This all felt so normal almost like a college campus. A franchise, a team, a stadium literally embedded in the community. This just doesnt happen anymore not in the world of billion-dollar stadiums, where downtown backdrops and 200-foot jumbotrons rule the day.

After driving by Lambeau, I was introduced to my girlfriends grandmother for the first time at Thanksgiving dinner. A Wisconsin native, she only wanted to talk about was the Packers. She was impressed that I drafted Rodgers on my fantasy team, and was worried Green Bay would miss the playoffs. My grandmother couldnt pick Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel out of a three-person lineup.

Yes, football matters a little more in these parts. It just does.