Football for New Fans

Well howdy, reader,

My name’s Nicole, and I love football. Unlike most fans, I didn’t grow up watching football with friends or family. I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley suburbs east of LA, a predominantly East Asian area. And let’s be honest—high school football in a predominantly East Asian area isn’t exactly Friday Night Lights material. Based on the number of East Asian NFL players, you can probably guess how our football team did. (Spoiler: we won one game my senior year 🤔.)

Anyway, no one I grew up with watched, played, or coached football. I’ve never dated anyone who played. And I’ve definitely never played—and don’t intend to. But holy jama llama, I love football so much.

It’s gritty.

It’s strategic.

It’s petty.

It’s physical.

It’s emotional.

I could keep going, but I want to wrap this intro up so I can just talk about football.

I was an athlete throughout high school and college, so I always had a community of people who shared my interests. But after I graduated, I struggled to find that kind of connection and felt pretty lost.

As odd as it may sound, there were weeks when the only thing I looked forward to was Sunday football. Some Mondays, the only reason I got out of bed was to hear sportscasters talk about yesterday’s games. It felt like, for the first time, someone out there got what I was thinking. Even though I don’t usually watch games with others, win or lose, I feel like I’m part of something bigger.

I’m making this blog for people who didn’t grow up watching football and want a fresh take. It can be super intimidating at first:

• What are they even saying?

• Why are they kicking?

• What’s so special about that team?

• And why the heck are there so many commercials?!

Also, let’s talk about the real question:

WHY IS IT CALLED FOOTBALL WHEN THEY BARELY USE THEIR FEET?!

This blog is for new fans who’ve never played football (former and current players are welcome too!) and want to explore the game from a different angle. There are so many inspiring stories that deserve more attention—not to mention the drama 🤭.

So, stick around for my 3 favorite Fs: Football Fun Facts 🤓!

See ya,

Nicole