It’s FOOTBALL season!

If you’re a football fan, you know that Mercer County is centrally-located between the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants and the New York Jets.  You also know that, with the Eagles and Giants, we’re lucky to be right next to half of the NFC East – arguably the most successful division in the National Football League.  For the uninitiated, the other members of the division are the Washington Redskins (a car ride away) and the Dallas Cowboys.

The reason we’re lucky is that these teams have great rivalries.  Because the teams have done well for so many years, their games are especially competitive.  Add to this the Philadelphia fans – the toughest fans in the country.  Hey - they even booed Santa Claus.

Even if you’re not already rooting for Philly or New York, you owe it to yourself to learn about our neighboring teams.  Great places to start are the official websites for the Eagles, Jets and Giants.  Find the current roster, standings, news, blogs and links to social media.  Listen to the Eagles’ fight song.  Read about Giants history.

But…what if, after getting all excited about the Eagles and Giants, you remember “I don’t know anything about football!”  Start here for some easy explanations.  For the diehard, need-to-know-everything-before-I-watch newcomer, check out the official rules.

Stop by your local branch or go online to the library catalog to find books about the Eagles and Giants, as well as football in general.  Here’s just a small sample of what we have to offer:

Michael Vick, Finally Free by Michael Vick
Sports Illustrated Football’s Greatest edited by Bill Syken
Football by Brian Howell
Out of the Blue by Victor Cruz
The Ultimate Guide to Pro Football Teams by Shane Frederick
Tales from the Philadelphia Eagles Sidelines by Gordon Forbes
Philadelphia Eagles: The Complete Illustrated History by Les Bowen
100 Yards of Glory: The Greatest Moments in NFL History by Joe Garner

-Andrea M., Hopewell Branch

Photo courtesy of AcousticDimensions