Sup guys, names Don, from London, been to nearly 150 fulham games, been going since i was 5. Favorite player is clint dempsey. I wanted to ask some advice on the NFL. I am trying to get is started as a sport at my college (i'm 17), i have 3 other guys who will run it with me. We know the rules, (we think) but we're not really sure how to get off the ground. We will have one 90 minute session a week, jus wondering if you have any tips to get it started.
First of all, welcome to the site Don. Now to your question. You are trying to get a league started at your school? If its' meant to be an intramural program, you'll get alot more participation if it's Flag-Football (fun of the game w/out the violence, players wear a belt around their waists with colored flags that tear off). Teams can be smaller and injuries will be decreased ten-fold.
cheers but it will not be a league, just enough to play 10 aside hopefully. What we really want to do is lay the foundations of a team that will compete with other a.football teams in england. It will not happen when i am there but i hope that by starting it i can get some regular play before i come over here to go to uni. I've got a scholarship offer to a college in detroit (can't even remember the name and its only a small offer) to play as a running back for ther team. I'm going for a visit as i'm still not sure if i want to as i already have a place at a top college in England.
Sorry that last post sounded really arrogant, just read it back. Basically i have an offer from an english uni that is similar to that of an ivy league in america escept there are way more of them in Britain so it is not as much of an acheivment. I like the idea of playing football in the USA but the course i want to do is not on offer at the college, any advice on that either anyone. Oh and is there a good internet websote where i can order some equipment from on the cheap.
Englishyl, what course do you want to study? Also, Ivy League only refers to the universities (and one college) that are in the same athletic conference. They are all in the upper eastern part of the States and are among the most selective schools in the US. However, there are many, many more colleges and universities that are just as good and just as selective.
Clevelandmo, cheers for that, i thought that they were a selection of the best colleges in the country, like the russell group uni's in england. I want to study creative writing but the course is not taught in that form, it is just a general writing course, for all formsof writing from journalism to fantasy novels, the only thing is if i come to the USA then i will not be able to see fulham play for ages. Have you any tips on starting up a football team, and are you a browns fan.
Welcome, Don. The people you probably should be asking are right over there... BAFL They have an affiliate for Uni.. BUAFL
As far as equipment, I think google/yahoo search engines would be the place to start. The exchange rate is so good for you guys that the large cost (especially the shipping) will be somewhat offset (pads, helmets, all other gear isn't cheap). I would imagine that you and your friends will want to get everyone interested in joining money upfront so you guys aren't left holding the tab.
Englishyl, I forgot to say "welcome". Yes I'm a Browns fan, but I'm more of a Fulham fan. Sorry but I have no tips about starting a team to play american football - I am female and have never played. However, my brother-in-law was a professional player for the New England Patriots. I believe a lot of universities would view creative writing as too specialized for a bachelors degree so they would offer classes but would not offer degree programs until at least the masters degree level. But I'm sure there are some colleges and universities (by the way, colleges and universities are pretty much the same thing in the US, I believe they are different in the UK) that offer a program at the bachelors level. Good luck and COYW
J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!! englishyanklover - check the wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football Lots of good information there, should tell you how many people you know, how the game is started and played. Honestly, just think Rugby Union . . except when the player gets tackled, play stops, and you guys get into scrimmage formation, and it starts all over again. The most complicated thing to understand (and it's not) is the concept of "downs" or how many attempts you have to advance 10 yards before possession is given to the other team. Other than that, it's easy. Lots of internet resources at your disposal.
EYL, check out pittsburghsteelers.com -- a hardworking town, great fans storied team, you have a better than most chance of winning the Sauper Bowl every year, classy and stable organization (since 1969 they have had fewer coaches than the Vatican has had Popes), and a license to ebat the Cleveland Browns bloody twice a year. Welcome to the site.
SteveM has it right. Browns are not a good American Football nor business model to base nearly any level of this sport on.
There hasnt been a good business model in Cleveland since the Rockefellers. However, the team is as exciting as any of late and the fans are second to none!
The fans are a completely different story. You could almost say the team does not deserve them. Unfortunately, Cincinnati isn't doing any better lately either. (Cue pettyfog,.....)
The counter situation to yours happened over here when a guy wanted to start a Rugby team at my school. He was just really aggressive about it, asked a ton of people including myself, put posters up all over the place and was successful. Long story short I was learning how to ruck with a bunch of really big former high school football(american) players and I dislocated my shoulder. Thought the problem was over until I was playing tennis about a month and a half later and the damn thing flew out of the socket and nearly across the net just as I was hitting a winning forehand.
Leave it to Mo... I love you, Mo! EngDon; you might have even learned about that business model in school over there. Sadly it ended up being 'BP America'. Up with Marathon Oil!!!! Which might put the lie to the 'Lerner/Browns Business Model' not being all that great. Sometimes it takes a while to refine WHAT WORKS. We know that Aston Villa fans hope Lerner is as successful over there. And it's true about Browns fans, even many of them in Bengals territory... though those, opposed to fans in NE Ohio, are truly inbred, missing tooth, types who cant seem to get the connection between the two teams, while 'hating' Art Modell.
I was hoping you wouldn't catch that! No I do like tennis, my mama took me to New York for the US Open when I was 15. I just don't like it as much as Hockey is all. Oh and I forgot to add to the last post but its probably needless to say I don't do Rugby anymore.
We'll you know I was kidding about the hockey thing but that exchange we had is all too funny now that I hear you dislocated your arm playing tennis
