Football Managing - Madeline Hoard and Chelsea Martin

Sweaty shoulder pads, pounding adrenaline, and the sound of the nearby marching band all signify the start of another Concordia Panthers football season. These young men wait all year to stand under those Friday night lights with not only their teammates, but their brothers. Together, these men set out to carry on the legacy those before them have left behind.
 

Contrary to popular belief, football managing has its perks and its drawbacks. From keeping the players hydrated to gossiping on the sidelines, we take pride in being part of the Panther football family. Sharing in the exhilarating wins and the heart breaking losses gives us the chance to bond with the players in a way that no one else can. We girls truly feel as if every August we each gain thirty new big brothers.

Being in the center of all the action can cause tempers to flare and patience to wear thin. On some occasions the coaches and players feel as if we aren’t doing our jobs to their liking, which ends in a thorough butt chewing or a few choice words. Tape seems to disappear left and right, due to many “serious injuries” such as jammed fingers and gaping blisters. On the worst days, we can find ourselves dodging tackles, flying water bottles, and escaping the wrath of angry coaches.

Whether the men like to admit it or not, without us none of them would be entertained or hydrated. Without us, the sidelines would be void of gossip. Without us, the smells of the shimmels would be unbearable. Without us, the coaches and players would have no one to tease. Without us, the players wouldn’t have anyone to wait on them hand and foot. Even though our hard work usually goes unnoticed, we are proud to call ourselves Concordia Panther Football Managers.