American football made me tough

American football is man's best friend it has given us an outlet to express this testosterone fueled side of our humanity. When we sit back and reflect on all the harmful deadly ways, we have chosen to express our man hood. Only then do we realize that this needed diversion not only saves lives it builds character. No pain no gain. American football takes us away from orderliness and comfort zones. It lands us in the middle of chaos and unpredictable outcomes.

football made me tough, no I mean American football made me tough. There is a big difference. One involves physical contact, violence, risk of serious injury. The other does not. Since this topic is personal at heart and I am a natural born and raised American who grow up playing football, my personal perspective from my point of view is the best way to convey this message. So, when I speak, I not only speak for myself. I speak for men across this whole nation who have played and fell in love with this game.

I was 10yrs old when I first started playing football. 1991 was the year, Irving Dallas Texas was the location. I had some real cowboy coaches. They made us all overcome our fears of physical contact by doing some serious hitting drills. It was one on one hit and tackle. there were no weight requirements. this is where I first learned that not only does size matter, but pain also matters. Especially when you are in Texas heat.

I didn't know at that time but later on I was able to figure it out. These coaches were teaching us key fundamentals of physical contact. They showed us the correct way ergonomically to take a hit, give a hit, tackle or git tackled. What they taught us, is how to be effective and safe amongst chaos. A lot of injuries can be traced back to how players position themselves and move right before impact. In my later years these lessons saved me from a lot of injuries, but nothing can save you from pain. Pain is something you learn to tolerate and live with. If you are not careful to much pain will make you a tough guy

I don't care about what the Meriam dictionary says about what pain is. I don't care about Hollywood's depiction of tough guys. Neither do I care to listen to some psychology professors lecture us about toughness he does not possess. Toughness is the product of a long process of painful experiences that train you mentally to accept, tolerate, and adapt to what pain produces. Every time that Quarter back gits his head knocked in the dirt. He gets tougher. Every time that corner back gits ran over by a fullback. He gets tougher. Every time opponents use every tactic to intimidate him, but he remains focused on the game. He gets tougher.

Football made me mentally tough. In other words toughness is a mental thing that these physical attributes stand on. In 1993, Irving Dallas Texas 7th grade Crocket middle school. We were playing Sam Houston on their football field. I was playing running back and took a hit from my blindside. I felt like my eyes was on the other side of my head. I continued to play without a chance to recover from that hit. those are defining moments of toughness.

In 1998-99 Dallas Texas 12th grade Bryan Adams high school. Varsity football starting cornerback. Bryan Adams vs Mcauthor Highschool. during a sideline collision with the running back. We both took a hit; he left the game, and I couldn't remember the score. The worst part of it all, is that I continued to play. Those are defying moments of toughness.

There are many moments like these that I experienced playing football from the age of 10 to the age of 18, but only a few will be needed to support this truth. Not only did football make me tough it made other men tough and Some of us it made head strong.