NationStates Jolt Archive

I mean I know next to nothing about it. WTF do they do. Or more specifically, since it's my closest frame of reference, how, does it differ from rugby?

I know next to nothing about Rugby, so can't say what differs or is similar, plus I'm not good explaining things. So here :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football

I mean I know next to nothing about it. WTF do they do. Or more specifically, since it's my closest frame of reference, how, does it differ from rugby?

It differs from rugby in basically not being as good.

If you have the ball: run for your life in the right direction
If you don't have the ball: Clock the guy with the ball if you're on defense. Clock a different guy if you're on offense

I play Center, Tight End, and Defensive End

I play Center, Tight End, and Defensive End

And it's also rammed full of innuendo.

In the world of football double-entendre, which is funnier--tight end or split end?

And it's also rammed full of innuendo.
I don't get it...

I don't get it...
He's saying--as I hinted at--that football, especially the terminology, is a bit homo-erotic.

He's saying--as I hinted at--that football, especially the terminology, is a bit homo-erotic.

Mmkay.

It's still one of the greatest sports. Ever.

I mean I know next to nothing about it. WTF do they do. Or more specifically, since it's my closest frame of reference, how, does it differ from rugby?
It's only similar to rugby in very shallow ways. It's also quite complicated to explain, although most Americans understand it implicitly. It's a great sport.

And it's also rammed full of innuendo.
:p
rammed full indeed, tight end :p

Mmkay.

It's still one of the greatest sports. Ever.
Oh, I agree. I've been a football fan since I was old enough to follow the action, around 6 or so.

But the terminology can have double meanings, and has been exploited that way comedically a lot. I remember a SNL bit before a Superbowl one year--Joe Montana and I believe Boomer Esaison were on there--and they did a bit that played on the gayness of the terms that were used. They both cracked up about halfway through the bit.

Mmkay.

It's still one of the greatest sports. Ever.
There seems to be something wrong with your sentence... :confused: Oh, it must be that you put 'greatest sport' in the same topic as 'American football' :p

What I want to know is why the Americans nick a game from other countries...ie rugby.. turn in into american football....netball turn it into basketball...rounders turn it into baseball ...then call it the world series....sod off you're the only ones playing !

What I want to know is why the Americans nick a game from other countries...ie rugby.. turn in into american football....netball turn it into basketball...rounders turn it into baseball ...then call it the world series....sod off you're the only ones playing !

Is this really something that keeps you up at night worrying? Americans seem to do just fine not making fun of all your European sports that we don't get (except maybe soccer); think you could return the favor?

Is this really something that keeps you up at night worrying? Americans seem to do just fine not making fun of all your European sports that we don't get (except maybe soccer); think you could return the favor?


WOW!!!! Sdaeriji coming to the defence of the Americans? Now I've seen everything.

Is this really something that keeps you up at night worrying? Americans seem to do just fine not making fun of all your European sports that we don't get (except maybe soccer); think you could return the favor?


Im a worrier, what can I say... and btw is Football not soccer. lol

Is this really something that keeps you up at night worrying? Americans seem to do just fine not making fun of all your European sports that we don't get (except maybe soccer); think you could return the favor?
I second that.

I heard darts gets ratings in the UK. Even baseball is more exciting than darts.

Im a worrier, what can I say... and btw is Football not soccer. lol
Then what do you call the sport Americans and Canadians call Football?

WOW!!!! Sdaeriji coming to the defence of the Americans? Now I've seen everything.

Imagine, being an American and all. It's just that the continuous ridicule of a sport that 99% of those ridiculing have never seen, much less played, gets tiresome. You don't see any "So, how stupid is cricket?" threads, but there's a thread about American football once a week. It's frustrating.

Im a worrier, what can I say... and btw is Football not soccer. lol

Potato, potatoe. I'd recommend getting over the fact that we call it soccer, because it's not going to change.

Then what do you call the sport Americans and Canadians call Football?


Like the rest of Europe...no the world...crap

Like the rest of Europe...no the world...crap


LOL

Pffft. One of the very few complex things Americans usually know by heart and everyone else hates it. Europeans call Football Football. They just tack on American on it and call it a day. At least Americans were more creative with the whole soccer thing. Another big shocker. :eek:

PS: I like Football. I don't like watching it. I only enjoy playing it. Soccer sucks imo. Too simple considering all the rules. No wonder my coach absolutely loathed the days we had to play it.

Like the rest of Europe...no the world...crap
Why football is a good game. Each game is like a war were no one dies.

Why football is a good game. Each game is like a war were no one dies.

Usually. Quite a few people died playing it, due to the fact that it is usually played in whatever whether nature throws at us. Snow? You don't even get sweaters or coats. Humidity and high temperatures? Brave it. If you don't drop dead, pray that your lucky streak doesn't end.

Usually. Quite a few people died playing it, due to the fact that it is usually played in whatever whether nature throws at us. Snow? You don't even get sweaters or coats. Humidity and high temperatures? Brave it. If you don't drop dead, pray that your lucky streak doesn't end.

Considering that someone DID die playing professional football earlier this week....

ok i have a bit of knowledge of rugby and i know american football through and through.

In both, the game is started with a kick, but in American football once someone gets tackled, instead of a ruck, play is stopped and both teams "huddle" decide what play to do next. The offense is allowed 4 plays to go 10 yards from their current position. So if they were on their own 20 yard line they would have 4 plays to get to the 30. If you pass those 10 yards you get another 4 plays to go another 10 and so on.


Thats an example of a formation before the ball is snapped (put into play) the bottom team is the offense. There are linemen, kind of like forewards in rugby and backs like the backs in rugby. There is the quarterback which is like the fly-half in rugby.

The team on offense can pass forward as long as they are behind their line of scrimmage (offside line in rugby?) after that though, they can only pass backward as in rugby, although the strategy isn't used often. When the offense passing, the defense can attempt to intercept the pass and gain possession.

There are field goals in football, similar to the drop-goal in rugby, which are worth 3 points. If the fieldgoal is missed the defensive team gets the ball and becomes the offensive teams. In football kicking the ball down field during play is illegal, but they can punt. Punting is a play to use on 4th down and a lot of yards this is when a man punts the ball (w/o dropping it first) and is kinda like a drop kick.

A touchdown (6 pts) is scored when the ball carrier or ball crosses the goal line. No need to touch or anything. After a PAT (1 point after touchdown) is attempted. The ball is moved 2 yards from the goal line and is right in front of the goal making for about a 12 yard straight kick. A LOT easier than rugby. The scoring team can also choose not to kick, but instead try a 2pt conversion where they have to run or pass the ball into the endzone. When a team scores, the scoring team kicks off to the team that was on defense. and the whole things starts over.

There are no knock-ons, if the ball is dropped both teams go for it.
I think the goal posts are wider in football.
If there is a penalty the team can choose to gain yardage (offense) , or make the offense go backward.
The endzones are 10 yrds deep and the field has 2 halves both 50 yrds long. The 50 yard line is the midfield mark. 10 yrds from either side is the 40, 10 more is the 30 and so on.
When the ball goes out of bounds or a runner goes out of bounds, the team in possession gets it from where it went out. Unless it was a punt, then the defensive team gets the ball where it went out.
Usually players play on offense or defense rarely both.
Each team has 11 players on the field.

I didnt get very specific so you might still have some questions.

P.S. is there any way to make it so spaces dont automatically shrink down?

"A touchdown (6 pts) is scored when the ball carrier or ball crosses the goal line. No need to touch or anything."

The ball does need to be touched, it has to be carried across the goal line or caught inside it. Or did I misunderstand what you were saying? If so, sorry.

OK so american football which is not football as you hardly ever kick the ball is crap. It is for weaklings. There is no skill involved. You dont have too be hard to ram into some one with so much padding to prtect you it could stop a nuclear bomb. Rugby however is difficult. If you ram into a player the wrong way you end up with a broken shoulder blade. Americans can obvioulsly not invent games. Basketball was invented by a canadian. Baseball is the equivalent of rounders for boys and american football is just rugby for weakos.

OK so american football which is not football as you hardly ever kick the ball is crap. It is for weaklings. There is no skill involved. You dont have too be hard to ram into some one with so much padding to prtect you it could stop a nuclear bomb. Rugby however is difficult. If you ram into a player the wrong way you end up with a broken shoulder blade. Americans can obvioulsly not invent games. Basketball was invented by a canadian. Baseball is the equivalent of rounders for boys and american football is just rugby for weakos.

Then you've played American football? You know what it's like to get hit in that sport?

OK so american football which is not football as you hardly ever kick the ball is crap. It is for weaklings. There is no skill involved. You dont have too be hard to ram into some one with so much padding to prtect you it could stop a nuclear bomb. Rugby however is difficult. If you ram into a player the wrong way you end up with a broken shoulder blade. Americans can obvioulsly not invent games. Basketball was invented by a canadian. Baseball is the equivalent of rounders for boys and american football is just rugby for weakos.

[kinda off topic]you know that old saying 'American as apple pie'?it may shock you to know that apple pie........(insert dramatic DUN DUN DUN sound) is not american!!!!


oh noez!

Then you've played American football? You know what it's like to get hit in that sport?

i've played it with a bunch of friends of mine. without padding. ouch. and i suppose with padding it's an even harder blow.

i've played it with a bunch of friends of mine. without padding. ouch. and i suppose with padding it's an even harder blow.

That's pretty hot. I wouldn't mind playing tackle football with you. ;)

That's pretty hot. I wouldn't mind playing tackle football with you. ;)

maybe..... we'll see :fluffle:

OK so american football which is not football as you hardly ever kick the ball is crap. It is for weaklings. There is no skill involved. You dont have too be hard to ram into some one with so much padding to prtect you it could stop a nuclear bomb. Rugby however is difficult. If you ram into a player the wrong way you end up with a broken shoulder blade. Americans can obvioulsly not invent games. Basketball was invented by a canadian. Baseball is the equivalent of rounders for boys and american football is just rugby for weakos.
You have never played American Football. Don't deny it, I can tell from your description. Try to have fewer opinions on anything that you know nothing about.

What I want to know is why the Americans nick a game from other countries...ie rugby.. turn in into american football....netball turn it into basketball...rounders turn it into baseball ...then call it the world series....sod off you're the only ones playing !

I'm an American who actually agrees completely with you. I can't stand American football. I much prefer real football (soccer). And the whole World Series thing has always pissed me off too. It should be the American-plus-one-team-from-Canada Series, but I guess that doesn't have the same ring, lol.

I'm an American who actually agrees completely with you. I can't stand American football. I much prefer real football (soccer). And the whole World Series thing has always pissed me off too. It should be the American-plus-one-team-from-Canada Series, but I guess that doesn't have the same ring, lol.

No,don't change the world series thing.that gives the rest of the world the right to call themselves world champions at their national sport.like hurling(an irish game,the fastest ball game in the world.the closest thing to it is hockey,not ice hockey,just hockey)no other country plays hurling(well there might be a New York team,there is for Gaelic football),so we can call the winners world champions.

What I want to know is why the Americans nick a game from other countries...ie rugby.. turn in into american football....netball turn it into basketball...rounders turn it into baseball ...then call it the world series....sod off you're the only ones playing !
It is possible that mayby the inventors wanted to play something diffrent from what the rest of the world was playing and took from what they knew and adapted it to their own desires. According to the International Netball Federation Limited's website netball was started two days after basketball was invented. I agree with you on this, baseballs final championship game should not be called the World Series, especially since the other nations that play baseball don't compete in it.

Edit: The Expos moved and are now the Washington Nationals.

Americans can obvioulsly not invent games.
Sure we can, we invented "Piss off the world", "Get the world to like us again", and my all time favorite "Insult everyone different than us". These are real fun games, in fact you should try and get your nation to play as well. :D

Edit: We didn't invent these, but we did update the games to the modern rule book

Netball was based on basketball, not the other way around.

When the term "World Series" was coined the US was the only country that played the game.

That it is still called the World Series is because of tradition, not because we think no one else plays the game.

And anyone who thinks American Football is for the weak has obviously never played it.

Let's just clarify this once and for all, shall we?

Rugby began in 1823. Fine.

But about the same time in *AMERICA* (at Princeton University to be precise) a game known as "Ballown" started being played and that, not Rugby, is what eventually evolved into what is now American Football.

We didn't "nick" anything and call it our own, so get off the arrogant high horse. Don't get me started on what Europeans stole from us and tried to make their own (rock and roll, punk, etc).

Wankers.

baseballs final championship game should not be called the World Series, especially since the other nations that play baseball don't compete in it.

People from all over the world are on american baseball teams. the carribean, japan, canada, korea. EVERYWHERE! This year's homerun derby consisted of no two players from the same country for crying out loud. you can't tell me that the best players in the world are not playing baseball in the USA. the BEST PLAYER in japan (who was nicknamed Godzilla and absolutely crushed anyone else in japan) is considered better than average but not great in the US.

Let's just clarify this once and for all, shall we?

Rugby began in 1823. Fine.

But about the same time in *AMERICA* (at Princeton University to be precise) a game known as "Ballown" started being played and that, not Rugby, is what eventually evolved into what is now American Football.

We didn't "nick" anything and call it our own, so get off the arrogant high horse. Don't get me started on what Europeans stole from us and tried to make their own (rock and roll, punk, etc).

Wankers.

If you're going to be all possessive,you can't use the words wanker,nick or any other slang words from any other european country anymore.or any words from the english language not invented or misspelt by americans.nor can you speak any european language.

The only thing I know about American Football(i'm an American female), is that guys like to drink beer, eat chips and swear at the tv during any given game.

If you're going to be all possessive,you can't use the words wanker,nick or any other slang words from any other european country anymore.or any words from the english language not invented or misspelt by americans.nor can you speak any european language.

The English language is one that has historically been defined by its malleability. No one has a monopoly on proper English spelling.

The English language is one that has historically been defined by its malleability. No one has a monopoly on proper English spelling.
DAM STRAIT

People from all over the world are on american baseball teams. the carribean, japan, canada, korea. EVERYWHERE! This year's homerun derby consisted of no two players from the same country for crying out loud. you can't tell me that the best players in the world are not playing baseball in the USA. the BEST PLAYER in japan (who was nicknamed Godzilla and absolutely crushed anyone else in japan) is considered better than average but not great in the US.

What I was trying to convey was that other nations don't compete in the World Series like in the Little League World Series, in which all nations that have a team can compete in. But I am still not sure how fair the LLWS is in relation to the US and the other nations involved.

If you're going to be all possessive,you can't use the words wanker,nick or any other slang words from any other european country anymore.or any words from the english language not invented or misspelt by americans.nor can you speak any european language.

Well it's the arrogance that bugs me so much. People who seem to think that Americans simply grabbed everything from everyone else when, in fact, America is responsible for much of the world's advances in music, the arts, technology, medicine, and science.

Oh, sure, the world tends to hate us, but you can't deny us the ability to create as well as destroy. Where do you suppose the world would be without people (Americans) like Salk, Westinghouse, Edison, Whitney, et al.?

The English language is one that has historically been defined by its malleability. No one has a monopoly on proper English spelling.

I know,i wasn't being serious.my point(and i know i didnt make it in that post,that was intentional)is who cares who invented the sport?i would have thought the 'american football is for weaklings' arguement would be getting more interest.personally i dont see why they need all that padding.if rugby players can survive in a sport similair in its level of contact surely american footballers can.

DAM STRAIT

When I say "no one" I don't mean every person is right to misspell things. American English has rules too.

the US is a country built on innovation. we take what someone else has, tweak it, make it awesome, put a pricetag on it, and sell it to you with an extended warranty :)

I know,i wans't being serious.my point(and i know i didnt make it in that post,that was intentional)is who cares who invented the sport?i would have thought the 'american football is for weaklings' arguement would be getting more interest.personally i dont see why they need all that padding.if rugby players can survive in a sport similair in its level of contact surely american footballers can.

Ever think that maybe Rugby players are just less intelligent? LOL

I don't know about you, but if I'm going to be playing a game with huge people running into each other at full speed I'd want a little padding.

The only thing I know about American Football(i'm an American female), is that guys like to drink beer, eat chips and swear at the tv during any given game.

that reminds me, when i was in the states, my dad was watching a 49ers game. they won and he roared at the top of his lungs in excitement. the police actually came over, he was so loud! heedless to say he was quite embarassed. We bring it up every time he gets overly excited over a match to shut him up :D

.......Where do you suppose the world would be without people (Americans) like Salk, Westinghouse, <snip>* Whitney, et al.?

to the best of my knowledge it would be more or less the same place it is today.who are salk,westinghouse and whitney?



*i already know what edison contributed to the world

I know,i wasn't being serious.my point(and i know i didnt make it in that post,that was intentional)is who cares who invented the sport?i would have thought the 'american football is for weaklings' arguement would be getting more interest.personally i dont see why they need all that padding.if rugby players can survive in a sport similair in its level of contact surely american footballers can.

From what I can tell, football is more wide open than rugby. Hits are more often made in a dead sprint. I think the pads (at least as they are today) came about mostly to counteract helmets (don't quote me on that). Getting hit with a hlmet hurts like a bitch on bare skin. What's wrong with pads anyway? Hockey players wear pads and nobody talks bad about them.

I mean I know next to nothing about it. WTF do they do. Or more specifically, since it's my closest frame of reference, how, does it differ from rugby?

Knowing a little bit about both...

Rugby is hard hitting, fast moving action with no protection.

American football is boring, slow moving big sissies who wear a lot of pads, get paid too much $$ and 1/2 of which are just overweight.

American Football can get exciting when:

You're playing it.
You live in Las Vegas where you are allowed to bet on games, like which team will win by how many points and stuff.


yes, American Football players are "overweight", but not with fat. do you know how much muscle is needed to run faster than the average person with 50-100 lbs. of body armor? You know how much padding is needed just to survive several 300-pound men tackling you? Even with all that padding, players get torn cartilige and cuncussions. Plus, the training is grueling. You are expected to be able to run down all those seats, across the field, and up the seats on the other side and back several times just to be able to compete. Plus, the players often brave snow with only sleeves added throughout the entire game. No sweaters. No coats. Freezing temperatures in the same uniforms you play in throughout the year. For anyone who thinks they are weak and slow, you'd be surprised how much faster they are than you with all that body armor.

*snip*...rounders turn it into baseball ...then call it the world series....sod off you're the only ones playing ! *snip*


It's called the world series because the best baseball players in the world play in MLB and I seem to recall that Canada has the Toronto Blue Jays.

to the best of my knowledge it would be more or less the same place it is today.who are salk,westinghouse and whitney?

eli whitney was the inventor of the cotton jin and also the mind behind the creation of standarized parts. you can thank him the next time you need to replace a part in your car are in your plumbing. salk developed the vaccine for polio, hey you can still walk right, right?

Knowing a little bit about both...

Rugby is hard hitting, fast moving action with no protection.

American football is boring, slow moving big sissies who wear a lot of pads, get paid too much $$ and 1/2 of which are just overweight.

And another person who has never played chimes in. Loverly.

I have played both to a fair level (Wales Under 21 in rugby and GB in A.Football).

Real American Football bears little resemblance to the NFL stuff. In the UK squads are small and playing both ways is not unusual (called ironman for the uninitiated).

The comparison that rugby is a contact sport and football is an impact sport is very true. After rugby there is general soreness and cuts and bruises from the constant battering and stamping you get during the game. Exhaustion is found by your workrate and mistakes expose you more in the backs than the forwards.
In football each play is at a high intensity but you do get the few seconds break, which you spend getting to and from the huddle and getting the plays, time which feels very little when yo are put there.
The high intensity of each play means you get a lot of localised injuries where the impact is made and the padding acts as much as a weapon as protection.

Both games are equally as exhausting as any sport is when you make the effort. American football allows for less individuality and that which is shown is with the help of the team.
In the UK most of the good American Footballers have a rugby background as the physical and mental atitude is very similar (hit the bastard as hard as you can).
The evolution of rugby into American football is also very clear when yo play both. American football is a sanitised version of rugby where everything can be seen more clearly by the multiple refs. Rugby tends to rely on the participants to draw the line on foul play in the main.
The pads in American football make it seem a sissy sprt to most rugby players until you have them try to tackle a running back in full gear and realise the bump potential.
Basically they are more similar than different as they both require the same physical and mental attributes and engender the same attitudes (apart from the over professionalism of the american game).
If you play football I say try rugby and vice versa...you wont regret it!!

My
Positions - Linebacker - A. Football
Hooker/Flanker - Rugby

finally! someone with intelligence AND experience!

OK so american football which is not football as you hardly ever kick the ball is crap. It is for weaklings. There is no skill involved. You dont have too be hard to ram into some one with so much padding to prtect you it could stop a nuclear bomb. Rugby however is difficult. If you ram into a player the wrong way you end up with a broken shoulder blade. Americans can obvioulsly not invent games. Basketball was invented by a canadian. Baseball is the equivalent of rounders for boys and american football is just rugby for weakos.

"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action."
-Johann von Goethe

I'd break it down as follows:

Soccer is a little girl's sport

Football is a man's sport

Rugby is an Insane Man's Sport

"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action."
-Johann von Goethe

I'd break it down as follows:

Soccer is a little girl's sport

Football is a man's sport

Rugby is an Insane Man's Sport

Where does that put Hurling?

**Shudder**

.....rugby is a contact sport and football is an impact sport.....

What is the difference between a contact and impact sport?in this context the words are practically synonymous.

Where does that put Hurling?

**Shudder**


Insane Man with an big ash stick's game

Think of the difference between pushing someone over and knocking them over.

And as for Gaelic Football and Hurling...I bloody love playing those games, kept me injured all through Uni...nice!! - Also like a bit of Aussie rules.

Insane Man with an big ash stick's game

That's about right.

Rugby players look at Hurlers and go "Are you out of your f*cking mind?!"

It's called the world series because the best baseball players in the world play in MLB and I seem to recall that Canada has the Toronto Blue Jays.

from /www.baseball-almanac.com

"Although the 'Fall Classic' as we know it didn't begin until 1903, Major League Baseball had several versions of a post-season championship series before that. In 1884, the Providence Grays of the National League outplayed the New York Metropolitan Club of the American Association in a three game series for what was originally called 'The Championship of the United States.' Several newspapers penned the Grays as 'World Champions' and the new title stuck."

I mean I know next to nothing about it. WTF do they do. Or more specifically, since it's my closest frame of reference, how, does it differ from rugby?

The team with the ball is on offense.

The other team is on defense.

The offense's primary job is to score points.

The defense's job is to stop the opposing offense from scoring points.

The offense scores points by scoring a touchdown (6 points) and extra point (kick for 1 point, run a play and get into the end zone for 2 points) OR by kicking a field goal (3 points).

The defense may score points by tackling the offense (player with the ball) in the offensive team's own end zone. This is called a safety (2 points) and is relatively rare. Defenses may also intercept (catching a pass by the opposing team's quarterback) passes or recover fumbles and return them for touchdowns.

A "down" is a play.

The offense has 4 plays to make 10 yards of progress. Generally, if the offense has not made the full 10 yards in the first three plays, it will punt on fourth down, because if they have not made the 10 yards after running 4 plays, the other team gets the ball at the spot where 4th down ended.

Obviously, the offense wants to score a touchdown on every play... but that just doesn't happen. And, naturally, the defense wants to take the ball from the offense -- by recovering a fumble or intercepting a pass by the quarterback -- on every play that it can, but this is not really possible either.

So we have the defense trying to keep the offense from gaining those 10 yards in three downs, banking on the probability that they will punt on 4th down (a punt gives the ball to the other team). The offense wants to get the first down so that it can have more plays. Long strings of first downs are how offenses put together drives down the field, and said drives are how offenses tire out defenses and get ever closer to scoring a touchdown or, failing that, a field goal.

So... here's a sample drive... we'll call team A the Tigers and team B the Lions.

The Lions kick off to the Tigers to start the game (in much the sxame fashion as rugby). The kick goes through the tigers' end zone, so the ball is automatically placed at the Tigers' 20-yeard-line (the 20-yard line in the Tigers' half of the field -- they must go 80 yards to score a touchdown).

1st and 10, Tigers 20: Running back runs left for 4 yards before being tackled (defensive player takes him down to the ground -- tackles him -- whereupon the play is dead.)

2nd and 6, Tigers 24: Running back runs for 2 yards, up the middle.

3rd and 4, Tigers 26: Quarterback passes complete, caught by a Tigers wide receiver, gain of 12 yards.

1st and 10, Tigers 38: Quarterback throws incomplete (the ball was not caught by a Tigers wide receiver, in bounds, before the ball hit the ground... an incomplete pass).

2nd and 10, Tigers 38: Running back runs right for 5 yards, then is hit hard by a Lions defender and fumbles (drops the ball on the ground before the running back is down). When the ball is on the ground after a fumble, players from both teams may take possession of it. If a Lions defender had taken possession of the ball after the fumble, the Lions would have gained possession of the ball and the result of the play would have been a turnover for the Tigers. As it happened, though, the running back fell on the ball, as so often happens. So the tigers still have the ball.

3rd and 5, Tigers 43: Quarterback throws incomplete.

4th and 5, Tigers 43: Tigers punt to the Lions. The Lions punt returner catches the punt at his own (the Lions') 10 yard line and returns it 6 yards to the 16 before being mauled by Tigers.

Commercial break

Lions have the ball

1st and 10, Lions 16: Lions quarterback passes to a Lions wide receiver, who catches the ball and runs all the way down the field into the Tigers' end zone. Touchdown, Lions. Score: Lions 6, Tigers 0.

Lions kick the extra point. Score: Lions 7, Tigers 0.

Commercial break

Having just scored, Lions kick off to Tigers. Tigers return the kick to their own (the Tigers') 35 yard line.

Commercial break

1st and 10, Tigers 35: Running back runs 50 yards to the Lions' 15 yard line before being tackled.

1st and 10, Lions 15: Running back runs -2 yards ("stuffed" or "dropped" for a loss)

2nd and 12, Lions 17: Quarterback throws incomplete.

3rd and 12, Lions 17: Quarterback passes complete to running back for a gain of 14 yards, which would normally result in a first down. But holding is called on the Tigers, a penalty which the Lions accept (they have a choice to accept or decline some penalties), so the tigers have 3rd down again, but 10 yards farther back (the penalty is 10 yards, replay the down).

3rd and 22, Lions 27: Running back runs for 12 yards.

4th and 10, Lions 15: Tigers convert a field goal attempt (AKA "kick a field goal"). Score: Lions 7, Tigers 3.


Notes:
-- Other ways to score: punt return for touchdown, kickoff return for touchdown, punt-block for touchdown.
-- Common penalties: Holding on offense (10 yards); holding on defense (5 yards and automatic first down for the offense); offsides (defensive player jumps across the line of scrimmage -- similar to rugby -- before the center snaps the ball to the quarterback -- 5 yards); false start (offensive player moves, after the offense is set, before the center snaps the ball to the quarterback); pass interference (offense or defense -- receiver or defender make contact with the other while the pass is in the air. In the NFL, offensive pass interference is a 10-yard penalty against the offense. Defensive pass interference is a spot foul against the defense, which means that the offense retains possession and has a first down at the spot where the defender interfered with the receiver who was trying to make the catch... it can be a huge penalty, especially on long passes); face mask (grabbing the face mask of an opposing player -- almost always called on a defensive player grabbing the face mask of an offensive player 5- or 15-yard penalty, depending on the severity).

Hope that helped. Print this and read along while you watch an American football game... you'll get the 1st, 2nd, 3rd down thing quickly... penalties take a while to learn, but the referees will be happy to explain them to you. hehe

What is the difference between a contact and impact sport?in this context the words are practically synonymous.

It's the difference between pushing someone around and punching them in the mouth.

i found this funny...

BRIEF HISTORY OF RUGBY LEAGUE

Football has it's origins in antiquity when village competition allowed players to get the 'ball' through the opponent's goal by running it, kicking it or punching it. This evolved into a number of sports including Association Football ('Soccer') where players were not allowed to touch the ball with their hands.
Regardless of its development, 'football' retains the image of originally being a game where running with the 'ball' in hand was commonplace.



1823: According to the myth, American student William Webb Ellis runs with the ball in hand during a football match in Rugby Public School, England.

http://stats.leagueunlimited.com/history.asp

and on that note... what's the typical size of a rugby player?

"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action."
-Johann von Goethe

I'd break it down as follows:

Soccer is a little girl's sport

Football is a man's sport

Rugby is an Insane Man's Sport
I'd point to you that you might want to look at your own quote before speaking in the future.

Soccer is not a little girl's sport.

It's the difference between pushing someone around and punching them in the mouth.

football is a collision sport... players running full-speed right into each other, delivering vicious hits on one another.

common injuries include concussions, separated/dislocated shoulders, knee and ankle injuries, bruised/cracked/broken ribs, and (of course) broken fingers, especially among linemen.

I'd point to you that you might want to look at your own quote before speaking in the future.

Soccer is not a little girl's sport.

Yeah. Just because it was invented by women looking for something to do doesn't mean it's for little girls. It's for people who can run fast and kick straight.

Yeah. Just because it was invented by women looking for something to do doesn't mean it's for little girls. It's for people who can run fast and kick straight.
and those who are able to run a marathon, and those who don't kick straight (have you seen the amount of effect they put on those kicks?) and let's not forget the goalies who can jump and act like they dislocate their arms and legs to stop those balls.

"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action."
-Johann von Goethe

I'd break it down as follows:

Soccer is a little girl's sport

Football is a man's sport

Rugby is an Insane Man's Sport

And Gaelic Football and Aussie Football are the sports of Real Men *CoughNuttersCough*

Webb Ellis did not invent rugby, it is just a nice story, footballers often picked up the ball as well as kick it.

Rugby players vary from 12 stone to 22 stone.

...

Rugby players vary from 12 stone to 22 stone.

in pounds please? :P

Webb Ellis did not invent rugby, it is just a nice story, footballers often picked up the ball as well as kick it.

Rugby players vary from 12 stone to 22 stone.

that's funny.. then why is this stone placed @ the Rugby school in England where it supposedly happened?

THIS STONE
COMMEMORATES THE EXPLOIT
OF
WILLIAM WEBB ELLIS
WHO WITH A FINE DISREGARD FOR THE RULES OF FOOTBALL,
AS PLAYED IN HIS TIME,
FIRST TOOK THE BALL IN HIS ARMS AND RAN WITH IT,
THUS ORIGINATING THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF
THE RUGBY GAME
A.D. 1823

http://www.uidaho.edu/clubs/womens_rugby/RugbyRoot/rugby/FAQ/faq.shtml#G1

they have rugby players that way 308 pounds? (1 stone = 14 pounds per google.com) that's impressive :p

It differs from rugby in basically not being as good.

Ok this is wear I draw the line.

All you arrogant egotistical European's (mostly) who believe your sports are so much better can go fornicate yourselves with an iron rod.

What do you know of our sport? A sport that I have dedicated myself to for 12 years of my life and still love today. I don't go around spouting off how much soccer (football) sucks because I don't play it. Nor do I do the same with Cricket, which looks ridiculous to play, but since I know nothing of it I can't bash it.

People who bash American Football, have you...

ever watched an entire game?
ever watched a classic game?
ever played the sport?

If you answered no to all 3 of the questions you need to S-T-F-U.

Sorry I just hate when people spit on my sport when they nothing about it

NFL players go from about 180 pounds (the smaller cornerbacks and wide receivers) to 350+ pounds (the larger offensive linemen)

approximate weight by position:

Offensive line: 290-350+ lbs
Tight end: 240-280
Fullback: 225-250+
Tailback/Halfback: 185-250 (most are from about 210-235 pounds)
Wide Receiver: 175-225
Quarterback: 200-250 (most around probably 210-230)

Defensive tackle/nose guard: 280-325+
Defensive end: 250-300ish
Linebacker: 215-250+
Cornerback: 175-200+
Safety: 190-225+

well said, but its worse when you live in the UK and play American football. The ignorance is unbelievable. People genuinly believe it is for pussies (due to all the padding). If you've ever played and been up against a half decent running back, then believe me, the padding will not help you out!

american 'Football' is 4 ppl who want 2 play rugby but scared of gettin hurt cos they wimps......n it aint footballl cos u hardly use ur foot wiv the ball

soccer is football......u lot kno nuffin

we know how to spell.

Ok this is wear I draw the line.

All you arrogant egotistical European's (mostly) who believe your sports are so much better can go fornicate yourselves with an iron rod.

What do you know of our sport? A sport that I have dedicated myself to for 12 years of my life and still love today. I don't go around spouting off how much soccer (football) sucks because I don't play it. Nor do I do the same with Cricket, which looks ridiculous to play, but since I know nothing of it I can't bash it.

People who bash American Football, have you...

ever watched an entire game?
ever watched a classic game?
ever played the sport?

If you answered no to all 3 of the questions you need to S-T-F-U.

Sorry I just hate when people spit on my sport when they nothing about it


From a perspective of physical effort i think that the sports are equal, but in different ways - as a poster earlier on who plays both sports pointed out. I think it is equally difficult to excell in each of them, although each demand different aspects of physical fitness.

However from a spectator point of view I think Rugby is more enjoyable as the action is much more free flowing as there are not breaks between each play and subs from when the team goes from offence to defence. The rules are based around keeping play going and when play stops (fouls, ball goes out of bounds, ball ends up under ruck) the rules aim to start play back up as quickly as possible.
American Football is a very different spectator experience with many stops and starts, which personally I do not enjoy as much as watching rugby, however others might. Gues its personal preference.

Its called football as originally the only way to score was via a field goal. (about as close to rugby as the sport gets, though id like to see Johnny Wilkinson try it with 11 men running at him trying to decapitate him.)

well said, but its worse when you live in the UK and play American football. The ignorance is unbelievable. People genuinly believe it is for pussies (due to all the padding). If you've ever played and been up against a half decent running back, then believe me, the padding will not help you out!

sounds like a common misconception... that the padding means it won't hurt (or won't hurt as much as if there were no pads).

Helmet-to-helmet contact is incredibly dangerous... every once in a while a person is paralyzed from neck or waist down, due to such an impact... and concussions happen all the time (when someone says, "I just got my bell rung," he may have suffered a minor concussion... I've had it happen to me, and I was on cloud 9 for a few minutes. that guy had a big head, and he and i ran right into each other, full-speed, and i was out of it).

also, since football players don't slow down at all during a play -- running backs running as fast as they can, and defensive players running as fast as they can to tackle/smear said running back to limit his gain -- you end up with injuries caused by the following:

- defender dives into the ball-carrier's legs, injuring the carrier's knee/ankle
- defender grabs the ball-carrier and drives him head-and-shoulders-first into the ground, injuring the ball carrier's (and sometimes the defender's) collarbone or shoulder or neck
- ball-carrier is driven into the ground, falls on the ball, and loses his breath (this is common)
-defender slams into the ball-carrier's chest/stomach area (happens a lot to wide receivers catching high passes which they must reach up to catch), bruising ribs or knocking the wind out of the player.

players get stepped on all the time (like rugby, no doubt), and half-inch cleats hurt, let me tell you. players might not get cut as much as rugby players do, but by the end of the game players invariably have blood on their pants... from cuts on the chin (QBs get these a lot), hands, fingers, etc., and some of the harder hits can actually end up in broken noses or black eyes.

american 'Football' is 4 ppl who want 2 play rugby but scared of gettin hurt cos they wimps......n it aint footballl cos u hardly use ur foot wiv the ball

soccer is football......u lot kno nuffin

Guess what?

Most of my injuries come from the damn helmets and pads that we're forced to wear. All the bones I've broken in football were from the damn helmet, all the ligaments, strains, and tears I've had were from the restriction that the pads lend you.

I play unpadded football with my friends all the time with as much as 50 people going at one time. To tell you the thruth it hurts a hell of a lot less.

I'd like to see you call Ray Lewis a wimp to his face, or take the Steel Curtain, or try to run a pass against the Soul Patrol. You wouldn't live to see the next day.

Its called football as originally the only way to score was via a field goal. (about as close to rugby as the sport gets, though id like to see Johnny Wilkinson try it with 11 men running at him trying to decapitate him.)

actually the kicker for South Africa, Percy Montgomery, uses an NFL-style straight-on (2-3 steps) approach to his kicks... he'd be an able NFL kicker right now (i mean after a few tries to get used to the smaller but harder ball).

american 'Football' is 4 ppl who want 2 play rugby but scared of gettin hurt cos they wimps......n it aint footballl cos u hardly use ur foot wiv the ball

soccer is football......u lot kno nuffin

nice to make your first post a very unintelligent one. have you ever played american football? if not, you don't know shit about it. it's a tough sport.

had a concussion a few times myself, and i play cornerback, not a position that is as involved as some in the heavy tackling stuff, but has to be done when required. Play without pads and its nowhere near as sore. Getting earholed by a 300lbs+ guy on special teams in my rookie year is one of the most painful experiences ive ever had.

had a concussion a few times myself, and i play cornerback, not a position that is as involved as some in the heavy tackling stuff, but has to be done when required. Play without pads and its nowhere near as sore. Getting earholed by a 300lbs+ guy on special teams in my rookie year is one of the most painful experiences ive ever had.

Ha! Killing the frosh on the first day of practice was always so fun. :D

actually the kicker for South Africa, Percy Montgomery, uses an NFL-style straight-on (2-3 steps) approach to his kicks... he'd be an able NFL kicker right now (i mean after a few tries to get used to the smaller but harder ball).


NFL style kick off? or field goal attempt kick? cos the field goal the kicker takes a cpl steps back, and a cpl steps to the side.

actually the kicker for South Africa, Percy Montgomery, uses an NFL-style straight-on (2-3 steps) approach to his kicks... he'd be an able NFL kicker right now (i mean after a few tries to get used to the smaller but harder ball).

i dare say he can kick very well, but rugby kickers get all the time they like to compose themselves. in the nfl its seconds, fair enough the kicks are a lot straighter, but they also dont have the other team ready to flatten them if there is a tiny mistake.

had a concussion a few times myself, and i play cornerback, not a position that is as involved as some in the heavy tackling stuff, but has to be done when required. Play without pads and its nowhere near as sore. Getting earholed by a 300lbs+ guy on special teams in my rookie year is one of the most painful experiences ive ever had.

I used to play safety and quarterback... and since i handed the ball to the running back on the vast majority of our offensive plays, QB'ing my team wasn't too difficult.

but playing in the defensive backfield (cornerbacks and safeties are known also as defensive backs, Euro friends) as a safety was tough... I mean i love running at a runing back, say when he's on a sweep, and knocking him out of bounds. But it's no fun at all when a fullback or the tailback is running through a gaping hole in the line of scrimmage, and you're the only one between him and a touchdown... and you have to hit and tackle him. That can be painful... hit, grab and hold on for dear life... just get him down, after bearing the brunt of the hit.

I used to play safety and quarterback... and since i handed the ball to the running back on the vast majority of our offensive plays, QB'ing my team wasn't too difficult.

but playing in the defensive backfield (cornerbacks and safeties are known also as defensive backs, Euro friends) as a safety was tough... I mean i love running at a runing back, say when he's on a sweep, and knocking him out of bounds. But it's no fun at all when a fullback or the tailback is running through a gaping hole in the line of scrimmage, and you're the only one between him and a touchdown... and you have to hit and tackle him. That can be painful... hit, grab and hold on for dear life... just get him down, after bearing the brunt of the hit.

but when you weigh up the pain of the hit, and of letting your teammates down by letting him past, its not that sore :D

i dare say he can kick very well, but rugby kickers get all the time they like to compose themselves. in the nfl its seconds, fair enough the kicks are a lot straighter, but they also dont have the other team ready to flatten them if there is a tiny mistake.

that's why i said he might be able to make the transition from Springboks to Packers (he'd still get to wear green and gold... hehe) -- his kicking approach is very NFL-like.

plus, come on... he'd be a triple threat back there... you could run fake kicks and punts with him... i would imagine most of the faster rugby players would make good running backs in american football. also, he knows how to pitch the ball, so he could lead the option on a fake kick or punt, or even just to give the regular quarter back a rest... he could come in at QB and the offense could run the wishbone (one fullback and two tailbacks a couple yards behind and on either side of the fullback).

---- QB
-----FB
--TB----TB

(imagine the hyphens weren't there)

it's the wishbone (option) backfield: Quarterback, Fullback, two Tailbacks

I dare say Jonah Lomu would have been a very useful HB!

I dare say Jonah Lomu would have been a very useful HB!

Tana Umana (sp?), De Villiers (sp?), Lewsey would make good tailbacks... as well as Brian Halsa (can't remember his last name... the lightning-fast wing for the Springboks)... would make good tailbacks.

i haven't seen him with the All Blacks lately, but Carlos Spencer would have been a great option quarterback, with his ability to find the holes in a defense and either run himself or pitch to the back when appropriate.

hahahaha, anyone see necessary roughness? where they get an aussie to play as a running back.


he was all like... "nah, i don't wear pads, don't need 'em" (mebbe it was as a receiver)

and then he gets the ball and gets knocked unconscious by a tackle.... anywhosit, wouldn't pads make your game a little different?


that movie was filmed in the town i was living at during the time.

And another person who has never played chimes in. Loverly.

Played briefly. And now my son plays. He also plays rugby. He admits rugby is about 10 times harder and the entire rugby team picks on him for playing football.

Football on the professional level is full of a bunch of whiny bitches. I don't see that much in rugby, and they get paid a lot less.

Played briefly. And now my son plays. He also plays rugby. He admits rugby is about 10 times harder and the entire rugby team picks on him for playing football.

Football on the professional level is full of a bunch of whiny bitches. I don't see that much in rugby, and they get paid a lot less.

they're whiny bitches, yes, a lot of them are... but they're fast, big, and powerful whiny bitches. hehe

I'd like to see you call Ray Lewis a wimp to his face, or take the Steel Curtain, or try to run a pass against the Soul Patrol. You wouldn't live to see the next day.

for some reason I feel that homo-erotic innuedo someone was talking about ;)


meh.. sports are lame, go read a book. If you need to beat someone up, go to the gym.

Anyone who dares call American Football a wimpy sport would try it, padding and all, and try to say it again from intensive care, if they're lucky.

Anyone who dares call American Football a wimpy sport would try it, padding and all, and try to say it again from intensive care, if they're lucky.

Played it, pads and all, no intensive care. Wimpy Sport.

I mean c'mon. you get hit, the play ends, you have 1/2 a minute to collect yourself before anything else is going to happen. Even then, if you are even minorly injured you come off the field.

I see more serious injuries in soccer than in American Football, and that's (supposedly) a non-contact sport.

I'd like to see you call Ray Lewis a wimp to his face, or take the Steel Curtain, or try to run a pass against the Soul Patrol. You wouldn't live to see the next day.


Is that some sort of secret code or something? :confused:

It's the difference between pushing someone around and punching them in the mouth.

someone doesnt understand the meaning of context.in contact sports you set out to take the ball physically from the other team,how is that different from an impact sport?

good football web sites:

http://nfl.com (check out the Green Bay Packers... the ovular G)

http://www.collegefootballnews.com (check out the Wisconsin Badgers)

http://www.espn.com

http://www.cbs.sportsline.com

someone doesnt understand the meaning of context.in contact sports you set out to take the ball physically from the other team,how is that different from an impact sport?

Contact sports bring you in contact with the other team regularly. Golf, for isntance, is a non-contact sport. Hockey is a contact sport.

American Football, is more of an impact sport. Where on every play you are going as fast and hard as you can and stand a very good chance of meeting your opposite number going the opposite direction just as fast and hard as you.

Or look at it this way... Contact in this context is like moving earth with a bulldozer. Impact is like removing it with a stick of dynamite and a blasting cap.

good football web sites:

http://nfl.com (check out the Green Bay Packers... the ovular G)

http://www.collegefootballnews.com (check out the Wisconsin Badgers)

http://www.espn.com

http://www.cbs.sportsline.com

AIEE!!! If you're going to point them at college football, at least direct them to a team with some tradition! :D

http://www.packers.com/history/

http://www.uwbadgers.com

Contact sports bring you in contact with the other team regularly. Golf, for isntance, is a non-contact sport. Hockey is a contact sport.

American Football, is more of an impact sport. Where on every play you are going as fast and hard as you can and stand a very good chance of meeting your opposite number going the opposite direction just as fast and hard as you.

Or look at it this way... Contact in this context is like moving earth with a bulldozer. Impact is like removing it with a stick of dynamite and a blasting cap.

oh please,contact in rugby=at least 2 big guys,usually followed by some more big guys,crashing into each other

impact in american football=2 big guys in padding crashing into each other.then play stops.

dynamite and a blasting cap my arse

rugby kicks A. footbalss butt in the contact stakes but theyre both boring to watch

http://www.packers.com/history/

http://www.uwbadgers.com

got to love the packers and vince lombardi----- counting down the days........

AIEE!!! If you're going to point them at college football, at least direct them to a team with some tradition! :D

Wisc won the first Big Ten football championship. hehe

And three rose bowl wins in 12 years isn't anything to sneeze at. but I digress.

Top College Football Programs Of All Time

(not gonna count the ivy league teams, who were powerful a hundred years ago)

Michigan Wolverines

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Alabama Crimson Tide

Oklahoma Sooners

Southern Cal (USC) Trojans

Ohio State Buckeyes

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Texas Longhorns

Tennessee Volunteers

Penn State Nittany Lions

Minnesota Golden Gophers

Pittsburgh (Pitt; Shitt to Penn State fans) Panthers

Miami Hurricanes

Florida State Seminoles


all of these teams have multiple national championships. there are others, but this is just to get the novice football fan a sense of college football. do a search using the names listed above, and you'll probably be taken to the school's athletics web site, or one of the major sports web sites.

Played it, pads and all, no intensive care. Wimpy Sport..

at what level of play did you play? Recreational v. College and up is VERY different in intensity.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish


lol,an american college,with a french name,and an irish team.nice

I'm English, but I'm a fan of US Sports, except Basketball (seems to simple for my liking, no tackles and such) and having watched a lot of both country's sports I can safely say nobody stole anything. Rugby and American Football share nothing but aesthetics. Two kinda egg shaped balls being carried arround, and people trying to get the ball off them by violent tackles.
Don't you think it might *just* be possible that of all the Millions of people in both nations 2 people might have had similar thoughts? How hard is it to think up a game where you try and get a ball over a line? Or where someone throws a ball at you and you hit it? Before I even knew Cricket, Baseball, Rounders or anything else like them existed I would hit balls with my friends in a parl and another friend would take turns to try and catch it. OH NO, I INVENTED BASEBALL!!!!!TELL THOSE MLB GUYS THEY STOLE MY IDEA!!!!!

lol,an american college,with a french name,and an irish team.nice

damn, i thought everyone knew of notre dame (the college):p

it's a catholic school, hence the "fighting irish"

Oh, and also, I was um, lucky enough to experience playing American Football with some friends of mine last year in Washington while I was on Holiday. I have no doubt they were "going easy" on me, even though we were wearing pads and stuff, but I wouldnt say it was a wimpy sport. Not for a moment. As I understand it, American Football is more of an "Oh my God, You broke my leg" sport, as apose to Rugby is a more "What the Hell? My face looks like a man armed with a cheese grater was set loose on me. Oh and Mr. Referee, can I have my ear back please?" kind of sport...

damn, i thought everyone knew of notre dame (the college):p

it's a catholic school, hence the "fighting irish"


ah yes,our 'saints and scholars' stereotype.which is right up there with our alcoholism,violent streak,and fondness for lucky charms.(which i dont get but ive heard of)

Michigan Wolverines



Ah, there you go. The finest college football team in the land. Much better. hehehe

ah yes,our 'saints and scholars' stereotype.which is right up there with our alcoholism,violent streak,and fondness for lucky charms.(which i dont get but ive heard of)

The Lucky Charms thing is about a breakfast cereal. The cereal is called (appropriately enough) Lucky Charms and the commercials for it feature a leprechaun with a horrible Irish accent always trying to get his hands on the cereal which has marshmallows in the shapes of lucky charms (horseshoe, four leaf clover, etc).

The Lucky Charms thing is about a breakfast cereal. The cereal is called (appropriately enough) Lucky Charms and the commercials for it feature a leprechaun with a horrible Irish accent always trying to get his hands on the cereal which has marshmallows in the shapes of lucky charms (horseshoe, four leaf clover, etc).

oh me(god),what do americans have about leprechauns?its surely unhealthy to be so obsessed

ah yes,our 'saints and scholars' stereotype.which is right up there with our alcoholism,violent streak,and fondness for lucky charms.(which i dont get but ive heard of)

never eaten lucky charms? Or never seen 'em :P or are we not talking about the cereal?

Wisc won the first Big Ten football championship. hehe

And three rose bowl wins in 12 years isn't anything to sneeze at. but I digress.



Wisconsin's 16 football titles compared to Michigan's 65...

Though I'll grant you the Rose Bowl wins. Was rooting for your boys when they were there. I do that for every Big Ten team except OSU.

oh me(god),what do americans have about leprechauns?its surely unhealthy to be so obsessed

It's not so much an obsession with leprechauns as it is an obsession with easily discernable icons.

When you see a leprechaun, you immediately think "Ireland". Just the way it is.

Ah, there you go. The finest college football team in the land. Much better. hehehe

Funny you mention that.

My dad's parents both got their bachelor's degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (or just "Wisconsin") , as did both of my parents (Dad tacked on two master's degrees at UW).

So when Dad and Grandpa took me to the Wisconsin/Michigan football game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI, one year (I was maybe four years old)... I was expected to cheer for the Badgers.

Well, I cheered for Michigan... because I loved their uniforms and helmets. Ya just can't beat the maize and blue look, and the helmets are classic.

Played it, pads and all, no intensive care. Wimpy Sport.

I mean c'mon. you get hit, the play ends, you have 1/2 a minute to collect yourself before anything else is going to happen. Even then, if you are even minorly injured you come off the field.

I see more serious injuries in soccer than in American Football, and that's (supposedly) a non-contact sport.

What did you play in the pee-wee leagues?

Sorry but I've played with a torn achilles, broken collerbone, concusion,broke my front tooth in half, torn MCL, and just an hour ago in practice I dislocated my shoulder. You wanna call that wimpy go ahead, but I'll be more than happy to educate you on form tackling.

Our high school soccer team had 1 injury last year and it was a mild concussion from whne two kids headbutted. Ow...uhh I guess. I watched my friend's leg snap in half at that shin when it buckled under the weight of a 300lb tackle, I've seen a kids knee twist half way around just from making a cut.

No one here can argue that wrestling is a wimpy sport and to me they're almost one and the same endurance wise. I also played both sides of the ball and all special teams.

What did you play in the pee-wee leagues?

Sorry but I've played with a torn achilles, broken collerbone, concusion,broke my front tooth in half, torn MCL, and just an hour ago in practice I dislocated my shoulder. You wanna call that wimpy go ahead, but I'll be more than happy to educate you on form tackling.

Our high school soccer team had 1 injury last year and it was a mild concussion from whne two kids headbutted. Ow...uhh I guess. I watched my friend's leg snap in half at that shin when it buckled under the weight of a 300lb tackle, I've seen a kids knee twist half way around just from making a cut.

No one here can argue that wrestling is a wimpy sport and to me they're almost one and the same endurance wise. I also played both sides of the ball and all special teams.

Yeah, if you call AF a wimpy sport, you've obviously never played the real deal. ANYTHING can happen. I broke my ankle because my cleat dug into the ground before I got hit. Someone once said, "Football is not a contact sport, it is a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport." Amen to that.

On another note if anyone here has played football and thought it was wimpy then that makes one of the pansies that leer away from contact. The same kids who make the group do up-downs during tackling drills because they play like a bitch.

You know what football CAN be a pansy sport, only if you play it like a pansy. Same with any other sport in the universe. Hell if played right baseball can be made into a contact sport...no wait no it can't :p

What did you play in the pee-wee leagues?

Sorry but I've played with a torn achilles, broken collerbone, concusion,broke my front tooth in half, torn MCL, and just an hour ago in practice I dislocated my shoulder. You wanna call that wimpy go ahead, but I'll be more than happy to educate you on form tackling.

Our high school soccer team had 1 injury last year and it was a mild concussion from whne two kids headbutted. Ow...uhh I guess. I watched my friend's leg snap in half at that shin when it buckled under the weight of a 300lb tackle, I've seen a kids knee twist half way around just from making a cut.

No one here can argue that wrestling is a wimpy sport and to me they're almost one and the same endurance wise. I also played both sides of the ball and all special teams.

How did you get so many injuries? In my four years the worst I ever did was break fingers.

How did you get so many injuries? In my four years the worst I ever did was break fingers.

According to my high school coach: "God dammit Coltsie you play with reckless abandon and I fuckin' love it!"

I also didn't mention how many times I've broken my fingers just from playing the O-line. Out of 12 years of playing I didn't get my first injury till my seventh year.

According to my high school coach: "God dammit Coltsie you play with reckless abandon and I fuckin' love it!"

I also didn't mention how many times I've broken my fingers just from playing the O-line. Out of 12 years of playing I didn't get my first injury till my seventh year.

Yeah, I played tackle on both sides of the line. I broke my fingers so many times. I broke a broken finger once when my hand got stepped on. That hurt.

I guess you played 8 more years of football than I did. I only played high school. That's a lot more time to accumulate injuries.

Yeah, I played tackle on both sides of the line. I broke my fingers so many times. I broke a broken finger once when my hand got stepped on. That hurt.

I guess you played 8 more years of football than I did. I only played high school. That's a lot more time to accumulate injuries.

I played Inside Linebacker on defense. Guard and TE on offense. Kickoff I was the wedgebuster (very painful), on Kick return i was the wedge ironically enough. Most of my injuries were accumulated during high school.

Freshman: No injuries, yay!
Sophmore: Torn achilles
Junior Year: Torn MCL, Concussion
Senior Year: Internal Bleeding, 3 broken ribs, Tore some tendons and ligaments in my hand

I'm pretty fragile I guess :D

ah yes,our 'saints and scholars' stereotype.which is right up there with our alcoholism,violent streak,and fondness for lucky charms.(which i dont get but ive heard of)
I dont know what kind of Irish you are, but as far as the term FIGHTING IRISH goes allow me to set you straight.

First, my family has been in America for quite some time--though we are one of the hundreds of Murphy's --Properly O'Murphy--formerly O' Murchadha-- families from the Area between Kerry and Cork counties.

The FIGHTING IRISH is a very American term--an Irish American term--from the war for independence through WWII a disproportionate number of young Irishmen fought and died for the United States, also the Irish Battalion of the Mexican Army--yes the Mexican Army's Irish Battalion.
The San Patricio is a long established pratice among the brave and valiant members of Irish lineage--a great example is of course The San Patricio at the battle in Meixco city, where they faught with great distinction, so great that after the battle fifty of them were hung by their captors--However even today at the site of the hangings, remains a plaque---similar to the one I have hanging in my house---which reads "The Irish of the heroic San Patricio Battalion, martyrs who gave their lives for the cause of Mexico".

Another excellent example of North American Fighting Irish, is the distinguished preformance of Irish Units on both sides of the American Civil War.

Your(quite likely) ancestors-unless they were filthy Unionists--and mine died on many battlefields in North America--died with honor and distinction for a dream of having a good life.

The very concept of the "American Dream" can be found in both the trials and successess of the Irish in this country.

Not to mention the fact that while the rest of Europe were wallowing in the Dark Ages it was the IRISH Saints and Scholars as you so mockingly put it--who saved the ancient greek and roman classics--who helped keep the whole of Europe literate.

Now while I agree with you there are indeed many petty, shitty stereotypes passed around the world and back about the Irish--make no fecking mistake what so ever that indeed they are held in the highest regard here by both those who trace their lineage back six hundred years to those who wish they could.

The term "Fighting Irish" couldnt be more respectful if you wrapped it in gold and had it kissed by the pope.

So please slander American Sport till your heart is content--but please leave the modicum of respect paid to my heritage alone--the Irish have been reduced to the butt of enough jokes without us taking it upon ourselves to dismantle anything even remotely kind spoke in our names.

Thanks.


post script
On the matter of American Football
GO BLUE

Played it, pads and all, no intensive care. Wimpy Sport.

I mean c'mon. you get hit, the play ends, you have 1/2 a minute to collect yourself before anything else is going to happen. Even then, if you are even minorly injured you come off the field.

I see more serious injuries in soccer than in American Football, and that's (supposedly) a non-contact sport.
First, I will play you--I only weigh in at 250 nothing like these pro-boys and when I spear you "pads and all" you wont get up.
Second--People die on American Football Fields on a semi-regular basis--it officially has more serious injuries then any other professional Sport "pads and all" Now of course people die in Association football--but we are not talking about the fans hurting each other--we are talking aboutt he field of play.

"An average of about eight players die each year in the United States as a result of injuries received in games at all levels. About 160 concussions occur every season, and the National Football League now collects benchmark measures of awareness for each player, which can be used during a game to judge whether he has been concussed. Injuries sustained by football players often are permanent. Many former football players experience pain, sometimes severe, that lasts for the rest of their lives. Many players require surgery, even multiple surgeries, for injuries experienced years earlier.

Interestingly, newspaper reporters who have interviewed former football players who are crippled or in pain as a result of their former sport find that a player will never (or virtually never) express regret over his choice of career. The players often state that the thrill of playing football was worth the price of a lifetime of subsequent pain."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football#Injuries

damn, i thought everyone knew of notre dame (the college):p

it's a catholic school, hence the "fighting irish"
Legend has it that it was coined by Knute Rockne, because the team he played on there was mostly Irish-American. At that time most great boxers were Irish.

I mean I know next to nothing about it. WTF do they do. Or more specifically, since it's my closest frame of reference, how, does it differ from rugby?

Rugby is more fast paced than American football. Rugby, except for Aussie rules, passes the ball sideways and not forward. When the ball touches the ground in football it's the end of the play, in Rugby, as long as the ball is under control, the ball is still active. There are no pads in Rugby and there are in football. Alot of football players are huge and will probably die at the age of 50, most Rugby players are huge and in great shape. For Rugby, the games are called tests. When you score it is called a try. You get penalty kicks. When you get a free kick you try to kick the ball out of bounds further down the field. Rugby has a scrum, ruck and mauls. Rugby lasts 90 minutes (2 - 30 minute rounds), usually, but the game can drag on. Football has 4 - 30 minute quarters. There is a half time show on some games. Football is more commercialized. Rugby has, whay, 15 players on the field, I guess. Those are a few of the differences. So, yes, they are two very different games. I just moved to New Zealand from the US and got a taste of the Tri-Nations (go ALL BLACKS!) and I understand the game surprisingly well. It's scarry actually. There are similarities, but overall, I think I like Rugby better. It's much faster. And the drinking and pigging out is the same in both countries, mainly the drinking.

Legend has it that it was coined by Knute Rockne, because the team he played on there was mostly Irish-American. At that time most great boxers were Irish.
Hey!!

My explanation sounded good---
and the Irish are still good boxers.

Rugby is more fast paced than American football. Rugby, except for Aussie rules, passes the ball sideways and not forward. When the ball touches the ground in football it's the end of the play, in Rugby, as long as the ball is under control, the ball is still active. There are no pads in Rugby and there are in football. Alot of football players are huge and will probably die at the age of 50, most Rugby players are huge and in great shape. For Rugby, the games are called tests. When you score it is called a try. You get penalty kicks. When you get a free kick you try to kick the ball out of bounds further down the field. Rugby has a scrum, ruck and mauls. Rugby lasts 90 minutes (2 - 30 minute rounds), usually, but the game can drag on. Football has 4 - 30 minute quarters. There is a half time show on some games. Football is more commercialized. Rugby has, whay, 15 players on the field, I guess. Those are a few of the differences. So, yes, they are two very different games. I just moved to New Zealand from the US and got a taste of the Tri-Nations (go ALL BLACKS!) and I understand the game surprisingly well. It's scarry actually. There are similarities, but overall, I think I like Rugby better. It's much faster. And the drinking and pigging out is the same in both countries, mainly the drinking.

football has 4 12- or 15-minute quarters, depending on the level of play (high school, college, NFL, etc.)

actually, players are moving faster in a football game... they're faster. There are hardly any breaks in rugby, which might make them appear faster.

Rugby has two 40-minute halves (80 minutes total)

The ball remains active, in football, after fumbles (so long as the ball is in bounds).

playing with pads and helmets is more painful than playing without them (coming from one who's played organized and non-organized football)

okay... college fight songs.

check these babies out from the grandest and most successful conference:

http://fightmusic.com/big10.html

check songs from other conference's teams by scrolling down towards the bottom and clicking on another conference.

Some of the big ten's best fight songs:

The Victors - Michigan
On, Wisconsin - Wisconsin
Varsity - Wisconsin (gotta see Camp Randall stadium during that song)
Fight The Team - Ohio State
Go U Northwestern - Northwestern
The Minnesota Rouser
Michigan State (not sure what it's called)

actually, players are moving faster in a football game... they're faster. There are hardly any breaks in rugby, which might make them appear faster.


I think we've discussed this before, but the difference between a football runner and a rugby runner is like the difference between a sprinter and a long distance runner. A well-conditioned rugby player would wear any football player down after a half, but on the other hand any wide receiver or halfback in the league would get from a dead stop to 100 yards faster than any rubgy player.

other top fight songs:

Texas (don't know what it's called)

Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner)

Tennessee (Rocky Top)

Notre Dame (no'ter dame -- not no-truh dahm)

USC - Trojan March

I think we've discussed this before, but the difference between a football runner and a rugby runner is like the difference between a sprinter and a long distance runner. A well-conditioned rugby player would wear any football player down after a half, but on the other hand any wide receiver or halfback in the league would get from a dead stop to 100 yards faster than any rubgy player.

they're trained for different things:

football players are in shape... but rather than running for 40 minutes straight (or nearly so), they have to be able to run full speed for about 50 plays of 10 seconds each.

hehe

First, I will play you--I only weigh in at 250 nothing like these pro-boys and when I spear you "pads and all" you wont get up.
Second--People die on American Football Fields on a semi-regular basis--it officially has more serious injuries then any other professional Sport "pads and all" Now of course people die in Association football--but we are not talking about the fans hurting each other--we are talking aboutt he field of play.

-snip

Well, I must admit I'm a bit smaller than you, only about 167, and I bet shorter, 5 feet 7.5 inches. And I bet more maneuverable. You can't spear me if you can't catch me.

Maybe I should rephrase. I think the modern NFL is a bunch of whinny babies. Twisted ankles keeping someone out for a season? Other than basketball (also a bunch of sissies if you saw that Detroit fight with fan footage from last year), the most players on the DL is football. I remember stories of people like Larry Cszonka (sic) who was a fit line men in his time. Now all line men are fat guys that aren't good at anything but standing around. What a joke.

I think college players are tough, and they have a alot of heart. They play to win, for the team, for glory. NFL players are there for one thing...money. And if they don't get enough they whine. If they don't feel like playing, they're injured. I remember when Jim Kelly went to the first Bills Super Bowl and everyone praised him. It was the back-up QB that got him there. the NFL is crap.

No,don't change the world series thing.that gives the rest of the world the right to call themselves world champions at their national sport.like hurling(an irish game,the fastest ball game in the world.the closest thing to it is hockey,not ice hockey,just hockey)no other country plays hurling(well there might be a New York team,there is for Gaelic football),so we can call the winners world champions.
I thought the fastest ball game was jai-alai aka pelota...

Well, I must admit I'm a bit smaller than you, only about 167, and I bet shorter, 5 feet 7.5 inches. And I bet more maneuverable. You can't spear me if you can't catch me.

Maybe I should rephrase. I think the modern NFL is a bunch of whinny babies. Twisted ankles keeping someone out for a season? Other than basketball (also a bunch of sissies if you saw that Detroit fight with fan footage from last year), the most players on the DL is football. I remember stories of people like Larry Cszonka (sic) who was a fit line men in his time. Now all line men are fat guys that aren't good at anything but standing around. What a joke.

I think college players are tough, and they have a alot of heart. They play to win, for the team, for glory. NFL players are there for one thing...money. And if they don't get enough they whine. If they don't feel like playing, they're injured. I remember when Jim Kelly went to the first Bills Super Bowl and everyone praised him. It was the back-up QB that got him there. the NFL is crap.

i don't know of anyone missing an entire season due to a sprained ankle... maybe a few weeks, which makes sense -- if you can't go full-speed in the NFL, or very nearly full-speed, you're useless.

i don't know of anyone missing an entire season due to a sprained ankle... maybe a few weeks, which makes sense -- if you can't go full-speed in the NFL, or very nearly full-speed, you're useless.

Chances are if you are in the NFL you're useless.

College football is much better (though slightly corrupt). Those kids play hard.

On another note if anyone here has played football and thought it was wimpy then that makes one of the pansies that leer away from contact. The same kids who make the group do up-downs during tackling drills because they play like a bitch.

You know what football CAN be a pansy sport, only if you play it like a pansy. Same with any other sport in the universe. Hell if played right baseball can be made into a contact sport...no wait no it can't :p

Tell that to Ty Cobb. hehehe

Funny you mention that.

My dad's parents both got their bachelor's degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (or just "Wisconsin") , as did both of my parents (Dad tacked on two master's degrees at UW).

So when Dad and Grandpa took me to the Wisconsin/Michigan football game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI, one year (I was maybe four years old)... I was expected to cheer for the Badgers.

Well, I cheered for Michigan... because I loved their uniforms and helmets. Ya just can't beat the maize and blue look, and the helmets are classic.

This man understands. There simply is no comparison... Nothing compares to Michigan football.

And I will be in the Big House this weekend soaking in every wonderful second of the experience. =)

post script
On the matter of American Football
GO BLUE

Ah yes... Another person who knows what he's talking about. hehehe

Hail to the Victors, my friend!

Chances are if you are in the NFL you're useless.

College football is much better (though slightly corrupt). Those kids play hard.

The NFL is a meer shadow of what it was. I miss the days of Jack Tatum, Joe Green, Dick Butkis, Ronnie Lott. Back when the only thing you weren't allowed to do on defense was shot someone and even then the refs might look the other way.

I remember something Chuck Noll said: "The Oakland Raider's are part of a criminal element!" or something along those lines after Lynn Swan was destroyed by Jack Tatum.

The game is more about finesse now...:(

Hell, I wasn't even around for those days and I want to come back, because the players actually played the game. If you were to watch Super Bowl I and Super Bowl XXXIX, you would get more excited by Super Bowl I .But, I do feel sorry for Darryl Stingley, and anyone who thinks that football has always been for the weak should look him up.

Ah yes... Another person who knows what he's talking about. hehehe

Hail to the Victors, my friend!

Yeah, we'll just see how you fare when you come to Ryan Field this year. :p

Chances are if you are in the NFL you're useless.

College football is much better (though slightly corrupt). Those kids play hard.

oh, of course... major college footall is the best thing going.

major flaw: no playoff to decide the real champion

Yeah, we'll just see how you fare when you come to Ryan Field this year. :p

Ryan Field... Wait, I need to look that up...

Northwestern?! You think NORTHWESTERN is going to give us a challenge this year? **BUg eyed disbelief**

The only thing you guys can keep up with us on is your academics. Your rise to the top of the football heap a few years ago was an aberration. You're back down at the bottom now. =P

Ryan Field... Wait, I need to look that up...

Northwestern?! You think NORTHWESTERN is going to give us a challenge this year? **BUg eyed disbelief**

The only thing you guys can keep up with us on is your academics. Your rise to the top of the football heap a few years ago was an aberration. You're back down at the bottom now. =P

We took down Ohio State and Purdue at home last year. This year Michigan and Wisconsin get their turn. It's just that simple.

We took down Ohio State and Purdue at home last year. This year Michigan and Wisconsin get their turn. It's just that simple.

That was Ohio State and Purdue.

Michigan is a different animal. You'd have to score 60 points to beat us because there's no way your defense is going to hold us.

That was Ohio State and Purdue.

Michigan is a different animal. You'd have to score 60 points to beat us because there's no way your defense is going to hold us.

I'm sure Kyle Orton and Taylor Stubblefield were thinking the same thing.

Chances are if you are in the NFL you're useless.

College football is much better (though slightly corrupt). Those kids play hard.

Pittsburgh's got a very hard-playing Quarterback in Tyler Palko. He's good.

We took down Ohio State and Purdue at home last year. This year Michigan and Wisconsin get their turn. It's just that simple.

I will say that you guys have a tendency to play out of your gourds (euros: at a higher level than usual) when one of your Big Ten betters comes to town... but I don't see the Badgers dropping any games this year against teams they should beat... not with it being Barry's last year. Wisconsin is a mid-pack BTen team this year, but they'll be tough to beat (they will probably lose at least 4 games, but they won't get smoked).

And I'm saying here that they will beat NW at NW.

I'm sure Kyle Orton and Taylor Stubblefield were thinking the same thing.

I saw that game... Purdue played like crap.

Brits: It'd be like Southampton beating Liverpool.

Rugby folks: It'd be like Argentina beating South Africa.

Well, I must admit I'm a bit smaller than you, only about 167, and I bet shorter, 5 feet 7.5 inches. And I bet more maneuverable. You can't spear me if you can't catch me.

Maybe I should rephrase. I think the modern NFL is a bunch of whinny babies. Twisted ankles keeping someone out for a season? Other than basketball (also a bunch of sissies if you saw that Detroit fight with fan footage from last year), the most players on the DL is football. I remember stories of people like Larry Cszonka (sic) who was a fit line men in his time. Now all line men are fat guys that aren't good at anything but standing around. What a joke.

If a guy comes out of a game for an injury, it's more likely that he's out because being in would hurt his team. A whiny baby would insist on playing even though there is someone next in line who is at 100% performance who can do better for his team.

Offensive linemen may be fat, but they are also incredibly strong, and have a weightlifting regimin that you could not fathom. And they are certainly in better cardiovascular condition than the vast majority of Americans.

There are so many players on the DL in football today precisely because the level of play has gotten so much more intense. Guys hit harder, run harder, and go down tougher than ever before.

I saw that game... Purdue played like crap.

Agreed, but it was mainly because our defense frustrated the hell out of them.

I'm not going to guarantee any victories here. I know we're not that good. But anyone expecting an easy game against us, especially at Ryan (and in Michigan's case, at our homecoming on top of that) is in for quite a surprise.

Agreed, but it was mainly because our defense frustrated the hell out of them.

I'm not going to guarantee any victories here. I know we're not that good. But anyone expecting an easy game against us, especially at Ryan (and in Michigan's case, at our homecoming on top of that) is in for quite a surprise.

I'll post here after the game and I'll expect to see you apologetic for your insolence. :D

Seriously, though... NW's defense is going to get absolutely destroyed by the WOlverines offense. We have WAAAAY too many horses for you guys. Your only chance is to hope for a repeat of that crazy 58-56 (I think that was the score) game.

There are so many players on the DL in football today precisely because the level of play has gotten so much more intense. Guys hit harder, run harder, and go down tougher than ever before.

I don't know about this, when was the last time since Tatum that someone could be considered for the name like "Assassin", or that someone left the field as a quadriplegic.

I don't know about this, when was the last time since Tatum that someone could be considered for the name like "Assassin", or that someone left the field as a quadriplegic.

Ronnie Lott, Steve Atwater, but the Soul Patrol was the most vicious pack of defensive backs ever concieved.

Modern players comparable to Jack Tatum...Ray Lewis, Casey Hampton, yeah there's a lack of murderers on the field nowadays.

Ronnie Lott, Steve Atwater, but the Soul Patrol was the most vicious pack of defensive backs ever concieved.

Modern players comparable to Jack Tatum...Ray Lewis, Casey Hampton, yeah there's a lack of murderers on the field nowadays.
I'll give you the Soul Patrol, mostly because I'm scared they will come after me :( , but alot of the fans where I'm from don't consider Atwater to be the exception rather than the rule. Murderers? :confused: Tatum never killed any one and he maintains the hit was clean. But not that his word means anything, he was a Raider.(jk)

Edit: Confused Lott with Jackson

Agreed, but it was mainly because our defense frustrated the hell out of them.

I'm not going to guarantee any victories here. I know we're not that good. But anyone expecting an easy game against us, especially at Ryan (and in Michigan's case, at our homecoming on top of that) is in for quite a surprise.

yeah, those ugly-ass black-and-purple uniforms! hehe

you wanna talk about tough modern (or fairly modern) football players, look at Emmitt Smith (still overrated as a RB, but tough), Brett Favre and Ronnie Lott.

Ronnie Lott (S, San Francisco) cut off about the top third of his pinkie in order to be able to stay in a game. you talk about having your priorities straight! hehe

Brett Favre has started something like 200 straight games at QB for the green bay pckers. in that time he's had numerous injuries that would have kept others on the bench... yet he refuses to sit down. In his case, there is, nor has there been, any other QB on the roster who could hold a candle to Favre at 75% effectiveness.

Emmitt Smith -- Probably some time in the late 90s, Emmitt played several games with cracked ribs. As is the lot of a starting tailback in the NFL, he took repeated punishment, but kept on playing. That had to be incredibly painful.

There are 3 main types of American Football:
1. The infamous tackle football that is one of the deadliest sports around.
2. flag football where you grab the opponent's flags instead of tackling.
3. Touch football. Touching has the same effect gamewise as tackling in tackle football.

Anyone who calls football wimpy probably hasn't played the traditional tackle form. If they have, they probably are either have the best body in terms of durability or they played with wimps. People die playing it. People play it on severely damaged knees and even in snow using the same thing they wore during spring, summer, and fall, with the exception of those expected to run alot. They get sleeves. Any sport can feel wimpy if you play with wimps. It can feel like Soccer is a baby sport if you play with people wimpy enough. Same with Rugby or Basketball. Football(tackle form) is more impact than mere contact. People break several bones playing it. People get cuncussions. People tear things they didn't even know they had. Some even get paralized if they were lucky enough to live.

Padding tends to make things more brutal. Before gloves were added, boxing was done with bare knuckles. Add some padding to the hands and it gets more brutal as people hit harder. One match even ended with one guy having his eye literally out. No, it wasn't crushed. It was hanging out of the socket. Same thing with Football. You give them helmets and padding and they tackle harder.

Emmitt Smith (still overrated as a RB, but tough),

I don't understand how people can say this about the guy with the all-time rushing record. I suppose Hank Aaron was overrated as a hitter too.

you wanna talk about tough modern (or fairly modern) football players, look at Emmitt Smith (still overrated as a RB, but tough), Brett Favre and Ronnie Lott.

Ronnie Lott (S, San Francisco) cut off about the top third of his pinkie in order to be able to stay in a game. you talk about having your priorities straight! hehe

Brett Favre has started something like 200 straight games at QB for the green bay pckers. in that time he's had numerous injuries that would have kept others on the bench... yet he refuses to sit down. In his case, there is, nor has there been, any other QB on the roster who could hold a candle to Favre at 75% effectiveness.

Emmitt Smith -- Probably some time in the late 90s, Emmitt played several games with cracked ribs. As is the lot of a starting tailback in the NFL, he took repeated punishment, but kept on playing. That had to be incredibly painful.

Ed McCaffrey (wide receiver for San Francisco and Denver) is a good example too. He played with minimal padding and was always taking big hits and making tough catches over the middle. I still remember the time he took a hit that broke his leg and still made the catch.

I don't understand how people can say this about the guy with the all-time rushing record. I suppose Hank Aaron was overrated as a hitter too.

Because he played with the best offensive line of all time, one of the best fullbacks ever, a phenomenal blocking tightend, and a killer passing attack that kept defenders out of the box. If Barry Sanders had that kind of help he would have had 20,000+ yards easy.

Ronnie Lott (S, San Francisco) cut off about the top third of his pinkie in order to be able to stay in a game. you talk about having your priorities straight! hehe


In order to avoid surgery and play in the playoffs, not stay in one game.

I don't understand how people can say this about the guy with the all-time rushing record. I suppose Hank Aaron was overrated as a hitter too.

People say it because he didn't have as much raw talent as some of the other great backs. He wasn't really fast or elusive, and he rarely had a high yards-per-carry average. He earned that record with his durability and endurance. Still an incredible accomplishment as far as I'm concerned.

Edit: What Plainwell Nation says is also fairly accurate.

I'll post here after the game and I'll expect to see you apologetic for your insolence. :D

I probably won't even see it. I'll be out looting and rioting in the streets of Evanston in celebration of our victory. :p

OK so american football which is not football as you hardly ever kick the ball is crap. It is for weaklings. There is no skill involved. You dont have too be hard to ram into some one with so much padding to prtect you it could stop a nuclear bomb. Rugby however is difficult. If you ram into a player the wrong way you end up with a broken shoulder blade. Americans can obvioulsly not invent games. Basketball was invented by a canadian. Baseball is the equivalent of rounders for boys and american football is just rugby for weakos.
I'm no big fan of american football myself, i personally prefere rowing and soccer but wow, r u an idiot.sory but it is obvious that this game is for weaklings, ppl have died, yes i kno rugby players dont have padding, but the tackles arent just as tough r they? Cld u go out with a group of ur mates and beat the equlivant ameerican football team in terms of age and bulk , i doubt it so obviusly there is skill involved. i admit i dont get why its called football when they dont often use their feet but it is only a name and rugby's proper name is rugby football.

No,don't change the world series thing.that gives the rest of the world the right to call themselves world champions at their national sport.like hurling(an irish game,the fastest ball game in the world.the closest thing to it is hockey,not ice hockey,just hockey)no other country plays hurling(well there might be a New York team,there is for Gaelic football),so we can call the winners world champions.
I thot we called them all-ireland champions, but thats just me, i've always wanted 2 play hurley, my friend does/did (i dunno if he still does) but i never cld get a chance 2, thats the problem of being a prodestant in N.Ireland, some sports r off limists not usually by the clubs like, i used 2 play gaelic but u cant get a chance in schools like finaghy where i went., its a pity. same all over though, catholics cant go 2 Lienfeild or N.Ireland football matches, its awfull the amount of sectarism *shakes head sadly*

OK, I've never seen American Football so I'll just give my impressions here.

American Football (why 'football' I'll never understand 'warzone' would be comprehensble). Fast and hard but only in bursts. No real flow to a game, just blasts of viciousness. Not my sport then really but I can see the attraction.

Rugby, far smoother as a game, violence is sustained across several minutes but directed at one player at a time. I prefer it. You can't be injured as badly playing it (normally) but it's still bloody vicious (try hitting 3 sprinting heavies when you're out on your own, ayyyy my ribs).

Football. Non-contact my arse, you try telling me it's non contact when you play people who always go in boots-up. It has more skill in the movement of the ball than rugby or AF and tends to be less brutal. My personal favourite because brute force doesn't work so well and I don't really do brute force. Still causes bad injuries at times (anyone else remember when Cisse got his leg broken last year? A person just shouldn't bend that way).

None of them are for sissies but the real deal for brutality is original football.

3 rules.
No murder.
No weapons.
No vehicles.

The pitch lies between two villages with the villages being the 'goals'.

Have fun!

football has 4 12- or 15-minute quarters, depending on the level of play (high school, college, NFL, etc.)

actually, players are moving faster in a football game... they're faster. There are hardly any breaks in rugby, which might make them appear faster.

Rugby has two 40-minute halves (80 minutes total)

The ball remains active, in football, after fumbles (so long as the ball is in bounds).

playing with pads and helmets is more painful than playing without them (coming from one who's played organized and non-organized football)

Thank you for the corrections and I agree with you about playing with pads being more painful, I haven't played foozball, but I agree with you (Rugby is faster in regards to the time is what I meant).

I know,i wasn't being serious.my point(and i know i didnt make it in that post,that was intentional)is who cares who invented the sport?i would have thought the 'american football is for weaklings' arguement would be getting more interest.personally i dont see why they need all that padding.if rugby players can survive in a sport similair in its level of contact surely american footballers can.


thanks...i needed a smile tonight,

i have never played rugby,looks rough,my brother played it in an unnamed ivy league school.

i like playing soccer cause i dont like getting smashed...got to work and all.but i hate watchin it..but i love football(american)cause i innately understand it...but i always get broken when i play.
so i guess i prefer to watch football and play soccer...(aside from tossing the ball around with my buddies)i am a pretty good receiver...but even at college level football..i would get wrecked on a good hit from a safety....soccer..i aint even good at it..but i think i could hobble to work the next day?football..bonejarring hit..i doubt i would want to move around much...did i mention i am out of shape...i can run fast,but i am thin so i get crushed.

i imagine that rules out rugby too....but i dont understand anything about the game so i will reserve judgement..but it looks pretty rough.

if someone can explain the game i will think about it more..do they have collisions like they have in football?

the last game i played in in high school...i was flying down the field for a long pass,and i got creamed...my helmet get twisted around my face and i was looking out the earhole of the helmet...it was like a cartoon...tweety bird and all...plus my kid broke his collarbone the last 2 years playin ball...so pads aint all that.

And it's also rammed full of innuendo.
I don't get it...

ahahahahaha.........Tight end indeed :D