Football and I have an interesting history. It’s a sport that I understand, but in my mind, it’s just a bunch of sweaty guys fighting for a pigskin. I know that statement makes many people cringe as they look forward to football season and cheering on their teams. I think that is great. I grew up with a dad that played football in college, coached later on in life and is an avid fan. When we were living in Texas, our front porch was bombed by cornflakes and Big Red soda after the Huskers lost to the Longhorns.
I have fond memories going to Nebraska Cornhusker games with my dad, but I honestly only went to spend time with him. We would drive to Lincoln, Neb. and walk into Memorial Stadium, which is arguably the most important building in Nebraska. In the sea of red shirts, we would eat Runzas, which are the Midwestern equivalent to a Hot Pocket, drink Mountain Dew, and yell at the referees.
With all that said, you can understand how my brain could not comprehend Fantasy Football. I heard people talking about it, and I had an idea of the basics, but it was not a working knowledge. I found out that my dad was in a fantasy league with my journalism professor and wanted to investigate more. What is Fantasy Football, and why are people drawn to it?
Fantasy Football gives people the opportunity to be fantasy owners of a team. They have drafts, trade players between teams, and then see how successful they will be. I was going to try to start a team, but I was overwhelmed by just signing up. Right now, my team has a porta-potty logo because I stink at Fantasy Football, and I haven’t even started.
“Fantasy Football. It’s the thing that makes men like your dad and I emotional,” said Ted Kluck, my journalism professor.
After talking to my dad, I had a better understanding of Fantasy and how it works. It’s like a football version of chess. If I were a football fan, I think I would definitely enjoy it. I have a new respect for dedicated Fantasy players. I don’t have the knowledge and the strategy to pick players or trade them, but there are people who do and are good at it.
For now, I will stick to eating Runzas and watching grown men get worked up about their Fantasy teams. If someone would like to take over my team, I am more than happy to hand it over.