There is a strong connection between a girl, her dad, and the game of football. For me and millions of other girls, that connection is especially strong because our dads are football coaches. We know the game, we love the game, we live the game. Everything in our lives are referred to in football terms, and we wouldn't want it any other way! I think I can speak for all of us when I say there are some things everyone else just doesn't understand.
1. You get annoyed when someone says they can't wait for football season because for you, football season started in July when your dad dragged you to practice to be the water girl, ball girl, or anything else.
2. When other little girls were playing in sprinklers in their yards and playing dress up with pink dresses and tiaras, you were playing in the sprinklers on the football field and dressing up with shoulder pads and eye black.
3. You are the Sheryl Yoast of your dad's team! ("Remember the Titans")
4. You know every play in your dad's playbook and the signals that go with it, whether you wanted to or not.
5. You're not afraid of going into the boys locker room, and most of the time, you actually had to in order to get to your dad's office.... And you got used to the stench that came along with it.
6. When dad says "did you see that play in the third quarter" you frantically search your mind for all plays of the third quarter, while saying "Of course I saw that play! How could you miss it?!"
7. When you reach high school, instead of your dad giving the "I'll be cleaning my gun talk" to your first date, he gives it to the entire football team! (Even the hot ones).
8. All the players turn into your honorary big brothers.
9. You know every player, by name, number, height, weight, and position. Something you almost never admit publicly.
11. You cheered louder than the actual cheerleaders.
10. Your friends think you have problems when you'd rather watch a football game than a chick flick—and no, you can't just watch the highlights! Something big might happen, and you would miss it.
11. You're a pro at yelling at the refs!
12. You try to go give you dad a big hug after the game, but end up getting orange Gatorade in your hair because the team decided to dump all of it on him at the same exact moment.
13. You get all the players' autographs because one day they might be successful!
14. Even when you go out into the real world, it's a deal breaker if a guy isn't into football.
15. You're just like one of the guys when football is on TV!
16. You're so unsure if anyone actually knows your first name because everyone either calls you by your last name, Coach, Lil' Coach, or Lil' (insert last name).
17. Makeup was referred to as "War Paint" in your house.
18. The refs can, in fact, hear you through the TV...
19. You call your dad "Coach" instead of "Dad."
20. You love football with a passion and wouldn't trade that or your relationship with Coach for anything!
So, for all the coach's daughters out there, keep supporting your Coach! Keep yelling at the refs for bad calls, keep calling plays from the stands, and always give Coach a hug after the game (after they dump the Gatorade on him, of course)! Cherish all the family pictures where you're all wearing football jerseys. Cherish the relationships with the players, and other coach's daughters, and coach's families that you make along the way. Try to save all the T-shirts and sweatshirts and pom poms that you gain throughout your football journey—you will miss those. Cherish all the memories you've made being a coach's daughter, whether it's racing down the field at the end of the game, washing your hair too many times trying to get the orange stain out, seeing the look on the refs face when he realizes a little girl is calling him out, attempting to flirt with a senior when you know your dad will kill you for it, forming unbreakable bonds with players who are basically your brothers, watching a former player getting draft into the NFL, and so much more. Those memories have shaped my life, and I'm sure you have some that have shaped yours, too! Always be confident in yourself and proud of yourself for loving football! Most importantly, remember the strong foundation sports has in your life and it'll take you far!
The family with Rodger Saffold III, The night he got drafted by the St. Louis Rams!
