I love Football.

Sure, I'm a girl - and I totally don't know every single thing about the game, but I understand enough to know that I love it.  When it's not football season, I'm in mourning! Lucky for me, NFL preseason has begun and college practices are well underway.

I love the Marshall Thundering Herd!

When I was a freshman at Marshall University, Byron Leftwich was the star quarterback and the Thundering Herd was ranked 7th in the nation.  Sadly, I had no clue what any of that meant. I began dating the lucky man who is now my husband, and joined him at Marshall games with an extremely open heart and open mind my first fall at MU; this is how I learned about the sport, and I fell in love - with both him, and football.  The rest is history.

I love the hype.  Excited fans and media coverage get me going!

I love the clothes.  Buying team gear is my favorite thing to do to get ready for the season (I'm a girl, remember?) If i'm going to a game, the team shop is always my first stop! You can never have to many spirit beads.

I love getting sunburnt on only one half of my face during those late afternoon games. It's worth looking stupid the following week!

I love fall Saturday mornings - I know a day full of football is coming, and the guys on ESPN are the best at building the anticipation! 

I love mascots.  So hilarious - they kill me!  I'm like a kid, I have to get my picture taken with 'em when I'm at a game.  If i don't get to, I POUT!

I love spirit beads.  Did i mention that already?

I love halftime - I'm a sucker for a great marching band performance.  (Ohio University's Marching 110 is AMAZING! You tube them!)

I love cozy autumn Sundays filled with NFL madness.

I love Tedy Bruschi.

I love the new Victoria's Secret Pink Loves the NFL clothing line! (I'm already rocking the Patriots gear for preseason!)

I love Lou Holtz.  Seriously.  He's like a grandpa to me.

I love a good backstory.  I enjoy learning about team history, legendary players and coaches, and school rivalries.
I love watching Ohio University head coach Frank Solich wander around the gym - he seems so lost in thought, probably thinking about football, and seems to forget where he is and what he's supposed to be doing.  I almost fall off the Eliptical giggling at him every time.
I love cute kids dressed up as football players and cheerleaders. It makes me want one. (A kid, I mean.)

I love gameday snacks.  It's the perfect excuse to indulge in dangerously delicious unhealthy food!

I love those crazy, exciting, rare plays.  This is my favorite (it's only 38 seconds!):

Yes, folks, Byron had a broken shin.  He left the game to go to the hospital, then came back and played in the game later.  This video is also part of the football clip montage at the end of We Are Marshall - it brings tears to my eyes every single time I watch it!

Most importantly, I love a good game.  A win is great, but a loss followed by a strong team performance is fine, too - this is especially the case when I'm watching two teams that I have neutral feelings about :)

Did I miss anything?

Oh, and I love the Marshall Thundering Herd. I even love the scary looking Marco!

4 Years on a Winning Team - It's my Wedding Anniversary!

On June 3rd, 2006, I married my teammate, Todd; the past four years of marriage have been full of pure love and amazing-ness (I love made-up words). We’ve taken on everything as a team – the good, the stressful, the challenging, the Christmas shopping for our family members who have everything on the planet… yep, the team approach definitely works for us! I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have by my side, because even though I’m a forward thinking, determined type of person who could possibly function on my own, he helps me stay grounded – he may not think so, but he helps to keep my emotions in check.
I love being with my husband. We’ve experienced a lot together in the last four years – and there is plenty more to come. Regardless of what the future brings, I know I’ll always come out a winner as long as I have Todd for a teammate. He’s my Kobe Bryant, my very own Payton Manning - no matter what the situation, with his help, we’ll always win in the end.

“Life as a grad student’s wife” can be challenging at times, but it is also very exciting – because next year, on our 5th Wedding Anniversary, I’ll be living life as a “Professor’s wife”! So here’s to the next year of marital, dissertation and job market-filled bliss. (This year, I’ll be Todd’s trainer, waiting in the corner with a spit bucket after the bell rings!)
I love my husband so much – I can only hope that those who are married/in a serious relationship feel the same way I do. Life is so challenging, with lots of surprises, and it really helps to have that other person to pass the ball to. I am so very lucky, and look forward to winning lots more championships in this crazy game of life!

(We are sports fans, can you tell?)