Published 2002-09-11T00:00:00Z”/>

<strong>Missing the books, hitting the gridiron</strong>

Getting to class is always a little tough on a Thursday evening. When said class happens to coincide with the first official game of the NFL season, making said class becomes nearly impossible.

Sure school is important, but the NFL season starting on a Thursday?

That only happens once, maybe twice a millennium.

I had the best of intentions. I was going to use my break before class to read the textbook for my last theme class, then after, maybe I’d catch up on a little bit more reading on world religions before calling it a night. But of course, it didn’t turn out that way.

As I sat on my couch waiting for kickoff, I reasoned with myself. It’s still early in the school year. I’ve got plenty of time to go to class, and read, and even write my column. Besides, this is a sporting event, this is research. I’m supposed to be doing this. It’s my job.

As “The Star Spangled Banner” faded and the Giants received the opening kickoff, I glanced at the clock – class had started just a few minutes earlier. I could still have made the majority of lecture if I left right then. But I was having fun. No guilt pangs were going to keep me from enjoying the start of football, even if it was the Niners playing.

Halftime came and went. So did the end of class. Though it was only the second week, I had missed two classes. But I had yet to miss any football. I even caught a good portion of the pre-game festivities, including Bon Jovi and Enrique Iglesias belting out their raucous tunes.

I may not have learned about the Hindu view on nature, but I knew all about Michael Strahan and waited in anticipation of him slaughtering Jeff Garcia in the backfield. Garcia remained protected and the sack never came. Lucky for him, but what about my class?

If I were going to miss class, I wanted to see a lot of scores, and I downright needed to see Garcia covered in grass stains. Not only did Garcia stay grass stain free, but it took me a full three days to even pick up the book again. The Niners may have won their first game, but I got my reading done.

I’ll make the majority of my classes this semester, but I’d be willing to bet that Garcia won’t make it through many games without a sack. Similarly, if I don’t start making it to class, I’ll be leaving this semester with my own grass stains, my very first F.

Devin can be reached at:

<a href= “mailto:[email protected]”>[email protected]</a>