Back when players wore leather helmets, teams used no more than 30 to 40 offensive plays a season let alone a game and roll blocking---cutting an opponent’s legs from under him at the knees was allowed---veteran physical education professors and coaches L.W. St. John and Dr. J.W Wilce of Ohio State University wrote a book called “How to Enjoy Football” to meet the average spectator’s need to know more about this popular game “without burdening his mind with too many of the technical  details. . .” 

What Wilce and St. John wanted to do was continue the popularity of a college game that was drawing thousands to stadiums like the Buckeye Horsehoe. 

I don’t know whether the leather bound booklet of 71 pages was successful but I do know that the growth of  football has skyrocketed to the number one spectator sport of the day

In the 1920s when the book was published the authors saw some traits that brought the success.  “Its appeal is many-sided.  There is no age limit to restrict enjoyment of this thrilling annual fall spectacle.  During the off season wherever ‘fans’ get together it takes but a moment to start the ball of reminiscence or speculation rolling. It is the inevitable topic.  College football typifies much of what is best in most of us.  It exemplifies cooperation.  It is the abiding place of individual courage and initiative.  It has a great background of tradition.  It has produced heroes.  It affords a concrete expression of the loyalty of untold college generations,” they wrote. 

Fantasy football wasn’t around and statistical data wasn’t vogue, however.  That came 70 years later.    In fact, people of that day did not want to be bothered by anything but game results. 

Totally different story today, right?

Take a look at newsstands and note the proliferation of football data magazines along side the feature periodicals.  Examine how demand for more information now encompasses the art of tailgating, cheerleading, recipes and more prognosticating than the OSU authors would have dreamed. 

So what will make 2008 different from 2007? 

Good question and certainly no answers that are more plausible than others. Talk to fans of the world champion New York Giants and you find they’re still suffering the sticker shock of ticket prices that are virtually beyond what blue collar supporters can pay.  But then again the Giants are moving to a $1.6 billion new stadium in two years.  Somebody has to foot the bill. 

Take a long look at the predictions for 2007.  Everyone thought the Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints had the rosters and the talent to finish on top.   Giants weren’t given much of a chance. 

Super Bowl XLII, it was foretold, would put New England Patriots against Dallas. 

Really a safe call if you consider the power of these teams and the record the Patriots had built.  It was difficult to find any self-respecting sports writer to suggest a finish that didn’t include the Patriots.

Fast forward to the 2008 Pro Edition of Athlon Sports Football and check the predictions; editors believe the San Diego Chargers will meet the Patriots for the AFC title and the Chargers will win.  The NFC, say those who make a living writing this stuff, will feature a championship game between the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle.  It’s about time, fans of both teams say with a shrug.  And who will win the Super Bowl in Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Feb, 2009?

Dallas will beat the San Diego Chargers.

Will Brett Favre, formerly the legendary quarterback of America’s community owned pro team, the Green Bay Packers, put a team like the New York Jets into final four?

The magazine was published long before Favre even knew he would be a Jet so it offers the turmoil that swirls around pro football every season as players and owners look at the money issues, their vanities, where they want to be  and roll the dice. Whether you’re a fan or a spectator if you don’t have money involved it makes every season far less risky as the economy sours and such entertainment blows your household budget.    

If you do have money involved. . .  get out and simply become a fan. 

At the same time, don’t buy season tickets.  It will cost you far, far too much.  Find a comfortable lazy-Boy, enjoy your TV seat and know  you’re fortunate to watch a game for free.

What do you think?  Send your comments to jbehrens@roadrunner.com.