A funny thing recently happened to me. I covered a football game and it ended up with a basketball-like score.
Baker School’s 65-48 loss to Walton would have been a nice score for basketball, but in my opinion, that’s not the score one should expect from a football game.
I’m old school in the way I think football should be played. I like the old, “Three yards and a cloud of dust,” mentality.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to the forward pass, but I think it’s a bit overrated.
And don’t even get me started on the hurry-up and spread offenses most teams at every level run today. From the National Football League to Pop Warner, ball offenses are trying to line up quickly and keep the pedal to the metal.
I understand the philosophy behind the fast-break offenses. The quicker an offense can run a play, the less chance a defense has of substituting or getting in the right set. It’s a football version of chess on steroids.
Some of the first football players I learned about were guys named Larry Csonka, Ray Nitschke and Dick Butkus. And let’s not forget Bronko Nagurski.
In 1929, Nagurski became the only player in college football history to be named an All-American at two positions — fullback and defensive tackle — in the same season.
Csonka, Nitschke, Butkus and Nagurski sound like football players, and each is a Pro Football Hall of Fame member. All but Nitschke also are College Football Hall of Fame members.
The attributes of size, speed, strength and intelligence that made great football players in generations past are still sought in the modern game. Coaches look for the biggest players who can run the fastest.
Most coaches will tell you it is easier to control the clock when playing a little smash mouth football. In reality, the best football offenses mix the run and the pass.
Crestview’s passing attack functions best when an opposing defense must respect the run. Baker runs the ball best when there is a threat of quarterback Jon Beck delivering a strike downfield.
Ultimately, a balanced offense — or at least one that presents both a run and pass threat — usually has the best results.
I still think football is one of the two greatest sports. And, if you come to my house on any given Saturday or Sunday, you will find me watching college or professional football.
That doesn’t mean I still don't long for the days of Butkus, Csonka, Nagurski and Nitschke playing when football meant 3 yards and a cloud of dust.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: DICKSON: Not my idea of football