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So you think FOOTBALL WARNING/DISCLAIMER The following contains components of editorial license and does not necessarily reflect the views interests or otherwise of the Downunder Football League. Its purpose is to not only inform and educate but to add an element of mitigation to the repressive ignorance and prejudice that surrounds the sport of American football. Achieving this “enlightenment “ requires on occasion examples analogies and facts from about or other sports to assist in the learning process. It does not recriminate or pass judgment on any other sport its assets or liabilities. It seeks to neither, defame or denigrate any other sport its athlete’s coaches or administrations. It merely attempts to defend any inaccuracies misconceptions and negative prejudicial perceptions on or about American football. It endeavors to utilize other sports only as a point of reference to cultivate an environment of understanding and above all respect for American football. American football is about many things. It is about amazing speed and skill its brute strength and power undeniable. It is a complex sport cerebral in nature exploding with tactics and strategy often characterized as a sporting metaphor for war complete with bombs and blitzes within its terminology and courage and self sacrifice on the field. It is about collision and violence, success and failure, maybe a perfect expression of American life where the demarcation lines are so clear they are even drawn on the field. If you prepare, work hard and do well you are rewarded you gain ground. If you do badly or make a mistake you have to pay often losing the same ground. It is a game that has impact and action complete with instant reward and punishment. It’s about tradition and ambition, and, in a real sense, the way the worlds most powerful, richest, most indulgent society sees itself. It is, especially at its apex the National Football League (NFL) all about money but also represents the evolutionary pinnacle of sports that all sports world wide look to for leadership and innovation in the fields of marketing and entertainment, media production, training techniques, merchandising, terminology, the list goes on. Despite its obvious attributes the sport is much maligned outside North America where there exists a paradox of exemplifying success and excellence whilst earning ridicule and deserving of little respect. Downunder American football experiences prejudice from every angle. Its process and philosophy is not conducive to the mentality and understanding of the Australasian demographic. It is after all seen as intrinsically and obscurely only American for Americans. Until recently It represented the last bastion of Americana that the Downunder demographic and for that matter the globalized world refused to embrace. To accept this sport was to some how bow to an imperial oppression that aggressively assaults an individual states cultural identity. It would at the least be an admittance of American influence and indulgence. As Australasia and the rest of the world adopts much of American culture merely mention American football and an interesting dynamic often takes place. An aggressive dismissive and unreceptive cultural fortification is erected followed closely by copious amounts of offensive retorts that include; “They're all wussies in pads and helmets” or “It takes too long” or “ Its to stop starty”. Perhaps the greatest restraint on the sports acceptance not to mention most widely ignored and certainly not addressed due in large part to its insidious nature are those of a cultural and nationalistic basis. These often transcend sport and encompass a wide range of variables but at its heart is an underlying tone of anti Americanism or perhaps a camouflaging of Australasia’s own cultural and nationalistic insecurities especially pertaining the perceived threat to the established football codes. The sport is overcoming this attitude born of ignorance and misunderstanding perpetuated by mistruths and prejudice almost bordering on anti American and is emerging within the Australasian environment. Like Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball, Softball, Netball, Triathlon, Mountain biking, skateboarding other X sports and numerous other American sports that are embraced as Australasia’s own complete with indigenous teams and athletes, American Football is not only entrenching itself Downunder its exploding and is achieving this despite the enormous political, cultural, economic and logistical restraints. Ernest Hemingway once warned his fellow Americans to abandon their own sense of morality when attending their first bull fight, it seems that reasonable non Americans are exercising the same open mindedness to the gridiron battles of American cities colleges and high schools, which, now given the opportunity will be Australasia’s. To understand American football better it is important to grasp American footballs influence on the world of sports and in particular Australasian sports which is often overlooked and rarely if ever recognized. It is the one sport that all sports world wide but in particular Australasian sports turn to for leadership and innovation in the fields of marketing, merchandising, media production, training techniques, terminology here too the list goes on. Its influence preempting emulation by other sports is frequently achieved in a subtle and inconspicuous almost subversive manner. This influence is often embraced by the general populace who will unwittingly accept the delivery of many facets and innovations burrowed from American football when they reside within the confines of other established sports, but have been quick to dismiss the sport of American football from which the original ideas were nurtured. There is no better illustration of this fact than to examine Australasia’s other football codes. Australian Rules, Rugby Union, Soccer, and in particular Rugby league have on numerous occasions molded ideas and concepts from American football adjusted them to fit within their own sports parameters often accepting the accolades for such innovative ideas from administrators, players, fans, other sports and in particular the media Refer to Warning / Disclaimer Australian Rules for example commonly refer to themselves as All Australians (a variation of All American terminology borrowed from American college football). It has introduced a Draft and practices video and statistical analysis not to mention playing the game in quarters and stopping the clock for out of bounds. American footballs influence has even extended to one club the Sydney Swans using the Notre Dame (a major US college football team) fight song as their own club theme. Australian Rules is not alone however. Rugby Union introduced the concept of conferences and a conference of franchises (Super 12, 14 15) based on the US College footballs own Big 10, Big 12 and Pac 12 and the structure of the NFL, this after the prompting from the “Boston Report”, (yes that would be Boston as in Massachusetts USA) a report providing submissions and ideas based on the American football example to Rugby administrations at the advent of the professional era to improve and advance the game. It has introduced video officials and mic’d up referees and increased the value of a try and conversion to 7 points (the same incidentally as a Touchdown and PAT (conversion) in American football) embellished the sport with intricate stat keeping and with mascots cheerleader and dance squads. Even the humble American football-kicking tee once ridiculed by the rugby fraternity is now an integral part of rugby law. The Spiral punt was first introduced to Rugby Union via the legendary All Black George Nepia who learned the skill from American footballers. Large player squads and positional coaches or defensive techniques (such as the Rush defense) are concepts derived from American football introduced to rugby thanks to Sir Clive Woodward the England national rugby coach who prior to winning the World Rugby Cup embraced the help of a New Zealander who happened to be coaching major College American football who understood what American football could offer Rugby Union. Super 14 Rugby coach Colin Cooper is just one of a long line of Rugby coaches that have turned to American football. American football has even influenced the way Rugby is played and officiated just ask All Black Joe Rokokoko or the IRB But there is one sport which best exemplifies the influence of American football, a sport that is familiar to both Australia and New Zealand Rugby league the sport its coaches and administrators have successfully delivered to an increasingly sophisticated sporting public American football without playing American football. Using every facet of the American game and making it its own. From team names like Broncos, Steelers, Raiders, Titans and Cowboys to the introduction of a tackle or downs count to a grid system on the playing field The North Queensland Cowboys name may have some relevance to the region. But the logo complete with star and cowboys font is remarkably similar to the original logo of the Dallas Cowboys This is a Rugby League field prior to the 1990s Since then Rugby league has introduced a grid system complete with hash marks and numbers From player interchange and substitution (for years dismissed when within the realms of American football but readily accepted now as an integral part of Rugby League) to gang tackling to believe it or not currently experimenting with eleven players and a forward pass on sixth tackle. The National Football League or NFL the American professional football competition has influenced even the way the Rugby League has been named and marketed from the old New South Wales Rugby League to the current National Rugby League or NRL National Rugby League CEO David Gallop leaves no doubt as to his feelings towards American football and the influence the sport has had on the game of Rugby League Rugby league coaches like Jack Gibson the father of modern day rugby league had from the beginning subscribed to the coaching philosophy of Vince Lombardi (American football coach) and American football training and playing techniques.

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