First NFL Game
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by Falcon02520
This was originally written as a narrative essay to for my English 101 class... PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS because that will rob it of its originality... And tell me, if you were grading this (not as much on content but how it is written) what grade would I recieve?
New experiences occur very often during everyday life. Whether it is trying a new food, walking a different way home than normal, or someone moving out of their parents' house, everyone encounters new experiences. They are what make life worth living. Some experiences are more meaningful than others and some can be heartbreaking, but afterward, something new is always learned.
An experience that every football fan must have is that of their first NFL game. Some fans may never get to see their favorite team live in a stadium full of the home team's colors, screaming fans, and highly overpriced food. Then again, many fans will never even remember their first game. This may be because they were only a young child or they were belligerent to a point that any memories of the game were lost in that drunken daze. But, everyone who is a fan of football should have the experience of watching it live and interacting with tens of thousands of wasted, highly opinionated, and ignorant home town fans.
As someone growing up with green blood, it is easily said that the Philadelphia Eagles are the heart of sports in the City of Brotherly Love. People rise and fall emotionally with the team. Life seems to be easier when they win and more depressing when they loose. For the newer generation of Eagles fans, winning is all that is known. The birds have been an NFC powerhouse over the last decade, winning their division for the last few years along with 4 NFC Championship game appearances which resulted in one Super Bowl appearance. This makes losing no longer acceptable to the younger generation.
In 2006, the Eagles were on another rampage towards the winning the division yet again. When the Washington Redskins were scheduled to roll into town in week ten, the Eagles coming off a bye week and two heart breaking losses in the weeks prior. This was to be a huge week in terms of determiningwho would be a contender in the division race.
Looking back, it all begins with the shouting from down the hall. It is only noise at first, but before the eyelids even break open, there are the words, "... tickets to the Eagles game. You wanna go?" Seconds later, a Brian Dawkins jersey is around a teenage boy's neck and he is headed out the door. The car is already running, with an excited father in the driver’s seat. For this was to be not only the first NFL game these two were ever to attend, it would also serve as their first ever live football game. They had been Eagles fans for years but never were able to attend any of the eight home games that each team hosts each year. So this would be an long-awaited experience.
With a little more than a hour until kick-off, the green Jeep Cherokee pulled into a parking lot full of tailgaters. While looking for an open space to park the car, sounds of shouting, laughter, chanting, and music are all combined into a melody that pumps up the crowd right before game time. There are trailers and trucks painted in Eagle green with the logo engraved on either side. Grills and coolers line the road. Monstrous television sets with satellite signals preview the game.
As a football toss slows traffic and there is more to see and more to smell. Smells come off the smoking grills; steaks, ribs, chicken, and more. Sights such as “The Link” and the other Philly venues are seen across the way. Just as a parking space is found, a large man in green face paint and a number 5 McNabb jersey yells “E-A-G-L-E-S” and the entire crowd follows in suit together, “EAGLES!!!”
After a few minutes of browsing the lot, the flow of fans begins to swarm towards the stadium. Outside the gates, there is a mob of fans trying to get through security. It resembles a hour glass, when one grain falls through, the others fill its place. Once through security (and the full body search) the gates are empty. Cheers are heard as some of the star players are announced. The game is about to begin, and the seats are a fair distance off (and up, way up). Hustling down the corridor, section 326 appears on a distant sign. Up the short flight of steps, there is a sight that will never be forgotten.
A Redskins’ player flies around the field soon engulfed by green jerseys. The play of these talented athletes is faster than it appears on the home television set. Bodies are all over the field, as play continues as fans stand up for others to reach their seats. Boos or cheers are heard on every play. Taunting and trash talking occurs everywhere.
While star-struck by the surroundings, the Redskins offense falters and cheering echoes loud as Washington is forced to punt. A boy-hood hero, Donavan McNabb trots onto the field for the first time. “First play, deeeeep to Stallworth.” The ball is snapped, McNabb hands it to Westbrook. “So much for that.” Wait! Westbrook turns and flips the ball back to Donavan. “Throw it deep!” Number 5 launches one of the most beautiful spirals 60 yards into the hands of a sprinting Donte’ Stallworth. “TOUCHDOWN!!!” The crowd goes insane! Random people hugging and slapping high fives. “Did I call it or what? What a play, what a play.”
On the next drive, all-pro running back for the ‘Skins gets injured and limps off the field. Here it is shown that there are no other fans like Philly fans. The crowd cheers as Clinton Portis hobbles to the sideline. “That’s what he gets for coming to Philly!” Other fans yell in agreement.
That soda gives reason to run to the restroom during a timeout. The men’s room is littered with guys so drunk, they can barely stand. Nowhere else will there be a wait to use the men’s room other than a football game. Wanting to rush back to the game makes the waiting much harder. While waiting, the sights are noticeably disturbing (other than the men relieving themselves). The walls are saturated will grime and the smell would make any sane person want to remove their nostrils.
Upon returning to the section 326 seats, there is a long play down the far sideline. “Fumble!” The crowd all at once holds their breaths. Buckhalter, in full sprint, picks up the loose ball off a bounce and heads for the end zone. The stadium explodes with jubilant noise like no other. While the kickoff team takes the field, the crowds chanting in unison is in full swing, “Fly Eagles Fly, On the road to Victory!…” The cold mist has turned into a full down pour of ice cold rain. Big drops of precipitation fall hard onto the field and the fans, but rarely anyone runs to the shelter of the corridors. As long as the team has existed, if the Eagles are on the field, their fans remain in their seats (unless a big play brings them to their feet).
The game is full of big plays as the Eagles over power a much weaker team in a (score) victory. McNabb kneels to run the last seconds off the clock. The crowd rises and cheers. As everyone heads to the exits, now each weighing an extra ten pounds because of their soaked clothes, the chanting continues, “Fly Eagles Fly…”
While flowing with the throng of people, something causes a stoppage. A look back at the stadium causes a smile and the thought, “Can’t wait until next time. And it’ll be sooner, rather than later,” crosses his mind. Every fan deserves at least one trip to see their favorite team and this boy received his... finally.
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