This semester I had the opportunity to work with a high school football team, joining the Athletic Training staff for experience towards my bachelors degree. In all honestly I have gone to football games and would occasionally watch a game, but I was never a big fan of it. I never understood the rules and didn’t understand the purpose of people tackling each other. But whenever I work with a team I get into the sport more than usual, watching it is different when you know the athletes. When you have seen them practice and see them put in hard work and effort, the game is more than just entertainment. Every Friday night the football guys would suit up and stand on the sidelines waiting to run on to the field to their senior captains after the coin toss, and get hyped for the game. It was a different perspective being on the field with them, not just in the stands. And I loved it. I loved being in the mix of athletes, seeing the guys work hard for what they had practiced for all week. I loved being available if someone got hurt because I knew I could help them. I loved that it was not just a game, it was a competition of skill, mentality, and strength. When the guys would make an inception and bring it in for a touchdown, or make an incredible block and push the offensive line back, being on the sideline was no job. I would get chills when the guys would get hyped and yelling for their guys on the field. Adrenaline would pump through my body when there was an unexpected turn over with 2 minutes left in the gam. It was fun. It was every Friday night under the lights.