Gridiron Grind

Gridiron Grind

Many people have hobbies, some for stress relief, some for enjoyment, and others just to help time pass. My hobby, is playing Football. There are many reasons I love to call this sport my hobby, the relationships, and most importantly, the grind. The rewards that one gains from playing Football is far more than the social status and popularity, some fans may assume that is the reason we play. Football is about much more than that to me, it is about building bonds that last for years. Building relationships with coaches that have been where you are, and have gone through what you’ve been through and can help you through the journey. Being pushed to the brink of what you can do, mentally and physically, and having your team there going through it with you. Helping each other up when nobody thought they could take another step. Fighting to the last minute in a close game and coming out on top with 0:00 on the clock, with your team being up by one point. Walking out on the field under the lights and knowing that everything, the crowd, the lights, the stadium, is for YOU and YOUR TEAM. Football has been my hobby since I was ten years old, and although I’ve been through hell and back because of this sport, it will continue to be the thing I love most to do until the last time I take off my helmet.

Strap ‘em up fellas, get on the line! When you’re on the field, this is the last thing you want to hear. From all the positives that football brings to my life, there are plenty of downsides, still that doesn’t change my love for the game. As I’ve progressed through my 8 years of playing football, the games have been more fun, but the practices ever more grueling and intense. At Stetson, football is no joke. If one person is late for meetings, you better bet the entire Linebacker Corpse is out there after practice running, bear crawling, monkey rolling, barrel rolling, and up-downing while the one who was late stands there and watches. We are a unit, and while that brings many positives in terms of relationships and closeness, if one person messes up, we all mess up. Conditioning may be the most difficult physical aspect of the sport, the fatigue of barely getting 5 hours of sleep a night takes its toll. Waking up at 5am every morning for 6:15 meetings and a rush to beat the sun up for practice by 6:50 is something nobody gets used to, especially with the course-load that comes with being a student athlete. It’s a full time job, a never ending grind to become the best.

The future that I can see for my hobby is a bright one. I was recently cleared to play yesterday after straining my hamstring. This will be the first time I practice healthy for Stetson University. Knowing my abilities, I understand the position I will obtain on the depth chart, I have no worries for the next four years. Prolonging those four years will be the most difficult situation I’ve ever been through. Not everyone plays football forever, and the day for me to hang up my pads, and unstrap my helmet for the last time will be a depressing one. To contrast that sadness, I believe I can take my love and knowledge of the game and spread it to a younger generation. I would love to be a football coach. The prospect of guiding and being a positive influence on a young boy’s life seems like the only thing I would want to do after my time of playing is done. Not everything lasts forever, especially not football, dealing with that reality is a harsh but true one.