Footballism of the Day: Hail Mary

So, we've all been there...you are watching a game, and suddenly everyone in the room starts talking about some play in what sounds like another language.  No one was born knowing everything about football... its all about baby steps.  We get that it can be kind of embarrassing to ask... so we are going to start highlighting "footballisms", and break it down into its simplest form for you novices... and share a bit more in-depth knowledge for you rockstar fangirls out there.  If you have one you want us to cover... just shoot us a request!

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Plain and Simple:  A Hail Mary pass essentially refers to a pass a QB makes with only a prayer for success.  Typically, these are really long forward passes thrown in pretty dire/desperate situations (often near the end of a half). There isn't really ONE "Hail Mary" play, but most teams have some type of  play in their playbook for a Hail Mary situation.

The Advanced Course:   Want to dazzle the boys with your football chops?   The expression, "Hail Mary" has been around for many moons (definitely since before we were both born), but made famous when it was used to describe the game-winning TD pass by Roger Staubach (of the Dallas Cowgirls) to Drew Pearson in a playoff game against hte Vikings (1975).  Its reported, that afterwards, Staubach said he closed his eyes and said a Hail Mary.

THE "Hail Mary" pass...

As you've gathered by now... a Hail Mary is about as far from a sure thing a QB could do, so they want to make sure they've got a guy with some magic on the receiving end.  Who would you vote for?

Food for thought...

Hugs & Touchdowns,
Lily

Saint of the Week: Jimmy Graham

In 2010, my New Orleans Saints drafted a basketball player. Jimmy Graham found his way to New Orleans as the 95th pick overall!  But his road there was a long one...

  

Part of what made me a football fan originally, was feeling personally invested in the players (i spent a good chunk of my time at Tulane interning at the Superdome & N.O. Arena).  Sometimes pure athleticism can make you root for someone, but sometimes, it helps to know their story (um... could anyone root against Michael Oher after the blindside?!).

Jimmy (yea... I like to think we are tight like that) had a pretty rough time of it as a kid.   I won't go into detail, because i think his future is the important part... but long story short, he had a mom who didn't treat him well, and he landed in a group home by the age of 11. He had to deal with older kids beating up on him (we aren't talking your cute sibling rivalry) sometimes until his eyes were swollen shut (yea, kids are mean).  In high school, a church youth counselor took him into her home, and he really started to shine... his grades went up, and he became a basketball star.   By the time he finished high school, he had earned a basketball scholarship for college.  

Graham played basketball for the Miami Hurricanes while earning his degree with a double major in marketing and management (smarty pants!)  He stuck around to take graduate classes so he could play a season of football.  He finished his first season as a tight end with just 17 receptions, but 5 touchdowns!   The whole basketball player turned football player might sound a bit strange, but it isn't as odd as you might think (can we say... Tony Gonzales?!) Plus, the Saints had Shockey and Thomas, so they felt they had the breathing room to develop Graham's rawer talent, and give him the tools he needs to become truly great player. 

My-oh-my did they made a good decision!  In his first NFL game in his home state (North Carolina), Graham caught a 19 yard touchdown pass to score his first NFL touchdown.  He finished his first season (2010) with 31 catches for 356 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Not too shabby!  But it really wasn't until this year that he truly hit his stride.  In his first 12 games, he had 75 catches for over 1,000 receiving yards.  This made him the first tight end in Saints history to have more than 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

  

 

DUNK

Graham, a true athlete, gets bonus points for playing through a lot of pain last week against the Titans, a game the must have confused for flag day... (come on guys, clean it up),  and caught five passes for 55 yards. He almost added a 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, but officials ruled that his toe apparently dusted the out-of-bounds grass. 

But even more than his accomplishments on the field... I am inspired by his character.  According to Graham, he and his biological mother are "slowly rebuilding their relationship", and he is paying it forward, working with and inspiring kids in the foster system. 

With Kids in the America Foster Care Program

Now THAT that is CHARACTER.   Glad to see yet another member of the Saints club who is a role model, not just an athlete. 

Hugs & Touchdowns,
Lily

Down With Pink (Jerseys)

Dear Women Everywhere,
Football is awesome.  If you don't already love it... let us help you fall in love! But first, one ground rule: Don't EVER wear a pink jersey.  

This might sound harsh.  But we are really just looking out for your best interest.  They are ridiculous.  They indicate that you are the kind of woman that "LOOOOOOVEEEEEEEEEEESSS <insert team name here>" , but tries to talk about the last episode of Gossip Girl while your team is in the red zone.  **Please note... we have absolutely nothing against Gossip Girl... or the color pink... we are actually both pretty damn girly, but they just have no place during game-day. 

If you are a fan... wear your team's colors with pride, get a Jersey, rock it, it's hot!   But this....

Article A:  Pink Polamalu... Seriously?!

... should NOT exist, it is a travesty.  Don't give real fans like us a bad name.  We will grant you ONE exception.... pink jerseys are totally acceptable, and even encouraged once a year... for breast cancer awareness. But beyond that, it's really not cool.  . I mean, come on, we all remember how THIS ended:

Article B:  The Kind of Girl Who Wears a Pink Jersey...

Don't be "THAT" girl. And now for a bonus...

Article C:  No.  Just... No. 

 Don't have the football knowledge? Well, you've come to the right place. We're here to teach the clueless, the uninformed, and the late bloomers. You want to hang with the boys? Beat your boyfriend in fantasy football? By the time we're done with you... you'll be having conversations about who's leading the league in rushing, and which team has the best sack artist (don't worry if this is already overwhelming... we are putting a basic terminology tutorial together!!! ).

Stay tuned for lots of fun, fabulous fangirl banter from your favorite Ravens and Saints fans...

Hugs & Touchdowns,
 
-  Lauren & Lily