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Letters to AFM

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Last issue, we asked for your letters stating your feelings about why football is the game America loves. We'll continue featuring selected letters here, as we did the following two. Keep them coming, we want to hear from you!

Dear AFM:

I just read AFQ publisher Barry Terranova's letter in the newest issue and I thought I would give you a response to add to your survey. Before I do that however, let me first tell you how aprreciative I am of your magazine. I consider AFQ the "Bible" for high school football. You guys do a terrific job!

Anyway, back to the task at hand. I believe football is the best sport around for many reasons. First of all, it's the tradition. Football has such a glorious past that kids want to become part of it. Most of them have had fathers, grandfathers, uncles, etc. who were football players and they want to be able to carry on that tradition of telling great locker room stories to their sons and grandsons. Secondly, I think football attracts a wide variety of athletic talents (or lack thereof). No matter what your size, strength, speed, or athleticism, we'll find a spot for you and we'll teach you to be the best you can be at that position. Next is probably the comraderie. When you are a part of a team of anywhere from 20 to 120 kids going through grueling drills and intense training together, you can't help becoming close to each other. Players develop friendships that last a lifetime. The last reason comes as a quote directly from our head coach, Bob Schellinger. "Tell me where else in life can you beat the crap out of the guy across from you and not go to jail for it." I think that statement has a lot of valor to it. There are a lot of kids our there who enjoy the physical part of the game. For whatever reason, they just get excited about smashing into people for the fun of it.

So there you have it. I'm sure what I have said won't make front-page news anywhere, but I just thought I'd let you know how I feel on the subject of football. For us, its just like the saying that I have posted in my office, "Football is life... the rest is just details."

Sincerely,
Bob James
bjames@mail.lpcsc.k12.in.us
Assistant Fooball Coach
LaPorte High School
LaPorte, IN

Dear AFM:

I also have to participate in the soccer vs. football debate every year. As a high school head coach at a private small school in Florida, I continually hear the roar from soccer players. This past season, three soccer players who had not played football since their ninth grade year decided to give it a try for their senior year. After a 9-1 season record, I can't get these three kids to stop talking about football. All three regret not playing all four years of their high school career.

I don't care what anyone says, high school football sets the tone for our school year at Saint Edward's School. It brings together, not only kids from both our upper and lower schools, but also their parents andevery one of our administrators. It provides the school spirit and social gathering that all the rest of the sports will never be able to provide. For the kids who play, it provides the physical toughness, discipline, and values of teamwork that every boy should experience.

Soccer is a neat sport but will never upend football as America's pastime. During football season in the U.S., games on the high school level, college, and pros are played to sold out stadiums. The only time I see that with soccer in the U.S. was during World Cup, (and they had to invite the whole planet just to fill the seats!)

I have a three-month old daughter named Kyndal, and I hope that she participates in a soccer program someday. She already has a strong kick, especially when I'm changing her. Hmmm, I wonder what my football kicking needs will be in the year 2016? Where did I put that kickoff tee?

Sincerely,
Chris Rock
CRock@steds.org
Head Football Coach
Saint Edward's School
Vero Beach, FL

Dear AFM:

Thank you for honoring me as one of the 1997 high school coaches of the year. The commemorative football will have a permanent place in my family room. I was fortunate enough to receive many coaching awards (after the 1997 season), and I consider the award from American Football Quarterly to be one of the most cherished.

I have been a long-time fan and subscriber to your magazine, and I was honored to be recognized by your publication.

Sincerely,
Thom McDaniels
Former Head Coach
Canton-McKinley High School
Canton, OH

Dear AFM:

Thank you for the article on Iowa legend Nile Kinnick (Vol. 4, 4th Quarter). Bruce Stewart did a masterful job capturing the essence and the character of the man and his contributions to the game of college football in an era when the game grew to mythical proportions. I have always been a Hawkeye fan and you can imagine my delight to see the nation's premiere football magazine reach deep into the archives and feature one of my heroes. I am a head high school football coach and have made the article mandatory reading for our returning players.

In 1990, my wife gave birth to our fourth child. His name is Nile Kinnick Knapp! This year he scored a record 35 touchdowns in our youth association league. And yes, he will always wear No. 24 if dad has anything has anything to say about it. However, as much as I would enjoy watching him "out-perform himself in every game," my greatest hope is that Nile will grow to embody the character and courage of his namesake.

I attended the Bernie Bierman Football Camp when I was a junior in high school. I asked Coach Bierman if he could tell me about Nile Kinnick. He looked at me over the top of his reading glasses and said, "I have known many great men, none more inspiring than Nile Kinnick." I still believe in heroes. I still believe we coach the most noble of games. I still believe there are Nile Kinnicks' out there waiting for us to inspire them.

Football . . . what a privilege to be a part of such an honorable profession. I am proud to be a football coach. I am even prouder to be the father of Nile Kinnick Knapp.

Sincerely,
Ted "Rock" Knapp
Head Football Coach
Houston Christian High School
Houston, TX






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