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Getting Into… American Football
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic hits Dublin this August, so we’ve put together a primer for new fans to brush up on their American Football knowledge.
As a child, this writer’s dad took him to a college football game at the old Lansdowne Road. Boston against West Point. I’m not sure I expressed an interest but it was a formative event, mainly thanks to the kindly American couple who invited us to sit next to them so they could explain what was happening to us. Even on a grey day in Dublin in 1988, the spectacle was evident and a hook was sunk deep.
College football returns to Dublin this year, offering a new generation an opportunity to experience the thrill of a live match and develop a new obsession. Short of finding an American to explain it to you in real time, here’s our guide to getting a good grounding in American football.
Watch…
Friday Night Lights
As good as the film is, you can skip it and go straight to the series, which ran for five seasons between 2006 and 2011. The show takes place in the fictional town of Dillon, Texas, a place where football usurps all else. Coached with paternal gruffness by Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) the Dillon Panthers go through ups and downs, from catastrophic injuries to family crises. It’s an excellent way to get a basic knowledge of football through a show that’s more concerned with the drama surrounding it. Plus, it features the best ever depiction of a married couple in Eric and Tammy Taylor (Connie Britton).
Last Chance U
![Last Chance U | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rFzvBYFrhOc/0.jpg)
This Netflix series is essentially the real-life Friday Night Lights, following the exploits of an American college that specialises in taking on talented players who have burned their bridges elsewhere. These are young men who have suffered in various ways and are mostly unaccustomed to the care and attention of academic advisor Brittany Wagner, utterly devoted in her mission to ensure the players stay in school and develop aspirations beyond the gridiron.
Any Given Sunday
Oliver Stone’s 1999 film is the Citizen Kane of sports movies. Starring Al Pacino as veteran head coach of the fictional Miami Sharks and Cameron Diaz as the team’s no-nonsense owner, it’s a remarkable look at the machinations on and off the field. With a director at the top of his game and a frankly ridiculous cast, it’s a must-see even if you’ve no interest in the sport.
Undefeated
“Football doesn’t build character, football reveals character.” Oscar-winning documentary Undefeated is a true testament to the redemptive power of sport, especially in under-privileged communities. The Manassas Tigers are whipping boys, pure and simple, until coach Bill Courtney comes in to try and turn it around. His mission is more about the players than the result, making for an incredibly emotional film. One scene in particular will shatter the hardest heart.
Read…
Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team And A Dream by H.G. Bissinger
The true story that inspired both the film and the series is as much a look at small town America as it is about the sport but, in a way, that provides the perfect route into football and its role in American communities. Most people support their local or college side with the same passion as English people follow Liverpool or Manchester United, making for a fascinating dichotomy between local pride and immense pressure.
The Blind Side by Michael Lewis
Lewis’s book is the ultimate read for fans or old. Firstly, he delves into strategy and the development of the position of left tackle through the arrival of one dominant player: linebacker Lawrence Taylor. It sounds like heady stuff, but Lewis makes it utterly fascinating and accessible. The second strand to the book is the one that most people will know from the Sandra Bullock movie, following left tackle Michael Oher from his hardscrabble upbringing to the dizzy heights of the NFL.
Listen…
The Pat McAfee Show
Former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee hosts a podcast and YouTube show with regular guest A.J. Hawk, a former linebacker for the Green Bay Packers. The show runs the entire gamut of US sports but with a particular focus on football, given the hosts’ backgrounds.
The Irish NFL Show
The No.1 destination for Irish football fans, The Irish NFL Show has been running since 2020 and offers interviews, match previews and special episodes for draft weeks, the Super Bowl and more. Once you’re up to speed with the sport, this is an excellent next level to keep up with all the movers and shakers in the game. Check it out HERE.
Get to know the teams…
North Carolina
The Tar Heels represent the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The university’s sports program is most notable for their success in basketball, being the alma mater of one Michael Jordan. They have an equally big personality in football terms at the helm of the team now as former New England Patriots Head Coach and 8x Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick calls the shots. There are currently 26 active UNC alumni playing for NFL sides, most notably New England Patriots QB and MVP candidate Drake Maye, along with a pair of standout RBs, Los Angeles Chargers’ Omarion Hampton and Dallas Cowboys’ Javonte Williams. Notable former players include three Hall of Famers, Lawrence Taylor, widely regarded as the best defensive player of all time, Chris Hanburger, and Julius Peppers.
Texas Christian University
The Horned Frogs represent Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. They were finalists in the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship game, ultimately losing to Georgia. They finished the 2025 season with a 9-4 record, winning the Alamo Bowl in an overtime victory against USC. There are 29 active NFL players that have represented TCU, most notably former Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton and Los Angeles Chargers WR Quentin Johnston. The Pro Football Hall of Fame also holds three TCU alumni, QB Sammy Baugh, DL Bob Lilly and RB LaDamian Tomlinson, who still holds the single season touchdown record with 31 scores rushing and receiving.
Aer Lingus College Football Classic
TCU face North Carolina at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on 29 August 2026
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