Coaches Corner: Press "mute" to enjoy

I turned on the TV to watch the first college football game of the year. I love college football. The pageantry, the enthusiasm of the fans and the hustle of the players makes viewing the game a pleasure. But I forgot one crucial element of my viewing: I didn't press the “mute” button.

In 15 minutes, I was bombarded with a ton of bad news.

The Paterno scandal was mentioned five times. A major college powerhouse had 20 convicted felons on their squad.

Colleges were seeking their big “sugar daddy,” who could contribute in excess of $100 million to bring their program up to date.

I made another mistake during a time out. I switched channels to another sports network and saw the residents of Allen, Texas, had approved the building of a new high school football stadium.

The cost is $60 million and 63 percent of the voters approved it. For an Arizona resident, I thought I was living on a different planet. Heck, we don't even play junior high football in Yuma.

It was time to switch to the Internet and check up all the Friday night football scores. Unfortunately I stumbled on an old article about Lake Havasu High School football.

Their entire program must be self sufficient — no tax dollars for their kids. Athletes have to pay $100 a sport to play. I wonder how many can't play?

Football is a great game, no matter what level. It teaches dedication, self-discipline, teamwork and leadership. It's fun for those who play it.

Football causes our blood pressure to rise and our adrenaline to flow on Friday and Saturday. Football is American as apple pie. It's also fantastic for the TV watcher.

I've learned my lesson. Don't pay attention to what the announcers say. Beware when you switch channels. Navigate the Internet with care. Know that football at any level is a great game.

But please push the “mute” button for your viewing enjoyment.

John Blabe is the former athletic director and football coach at Antelope Union High School. You can reach him at jbcoachescorner@gmail.com