Danielle Pelkey

Commentary



Is anyone else enjoying this great football time of year?

My team, Auburn, has lost the last two weeks, so I should be fed up with football all together. However, that is not the case.

Although Auburn surprised a few with their first three games, the last two weeks have been a long road.

If you are still an Auburn fan after last year, then you are a fan through and through. Alabama fans have had a pretty easy time the last two years. The “Saban Nation” has risen and they are taking Alabama by force. It’s hard to even find Auburn merchandise in stores. I kept telling myself that it was because Auburn stuff was selling faster than the Alabama, but a nice business owner in our town told me otherwise. Apparently they can’t keep Alabama merchandise on the shelves.

Well, way to go ’Bama. I see that when you are having a winning streak, you come out of the woodwork to support your team. I am genuinely happy to see Alabama having some good seasons. It was tough watching them lose year after year to Auburn.

But seriously, there is a lot more excitement upon entering the last regular season game of Alabama versus Auburn when both teams have a chance to win. I think it was obvious to every person in the nation that there was no chance for Auburn to win last year. This year is really looking bleak also, but who knows what the next month will hold.

Football doesn’t just revolve around your team though. It revolves around your conference, the polls and those great get-togethers with friends and family. Just think of how boring it would be if you watched every football game by yourself in your house with no one to share in the excitement.

I know it would be a total bore to watch an Auburn game without my dad and sister taunting my brother-in-law and me every time Auburn fumbled a ball. Without a little friendly competition, football wouldn’t even be a sport.

There are many women out there that don’t care for football. They think that it’s just a group of men in tight pants that pat each other on the rumps all of the time while fighting over a pigskin. But to the ones who understand, it’s a totally different game. I can remember watching football before my husband taught me all of the positions and plays. It was still fun to watch, but it didn’t make that much sense. Now that I have the concept of an offensive and defensive line, routes and plays, it’s much more exciting to watch.

I can say things like, “Oh, I wouldn’t choose that defense, the offense is clearly lined up in an “I” formation.” I know, I know, it’s Greek to most. But to my husband, it is like I am speaking the language of love.

So, if you’ve given up on the happiness of watching SEC football on Saturdays, try it again. If you give it a chance, you might find that you still like it — especially if your team is winning.