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We can learn a lot of lessons from the game, especially when it comes to mistakes made on the field that provoke penalties or could cost potential points for the team you're backing. Many of these 'penalties' from the rules of football can apply in life as well.
First--Block in the Back. On a run back (for the most part), the opponent cannot push or tackle from behind, thus 'blindsiding' the other player. This rule is broken not only every game but it seems on every run back. It is the most evident NOT to do in my eyes. How is it that you can see something right in front of you and disregard your actions to essentially cut corners by wiping out a fair pathway for your opponent? I scream at the TV, "Why!!" You just hurt your team by something obvious you could have prevented.
Second--Leaving Points on the Field Before the Half. Now, even though this isn't technically a flagged penalty, it still is a mistake that hurts the team's chances. The Lions have been guilty of this many times this year, it's called poor clock management. You have opportunities staring you in the face and you mismanage taking full benefit of the time remaining in the first half of play to add to your point total. Many things can happen like a pass interference call down the field, a missed tackle, or a roughing call on the quarterback but if you don't even try--the urgency to gain possible winning points will be gone - left on the field.
Third--Throwing a Pass to a Receiver Short of the First Down Marker. When routes are not executed precisely, or a quarterback isn't looking at the entire field, then the 1st down is not achieved because the player came up short. How frustrating.
The parallels to life are fairly obvious yet noteworthy. If you don't see and pay attention to what is right in front of you, you'll hurt not only yourself, but all of those who are rooting for you. Don't leave opportunities on the field before you leave high school. What good is it? If you squander what is potentially available, you could come up empty at the end when you really needed to take advantage of the time you had. And extend....yes, extend far enough to complete your goal... and don't come up short because you didn't execute a plan or you were too lackadaisical to care.
Yes, there are many valuable lessons we can learn from play on a competitive field. First and foremost....give yourself the edge -be wearing the dark, home uniforms.
***GO! MSU!