Football Boxes

Cutter's Log - Stardate 0102.13.80
Current Song - Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty)

I had been writing about most sports on a regular basis since the time I began in this profession nearly 8 years ago. I started writing about football on a regular basis, during its season, 5 years ago.

I've found it difficult to put together a football box. I can put together a story without problem. The darn box keeps delaying me.

There's three parts to the football box:

The first part of the box is easy: that's listing each score.

The second part is a bit tough because you have to add a bunch of things together. I don't know whether or not I can add these things up from whistle to interview. However, I've never tried. So I will this Friday.

Last year I typed up a worksheet that was supposed to help me put a box together quicker. I can't recall if it worked. The things that are a part of the second part of the box are: first downs, total offense, rushing yards, passing yards, completions-attempts-interceptions (C-A-I), fumbles and those lost, penalties and yards lost, and number of punts and average distance.

I have seen boxes that omit first downs, penalties and punts. In my first attempt this season, I will try to skip these stats in order to better formulate the rest. Then once I get better, I'll try to include the first downs, punts and penalties.

The third part is totaling up individual stats. I don't need a calculator.

I guess the biggest problem for me is actually formulating these numbers into a box. My template is two-sided: one for first-half stats, and the other for final game stats.

I'll just see if this works on Friday. I'm heading to Galena for their game with East Dubuque.