Dads, give your daughters the gift of football

Football isn’t “just a game” to men. It touches part of their spirit as men—that inner “hunter” that gets little release in today’s modern world. It allows them to bond with other men—the men on the field and the men they watch the game with. It develops a sense of loyalty you find on the battlefield, which is one reason they get so emotionally invested. Growing up watching football with my dad exposed me to the highs and lows of male competitive passion. This enabled me to understand it, not be intimidated by it, and even enjoy it when I became an adult.

Watching football with my dad has led to watching football with my husband. Some of the most relaxing times we have are sitting at on the couch or going to the sports bar, watching the Panthers trounce the Saints or the University of North Carolina destroy Duke. I have to confess, I still don’t understand football the way my husband does. I think you have to have played the game or been an avid follower to understand all the rules. I still ask questions (though I try to limit it to commercial time), but I have an uncanny ability to call disputed plays. My husband has learned not to argue with me when I insist a player caught the ball, fumbled, or broke the plane. I’m always right. He always rolls his eyes. (Seriously, I’m always right.)

I guess when it comes to watching football with my dad, my husband has just as much to be thankful for as I do. It’s something we can share and enjoy. Instead of being a source of conflict, as it is with some couples, it’s a time of joy. When he wants to watch a game, I don’t feel threatened by it. It’s something we can do together. I love to watch him get passionate about a score or even angry when someone makes a boneheaded play.