Conor, age 4, at the living room Superbowl
Friday nights were made for high school football. Each week, my mom would order post-game food from a local catering company, make an apple crisp, and get ready for the relatives coming into town. We'd pile into the car and start the drive to wherever the game was being held, leaving more than enough time to be the first family in the stands and watch warm ups. During the game, my dad and other brothers would find any way possible to get themselves as close to the sidelines and action as they could, whether that meant having to befriend a local police officer or chat it up with a referee prior to kickoff. Somehow, they always managed to stand just outside the end zone with the best seats in the house.
Next came college football. Two of my brothers played all four years and one played for two years. I think the best day of my father's life was this one below:
Pat and Conor's teams facing off
It was the day Pat, as a freshman in college, and Conor, as a senior in college, played each other. During the kickoff, Pat and Conor ran toward each other, and for the first time, despite being on opposing teams, two brothers shared the field. It was definitely a proud and special moment for everyone.
Despite my (forced) love of football, the best part of these NESCAC college football days was, in my opinion, undoubtedly the tailgating. My dad would make us arrive around 8:30 am for a 12 or 1 pm start, which sometimes meant a 5 am wake up call. We'd set up our tent, Dan would cook breakfast sandwiches, and the day of football would begin. What's better than a fall day with family and tailgate food? In my book, not much.
Now that all my brothers have graduated from college and their own football-playing days, my family has decided to follow their favorite college team, Notre Dame, quite literally all over the world. Last year, my father and two of my brothers flew to Ireland to watch them play and this season, my dad and two other brothers are headed out to watch the Fighting Irish play the first Saturday of November.
The new Quinn baby boy is arriving soon, and I think all the boys are hoping for a football player so the next generation of Quinn's can appreciate the game that has been woven into the fabric of our family. No matter where the games were, how long took it to get there, what the outcome was-the most important thing was to be there for each other. We're the loudest cheerers, the most enthusiastic spectators, biggest fans and proudest supporters. Every fall may mean football for my brothers, but for me, football is synonymous with family. It means spending Friday nights, all day Saturday, and even Sunday when the Patriots play, together. No matter what each week had in store, we'd reconnect on the weekends for a few days of fun, and at the end of it all, that's what was most important.
As always, "Other things may change us, but we start and end with family." -AB
THIRD AND LONG, THIRD AND LONG
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