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 **I BELIEVE IN** **FOOTBALL** media type="file" key="mattcapolongo.mp3" BY: Matt Capolongo **I believe in football. I believe in a sport that involves a spheroid shaped leaether ball roughly 11 inches long and 22 inches around. Such a sport as football can evoke a broad range of emotions and actions. Reactions including but not limited to anger, frustration, happiness, and relief. Football requires you to completely put all other thoughts aside and focus only on the next vital 10 seconds of your life. When a massive object is cruising full speed directly at you like an oncoming train, all other thoughts disappear. It’s comical in a way when you think of what football (at the professional level) actually is. It is two teams of agile giants sacrificing their bodies for the love of the game. That is was I can relate to however. Something like football that is meaningless in the world’s troubles can force you to forget your problems and anxieties alike. **

**Football can be a life teacher for any young person as well. Being a former high school player and avid fan, I know of these lessons. Football mentors in such virtues as discipline and teamwork. **

**__.Discipline:__ Dispcipline is on 4th down and 1 yard to go. You are on the defensive side of the ball, and you’re itching to get the stop. You can’t wait any longer as a wave of anxiety flows over you. The quarterback calls for a hard count or a fake snap to draw you off sides—the cheap way. You hold. Discipline. This can relate to any number of things in everyday life. It’s a beautiful Thursday afternoon; everyone is outside enjoying the spring sun. You’re stuck in a seemingly gloomy atmosphere studying for a final. As you peer out your bedroom window a strong desire to stop studying suddenly occurs. The feeling is almost overwhelming and you begin to weigh out your options. Stay and study or go out and have guaranteed fun. You stay. Discipline. **

**__.Teamwork:__ Teamwork is 10 seconds left. You and all your defensive teammates are exhausted; breathing heavily in and out. The other team is one touchdown away from winning. This final play will last a lifetime in you and your teammate’s minds. It will require a full effort by everyone of the field to hold onto the win. A single person doesn’t execute, and the whole team collapses. The ball is snapped, and the seconds begin to count down. The last pass is in the air, everyone on your team has so far executed their job. The ball is batted down. Your team has held onto the win. Teamwork. This relates to the office world as well. The biggest deal of the year is at hand. This like a football team will require a full effort and execution by everyone in the office. The deal is coming to a close and everyone has done their job to perfection. The last closing moments calls for a last stressful stand by all. The deal gets done and the company has benefited greatly. Teamwork. **

**My name is Matt Capolongo. I am from Massapequa Park, New York. I am also a junior, psychology major at University of Colorado at Boulder. I love all sports and football especially. **