Catamounts Just Want to Have Fun

Why do we play football? Of course, the game is a lot of fun, but is that the only reason we play? I've found basketball and rugby just as much fun and poker and chess are great fun without the risk of injury. So why football?

I can only give my own reasons. I like football because it is physical, very competitive, and very cerebral. In some ways, it's like chess with gladiators instead of little wooden pieces. As a player, I loved defeating a single opponent with strength, or with elusive quickness, or even a perfectly thrown pass. There are so many ways to win and the artistry of mixing up the attack was always thrilling.

I'm also a very competitive person, so winning was fun in and of itself. I loved being the victor and basking in the glow of a successful battle. And losing is the great teacher — it always made me want to work harder and get better. I'm old-school, like Lombardi old-school. I've always believed the statement, "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing". Otherwise, why do we keep score?

I bring this subject up after reading the following on the Official UVM Football website (http://www.uvmfootball.com/). I reprint the paragraph here in it's entirety:

"[Coach David] Motherway, however, sees the writing on the wall -- or more specifically, in the e-mails and messages from supportive alumni who hope to revive the program. The team has its own little Quarterback Club in Burlington, the financial support of which Motherway is banking on just to fund the last two road games on this year's schedule. "Am I approaching it as my goal to bring back UVM football? No," said Motherway, a South Burlington resident who played collegiate football at the Coast Guard Academy. "I'm approaching it as, there's 50 kids in that locker room who want to play football, and I'm going to give them an opportunity to play against their peers and have a lot of fun. Our goal has been to have fun while elevating the program. We'll run eight fun plays per game, two per quarter, just because we want to have fun. That's what these guys are all about." "

There's a lot of talk there about "fun", but I noticed that there was no talk about "winning". "Fun" is what this team is all about, apparently. I suppose this is because there's no winning going on right now. After four games in 2007, the Cats were 3-1. In 2008, they are 0-4 and only one game was even competitive. If this is "elevating the program", I don't get it.

When I was hired before the 2007 season, the players told me that "winning" was most important to them. They wanted to play and have "fun", but most of all they wanted to "win" — and we did. But I guess this year's Catamounts aren't interested in "winning" as much as they are in having "fun".

But, hey, it's not about me anymore, it's about the new Catamounts and if "fun" is what they want, I guess I can't complain. I guess that's why I wasn't asked to coach in 2008; maybe I take football and winning way too seriously. Perhaps I should just lighten up. after all, if the UVM Catamounts don't take themselves seriously, why should I?