But beyond learning textbook form, what makes this game different? The answer is found in football's values; it's a demanding game, but it gives back more than anything we've ever played. No game - no sport - weaves teamwork, discipline, sacrifice and responsibility into its soul like America's favorite sport.
These values are visible in the story and boyish enthusiasm for football of Dr. Randy Pausch (pronounced "powsh"), a leading expert in Computer Science and Human Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Dr. Pausch, who had a passion for football and his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers, was diagnosed as terminally ill with pancreatic cancer in August 2007 and was told he had six months to live. On Sept. 18, 2007, Dr. Pausch delivered a lecture at Carnegie Mellon that led to his best-selling book, "The Last Lecture," encouraging readers to live life to the fullest.
In 2008, Time Magazine named Dr. Pausch one of its "World's Top-100 Most Influential People" and ABC World News Tonight placed him on its "Persons of the Year" list. When the Steelers learned that Dr. Pausch had dreamed of playing in the NFL, they invited him to participate in a practice in fall 2007.
His remarkably upbeat demeanor in the face of impending death drew global attention. This was likely Dr. Pausch's final interview, as he passed away on July 25, 2008.
An award-winning teacher and researcher, he brilliantly engineered projects for Adobe, Google, Electronic Arts and Walt Disney Imagineering. He had achieved many of his childhood dreams and during the final year of his life, he addressed large audiences and inspired them to do the same.
The following is what football taught a man who taught so much to so many:
It's hard to say where my love of football comes from. It seems such a part of me, as if it's almost an innate quality. It's a team sport in the truest sense. Much more than most sports, football requires discipline at so many levels to be successful.
I think it's very hard to be fluid in things like sports or musical instruments if you don't start them pretty young. I never played basketball as a kid, and even after 10 years as an adult, I'm never quite sure where I should be on the court.In football, my body seems to know where to go on the field effortlessly.
I grew up in Howard County, Md., between Baltimore and Washington. The HCYP (Howard County Youth Program) was the venue for all us little league players. I played in weight-controlled leagues from the ages of 9 to 16. At one point or another, I believe I played every position on the field. After I developed my skills, I settled into playing linebacker on defense and playing running back or wide receiver on offense.
I had the privilege of learning the game of football - and life - from Coach Jim Graham. Coach would say things like, ‘The offense should be able to tell the defense where they're running the ball and still make a yard.' He was huge on discipline; our teams were always ferocious, but rarely were penalized. Coach Graham instilled a culture where people learned how to behave on the field. These lessons resonate with me to this day.
Football has inspired me so much, both as a youngster and even today. I'll never forget the afternoon when I had the opportunity to play around with the Pittsburgh Steelers last October. I did not make it to the National Football League, but I probably got more from that dream and not accomplishing it than I got from any of the ones that I did accomplish.
Also stuck in my mind is one youth season in particular, where our team lost every game. We had so many kids quit that at our last game, we only had 11 players, just enough to field a team. We lost that game, 6-0, and I was the one who missed the tackle that allowed them to score the winning touchdown.
Individual sports can teach a lot, but many things can only be taught in team sports. And a physically-demanding sport like football has another great dimension to it. I think football requires a stronger personal discipline due to the nature of the sport.
Coach Graham would tell us that there's no substitute for hard work and pure grit. The same holds true in life. Both take teamwork, stamina and dedication. I would have to say that I owe a huge part of whatever success I've had to Coach Graham and my other coaches. They prepared me for life.
