(S18) - PT4 - Fall

[Fordhammer]

Playing in Philly in the fall is not great. The wind is horrible, the cold is biting. The only real positive is it makes going up to places like Yellowknife a little easier in the winter. We prepare in the fall using a number of tactics that some teams might deem unnecessary. First, every dead leaf from the nearby trees is raked into the stadium. These are then spread over the field, as well as piled up in the endzones in giant piles. This allows the goal line to simulate a stout defensive line. In reality, it's really not that strong of a line as all it takes is a couple of practice drives and the leaves are flattened. The team has complained several times about the absurdity of this practice, but management has resisted. As punishment for protesting, the players are now required to do the raking of the leaves themselves. The second tradition is a giant Thanksgiving tradition. Each player is required to bring a homemade dish. Nacho Varga, never to be outdone, has an incredible turkey stuffing recipe that everyone gobbles right up. The team has a great time and the offensive lineman appreciate the extra calories to maintain their sizable girth. The skill players usually go easy on the meal, but enjoy it nonetheless.