Always

Bill Shankey once said, ~Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's more serious than that.~ Let me ask you this question to all college/pro football fans out there, how serious do you actually take the hard hitting sport, which almost didn't happen because of a lockout? In any case, it can most definitely be a mind boggling situation indeed at the seriousness individuals take when it involves their favorite team. The dedication and all out loyalty die hard fans express in being supportive can not only truly be seen by showing/wearing their team's colors, but in the way one vocalizes it for others to hear. Let me tell you something, if you're not a football fan you don't want to find yourself caught in the middle because you're not going to get out alive.

Without a doubt, a die hard football fan can certainly be vocal to the point where one's emotions run rampant. I think it would be safe to say many of us have witnessed someone or are that someone who exudes a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde mentality when watching a football game. You see, a guy/girl starts out cool, calm and collected but when the action of the game picks up that's when one's love for their team is vocalized. It's the individual's Mr. Hyde type mentality kicks in to where one's actions usually consist of possibly throwing food, yelling at the television screen at a specific player or ref, and/or completely losing it when a play is made that is considered so spectacular a celebration is in order. A celebration we've all been involved in as you/we ran around the room like a crazy person either screaming our heads off, high fiving, hugging, or all of the above.

If you think about it, there comes a point where a die hard football fan essentially becomes so involved in the game itself he or she thinks of himself/herself an unofficial head coach. True, one doesn't have the capacity to be standing right by the coach's side helping make crucial, as well as critical play decisions but we do it anyway in either the privacy and comfort of our own home or food establishment/sports bar. It's oftentimes a humorous situation for a significant other to witness their husband or wife scream directly into/at the television screen in hopes that the head coach hears him/her because in their mind they know what pivotal call to play or which player should be sent in to possibly win the game. Hey, as insanely crazy he/she is during football season you love him/her anyway.

For the question can be asked to all football fans, how many of you take part in fantasy football? For those who may not know what fantasy football is, it's a virtual competition pitting die hard fan against die hard fans, mainly guys, to where they "manage" their own fantasy team. As manager of their fantasy team they have the authority to draft, trade, add/drop, and change their player rosters with their best buds who are playing as well. Personally speaking, I don't play but I have friends that do and trust me when I say they take it very seriously so much so a cash prize may be won with the all-star lineup they have built for themselves. Thinking about it, as much as guys take fantasy football seriously there are many women who simply scratch their heads because they don't get it and you know what they never will.

In retrospect, you gotta love the surge of energy in the air during football season. A type of energy that just can't be described in words and you know there are entire households or quite possibly a husband/bf/wife/gf who take sides when it pertains to their rival pro/college football team. Granted, it's a friendly rivalry at most but a rivalry nonetheless. You have to admit, football fever is contagious causing you to use phrases such as "we won" or "we're going to the playoffs" even though we aren't directly involved in a professional capacity with the team itself. Truth be told, that can be said for every fan of all sports, not just football don't you think? In the end, Hank Williams Jr. aka Bocephus is no longer the quintessential face of football that has basically lasted 20 years or so and even though he's gone the answer we give to the question he asks is still a definite yes...we'll always be ready for some football.