VENDOR WRITING

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

BY NORMA B.

With the 2021 NFL season well underway, the timing seems right for this story.

No one knows exactly where my love of football came from. I’ve had it as long as I can remember, even before I knew or understood exactly what was going on.

My dad’s family only liked college ball, because according to them, it was about sheer talent and athleticism, not money. And since most of them were from Alabama, you can guess who they rooted for.

I can appreciate that, but since I’m from Tennessee, I favor the UT Vols, but I also appreciate the skill, talent and consistent winning record of Alabama Crimson Tide. Since I have relatives in both states I figure I can get away with that — Roll Tide!

Further fueling my love of football, I consider Gallatin, Tenn. “home.” It also happens to be home of the Gallatin Green Wave.

Even when I wasn’t “in town” I always kept up with how my “home team” was doing, and I attended as many games as I could in person.

One of my most prized possessions as a teen was my Gallatin Green Wave jacket, which I proudly wore no matter what school I attended — even if we had a game against them which didn’t make me very popular,

in fact, it was quite the opposite it was a constant source of contention — especially in Mt. Juliet, home of the Golden Bears. They had a fierce rivalry! (In 8th grade I was zoned for that school because we lived just across the Wilson County line. That lasted for 18 days, then my mom let me live with my aunt Mary so I could return to Gallatin.)

The only good part of attending Mt. Juliet Jr. High? Charlie Daniels put on a “teen friendly” version of a Volunteer Jam! Totally Awesome, Right?

Calvin Short coached Gallatin’s high school football team as long as I can remember. He led them to three state championships in 1978, 1989, and 1992. My personal favorite was in 1978. I was in 5th grade. We got out of school early so as many as possible could attend the game in person. Marquis signs all over town read, “Will the last person headed out of town please turn off the lights?”

We were runners up three times, in 1982, 1991, and 1997. Coach Short’s record during his tenure there was 205 wins and 30 losses, not too shabby!

For some reason, I was always drawn to professional football, namely, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Terry Bradshaw, who incidentally led his team to eight AFC Central Championships and four Super Bowl titles. (For all you haters out there, this was long before the Tennessee Titans came into existence — they were still the Houston Oilers back then.)

My love of the game has always been apparent to all who were paying attention, but my mom just couldn’t understand why I was SO fascinated with the game.

In an effort to explain and maybe have a more positive shared experience with her, I tried to teach her the basics: You have four attempts called downs to move the ball 10 yards. She didn’t think that seemed too hard. I said don’t you see all those big guys chasing after the guy with the ball? Her response? “You know why they’re all chasing him? They wanna get their quarter back!” My mom always did have a sense of humor.

I also tried to explain the various names and roles of the offensive and defensive players: quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive tackle, linebacker etc.; penalties: offsides and delay of game or roughing the passer or intentional grounding etc.; And scoring: field goals touchdowns extra points and two point conversions, safeties etc.

At first, I felt like I was talking to a brick wall. Nothing I said was getting through, but with a little persistence and a lot of patience things slowly but surely started to sink in. Yay! It was great, until it wasn’t. She became obsessed with Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers. When I asked how this happened she commented on his blue eyes and his Hanes underwear commercials. (Not exactly a reason to like a quarterback.)

Now I know all you statisticians out there are thinking of his many records such as: his 3,049 completions for 40,551 yards, or maybe his 273 touchdowns, or the fact that he holds the Super Bowl record for the most passes without an interception (122 in four games), or maybe you’re aware that he holds the highest passer rating of all time at 127.8.

Still, none of these things were what my mom was focused on. Just how far did she take her obsession? She suggested that I name my daughter Helena Montana. My reaction? I said, “Mom, that’s a state and a capital!” Believe it or not, it gets worse. When my son was born she wanted me to name him Russell Edward George Wesley Montana Bracey. (For the record, that’s after his two grandfathers who had died before he was born, and of course, Joe Montana.)

I thought to myself, are you kidding me? Absolutely not! I told her this kid’s not royalty! There’s no way I’m doing that!

I suppose something good came out of this experience in the end. My mother developed an appreciation of the game and NOT just Joe Montana, and eventually we could sit down and watch a game together sometimes cheering for the same team, other times on opposing sides but we always had good food and a good time was had by all!