The way you want to take it off during practice. That great sensation of taking it off afterwards and how good it feels with that sweaty hair that cools you off.

The itching feeling of laying or sitting in the wet, cool, early morning summer grass when stretching out.

The itching of that hot dry summer grass doing the same stretches and such in the hot afternoon sun later the same day.

The sensation of putting that boiling hot mouthpiece in your mouth and sucking all the hot water out of it to fit your mouth..

The taste of a dust filled mouthpiece after dropping it and putting it back in.

The first day of pads.

As Freshman lugging out before practice, and dragging away after practice, all the tackling dummies.

Seeing the fool who puts the thigh pads in the wrong way.

The difference between no pads and a pre-game practice, after getting used to them.

What it's like to really give or take a good hard hit.

The loud fellowship in the locker room before practice.

After all the practice and finally putting on the game uniform, that gets you pumped for a game.

The nervousness before a game and taking the field to warm up.

Sitting in a mud filled bus after a game on a muddy field. Windows all steamed up. The sound of the cleats as players get on the bus and walk down the aisle single file. The many pieces of mud imprinted with cleat marks all over the bus floor.

The special feeling and comraderie of being part of a team.

Making friendships that will last a LIFETIME!

These are some of things that ONLY a player knows.....