Also how it’s a cult in southern states.

Our high school state association/hall of fame has several coaches on it who have sexually abused their players. If it becomes too much of a problem, they move on to the next small town, but a lot of them will play golf/go hunting with their superintendents (very small districts = a grift for lots of “admin” positions)

Being a football player is a free pass for all kinds of behavior, at all levels. Think of how regularly we learn that a professional player is a batterer - but in Ringaling or Waco - no one is going to care if the quarterback rapes a cheerleader.

It’s also funded disproportionately. It pissed me off looking over at a brand new football stadium and shiny new uniforms and cleats - while I was spending my own cash on vinegar and baking soda so I could have some semblance of “lab” (my sink also didn’t work lol)

But they also shaft girls athletics - that’s a big part of title 9’s sports regulations. School districts will simply pump all of their funds/attention into boys football and to a lesser extent boys basketball program. They have to be forced to allow girls chances to play.

I have no problem with people being passionate about a team, enjoying watching games, enjoying football. There’s just an extremely disturbing culture of tribalism that spills over into harmful social dynamics.