Is Texas Youth Football really taken that seriously?

[bluestateguy]

Watching Friday Night Tykes on tv and it's just downright creepy how seriously 8-9 year old football is made out to be. The coaches are like drill seargents, the parents are crazy, there is a radio station covering youth football, football fields that look more like high school stadiums, thousands of dollars of expensive equipment, high stakes, high pressure stuff.

Football is a nice game, but I will just never understand football culture. Never will.

[madaboutharry]

1. And they cut spending where

it would make a difference, in the classroom.

[jaysunb]

2. Is water wet ?

[MADem]

3. I have acquaintances who live in AL, and they're the same way.

I know a young man, the son of a family friend, who came up in that TX football culture (he was very large and very talented, and did well--got a scholarship to college and everything), and I think they do make a big deal out of it. "You gotta be a football hero to get along with a beautiful gal..." is the way they still look at things. It's not a terribly progressive mindset. Everyone has a role to play, and there's not much opportunity for deviation.

[Texasgal]

4. Yes.

It is taken seriously unfortunately.

[Squinch]

5. Yes. AND it causes brain damage!

[SheilaT]

6. Not just football, but all sport in this country.

I've known parents who spend tens of thousands of dollars to have their kid on a travelling soccer team hoping it will get the kid an athletic scholarship down the road. Better they saved that money for college in the first place.

While sports are nice, there is an emphasis on them in this country that is completely out of proportion. All too often athletics get funded and academics get cut. Coaches are almost always the highest paid people at a college, and I believe in many high schools get paid more than teachers. What is wrong with that picture?

[Initech]

7. Makes me glad I was born when I was.

Parents today are putting putting pressure on kids today that borders on insanity. I don't know how kids can stand it.

[1000words]

8. Yes, it's insane.

There is a Dallas-area high school with a 60 million dollar stadium.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/08/dallas-suburb-unveils-new_n_1756434.html

[MicaelS]

9. Texas football is appalling sometimes.

Allen, Texas spent $60,000,000 on a new High School football stadium. And now it's closed and parts may have to be demolished. It a very upscale county and community, and it's the only High School in Allen but $60,000,000?

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-hs-opening-60m-football-field-of-dreams/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/part-of-60-million-texas-high-school-stadium-may-be-demolished/

[Vashta Nerada]

10. And no wonder Texas is low when it comes to education.

They care more about children's football than education.



http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Texas-ranking-in-national-list-of-graduation-4168311.php

[tammywammy]

11. It depends on where you are.

The high school I went to - no. None of my friends children or nephews play football. I work with a guy that has had for of his kids in competitive soccer though.

[uponit7771]

12. Used to coach in PFL, yes... its serious but the amount of fun is is outweighed by work

...that goes into it.

[OriginalGeek]

13. 1973 Offensive Lineman of the Year

Irving Boys Football Association. I started when I was 10 and played through high school. I had a blast. Maybe it wasn't as serious then. All I remember was having fun playing football and being part of a team.

(Irving is a suburb of Dallas and where the Cowboys played until they moved their stadium to Arlington a few years back).

[Skittles]

14. yes

and is indeed as pathetic as it sounds

[DiverDave]

15. Schools have no money for teachers, wait...

http://wtaw.com/2014/02/27/60-million-high-school-stadium-closed/


SIXTY MILLION!
And they cant use it...