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AFM Magazine

AFM Magazine


The Heart of the Game

by: John Gallup
Editor and Publisher
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Every year during the football off season, we see and read media reports that manage to keep the game in the news and give us our “football fix”. Draft coverage, spring practices and games, coaching changes and player movement have traditionally filled the void between early February and late August when no football is being played. For avid fans, and for those of us who make our living connected to the game, there is no such thing as too much football.

    But this year, the off season news is different.

    NFL owners have locked their doors and basically shut down the professional game because they and the players can’t seem to figure out how to divide a $9 billion pie. Many livelihoods besides the players’ are now being affected because of the conflict, which is likely to drag on into the summer and could threaten the regular season.

    The bowl system continues to be under intense scrutiny. Especially this off season, with the Fiesta Bowl fiasco and the stories about teams that end up taking a financial bath even in the biggest bowl games because they are forced to purchase thousands of overpriced, unmarketable tickets. Not to mention bowl games that pay their executives outrageous salaries and throw lavish parties for the people that are supposed to be regulating them.

    The Ohio State program, always assumed to be one of the “cleanest” in college, has been rocked by revelations of improper conduct by players and the head coach that has already led to self-imposed suspensions and is likely to lead to more severe NCAA sanctions and penalties. Other top college programs are also facing investigations.

    It seems that a day doesn’t go by without a new story that tarnishes football’s image. If you focus on the bad news, you might conclude that the game is in deep trouble.

    But we don’t think that’s the case. The negative headlines need to be put in the context of the bigger game. For us, that’s the 99% of football games that don’t get played in front of 75,000 fans and national television audiences. And it’s the 99% of the game’s players and coaches that will never profit monetarily or gain fame from football. 

    Where football really lives is in the small town that turned their program around and won their first-ever league championship. Or the small college that ended a two-year losing streak to go 5-5 and earn a parade through town.

    We’re all big fans of the pro game and big-time college football. And we certainly hope that the NFL settles their labor issues and that the bowl system gets reformed. But we also believe that the true strength of the game is at its grassroots level. The Friday night high school games that mean everything to their schools and communities. The small college teams playing for pride. The thousands of coaches who volunteer their time so that they can mentor young men and be part of a game they love.

    This is where football is strongest. It might not be where the big money is, or the controversy, or the corruption. But it’s where the game’s heart is. 

    So the next time someone tells you that football is facing real problems, remind them that “the game” isn’t just about millionaire owners, players, bowl executives or coaches. It’s really much more about those who toil in obscurity, with the biggest reward simply being part of the best sport of all. 
                            John Gallup
                            Editor & Publisher







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