It's fall 2006, and I'm sitting in a dark theater with a few friends, waiting for The Covenant to start. A trailer for some typical football show comes on. Ugh, football. How I loathe thee. But hey, the long-haired witch guy from the movie we're about to troll will be in it, sooo... a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

I watch the pilot at home on premiere night - October 3, 2006 - and when it's over, I am confused. I hate football. I hate sports and players and cheerleaders and enthusiasm and high school. So why the hell did I love this show?

Friday Night Lights has been over for quite...