eat at home before you head to the football stadium, or over a buddies house. This should help prevent a complete submersion in to the food and drinks. Believe me when I tell you, you will feel much better knowing you don't have to drive home with your pants unbuttoned, either because of pressure or an untimely stomach pain.
7. Eat some chicken wings, not the entire chicken. I think that's clear, and best of all it applies to all food! And anyway, who wants to get stains all over their new Dallas Terrell Owens jersey.
8. If you have the chance to host a football game, stack the odds on your side by putting veggies, and light snacks out rather than the pizza and wings. I mean really, do we as men pay any attention to what we eat while we are watching a game. So long as the drinks are cold, and our food crunches, we are in heaven.
9. This rule applies all year long. Stay far and away from fast food joints. It may seem like a good idea while you're on your way to the game, but we all know it's not filling, and it's to exit.
Regardless of what happens, team officials around the league may be trying to take it easy these days, but everyone will breathe a little easier when players report for the season and the time for distractions and trouble has passed.
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