There is a sign that hangs in our den that sums up our lives from August through November. The sign reads:

“We interrupt this family for football season”

Folks who visit our home get a chuckle out of the sign, but the reality is those words couldn’t be more accurate. My son’s youth football team begins training camp in August and the season runs from September through November. Throw in practice three days a week, going to see our local high school team play a couple of games, as well as rooting for the Jets and it is clear, football is a big part of our lives from August through November.

I look forward to the day a season runs through December or January because the Jets season is usually decided well before that!

This time of year, we can’t escape football in our house. Although my son’s season is over, the Jets are still the Jets. Now, with Thanksgiving on tap this week, there’s no getting away from the sport.  

It’s a day that carries so much tradition in so many different ways. We wake up to watch the parade, then we gather with family to feast on turkey, stuffing, and everything else that makes its way onto the table. But the day also centers on football, and that includes both playing it and watching it. 

Weather permitting, there’s a time during the day when we’ll grab a football from the garage and head outside to play catch. If we are lucky and have enough family together, we will play a little game of two-hand touch. Then, around noon, it’s time to gather in front of the television to watch some NFL football. Since the league began a new tradition of broadcasting a night game in 2006, there is now, even more, football to enjoy on Thanksgiving.

The whole day is about family, food, and football…sometimes not necessarily in that order.

Football is so special in our home and over the years it has become a big part of our Thanksgiving. There aren’t many occasions to keep the television on during a meal, but Thanksgiving is the rare exception. It’s always special to be around family, but a peek over to see what’s happening in Dallas, Detroit or wherever the night game is (this year Indianapolis) is always on the table.

No pun intended!

Every family has their own Thanksgiving traditions, and many of those traditions include the great game of football. After all, there’s nothing better than to be with family on Thanksgiving, but the added element of football makes the day just a little extra special.

It’s awesome to be able to attend a game on Thanksgiving. However, if it means being away from family, then I think it takes away from the day a bit. There’s nothing like a house full of people gathered around a big screen to watch a game. I had to cover two Jets games when they played on Thanksgiving nights as a result of work. The day was not the same because it forced me to spend less time with my family on a special day.

The sign says “We interrupt this family for football season” but on Thanksgiving, there should be nothing that interrupts the great tradition of family, football, and food!

 

This is an updated version of a blog that originally posted Nov. 22, 2016.

 

Peter Schwartz is a sports anchor for the CBS Sports Radio Network and WCBS 880 Radio in New York.  His older son, Bradley, plays youth football on Long Island while his younger son, Jared, plays flag football. Peter, his wife Sheryl and the boys are busy cheering on the New York Jets when they’re not at a youth football field.