A couple of years ago, I made the statement to my wife that my priorities in this life were faith, family, and football—in that order. She immediately questioned my order on a couple of them.
I made the case that family and football are almost the same thing.
When I was a child, my father and older brother cheered for the Cleveland Browns. My younger brother and I were fans of the Bengals. After church on Sundays—and I did say after church—we would sit there and watch the games on television.
In two football games every year, the Bengals and the Browns played each other. During these games, there was a lot of fun, laughs, and good-natured ribbing. I guess you could say we were “talking trash” even before they actually coined the term for what we were doing. These were truly some of the best times I remember as a child, all of us together in one room at one time.
Football and family were inseparable. They went together like sausage and pepperoni.
Every year, I scratch and scrape to purchase a pair of season tickets to watch West Virginia football. From my earliest days, my dad instilled in me a love for Mountaineer football. Clearly they are my favorite team.
Although I occasionally take a friend to one game a season, my other ticket is generally used by a member of my family. My children go with me. My dad goes with me. My wife usually pulls rank on everyone else by claiming the homecoming game as exclusively her own.
Football does not just belong to me; It belongs to my family.
It is my hope that one day that I can also introduce my grandchildren to the wonders of Mountaineer Field and the love that I have for my team. Football and family are inseparable.
Outside Touchdown Terrace in Morgantown, there is an engraved brick that honors my late mother. It was a Christmas gift to my father, something to immortalize a wonderful woman in a place my family has so many fond memories. I never go to Morgantown without seeing that brick and thinking of my dear mom.
Football and family are inseparable.
I remember the game in 1984 when Doug Flutie, the eventual Heisman winner, failed to beat the West Virginia Mountaineers in his last visit to Morgantown. After Boston College went ahead 20-6 right before halftime, the Mountaineers won the game 21-20. My dad took me to that game.
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about 1 month ago
Excellent article RG. There are so many good times that my family has shared together that involves football - you helped bring back the memories. Thanks for sharing this. POTD
from about 1 month ago
It's good to get a pick from one the real legends on B/R. Thanks a bunch, Ghost!
from about 1 month ago
I'm no "legend" - just a Georgia boy who likes to write, but thanks for the kind words. Keep me posted on your articles.
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