RHOCF (The REAL Housewives Of College Football)

RHOCF (The REAL Housewives of College Football.) 

I am going to be 100% real.....being a College Football Coach's wife isn't all that glamorous. Not at all actually. I mean sure, getting free tickets to football games is great, but if you lose......you have a grumpy coach coming home with you after the game☹️👎🏼. Football wives completely understand why losses are so hard for them (they're just as tough on us too). We know the hours coaches put in day in and day out, because we are putting in the same hours off the field. While our husbands are away coming up with the next big game plan.....we are handling everything else on the home front. The season gets long after weeks of very little time together with our husbands on most days (if any at all). 

While the coaches at the Power 5 level make a great living, many college football coaches don't make the big bucks and a family needs a second source of income to get by.  I started a new job this week nannying for another family. During the day I watch a 3 year-old, a two year-old, and a 6 month old, in addition to my own 1 year old. It's a great way to make money while your children are young, balancing family with this football life. It has not been easy to have a career outside of the home being moved around as much as our football family has.......9 times in 14 years to be exact. Only a couple of our moves have been fully paid for......FYI.....it's not at all cheap moving from Virgina to Illinois. Balancing a job (whatever it is) and running a household almost entirely by yourself can be a real grind........but coaches' wives are still the glue that holds the family together. Sometimes it can be a lot of weight on ones shoulders. Nannying has allowed me to work while still being there to support my children. From help with homework, transportation to activities, to being a cheerleader for them in sports, working inside the home has offered my children stability despite the moving around and their Dad's time away due to football. 

There are other ways to make/save money as a coaches' wife. I have had a number of garage sales before we have moved. Sometimes I knew certain furniture wouldn't fit into our new place, but mostly.....who needs to keep your old school's gear when your loyalty is to a new team right?!?!  Moves have also ended up being our "vacations." We visited Mount Rushmore on our move to Montana two summers ago. When life hands a coach's wife lemons.....she makes lemonade.....we are just tough like that.

Thursday nights are often coaches' families favorite nights in the season. It's usually the only night of the week we can all eat dinner together as a family. After getting kids 3 kids off to school, watching four little ones all day, helping my kindergartner with some homework, cheering at my 8th grader's cross country meet, getting my 6th grader off to football practice, and managIng to find the time to cook.....I get to look forward to having an extra set of hands for that few hours after football practice. It's nice to get help reading/tucking kids into bed, cleaning up after dinner, and just a little bit of family time.

So after my husband was gone this past weekend recruiting (our bye-week.) I drove to another town with our kiddos to my son's football game and even managed to mow our lawn (while our baby napped.) To be 100% real.....I've probably used more tools in our house and mowed way more than my husband has since we moved to South Dakota....no...not a glamorous life. That's just what we coaches wives do in football....we keep our home together.....all the while our coaches try to figure out the next big play or player.🛠🏈💪🏻

And that's a REAL housewife of College football (RHOCF).....It's not an easy life.....through the moves, time apart, and sometimes living paycheck to paycheck.......But I love my family and this football life........I can't resist a big guy with a whistle 😉🏈👍🏼.

Born Into Football

Yesterday we celebrated the youngest of my four boys turning one. My husband was even able to sneak home for an hour in between his meetings to see Maverick eat his cake......it's the football season right?!?!?!

Maverick Montana Eck was born during the season last year on 9/5/15. It was a Saturday after the Bobcat's first (Thursday night) home game, with a bye-week the following week (what a good football baby👶🏼🏥🏈👍🏼).

I, unfortunately, had to have my first c-section. I remember just crying after I found out....I had already been pushing for over three hours. I cried more from thinking about the recovery than from the actual scar I would have. Those who are football wives know....there is no extra help from our husbands in the fall......"it's the season." You also can probably understand and relate to living far away from extended family, as we were at the time in Montana. Thankfully, my mom came out for the first few days after I came home from the hospital, but c-sections can take weeks to fully recover from.

My baby Maverick and I made it through it together....we had to.....it was "the season". I took my 10 year old son to football, helped him and the 12 year-old with homework (often while nursing), ran the 4 year-old to preschool, and tried my best to be a good mama with their everyday life👶🏼👦🏼👦🏻👦🏼🏃🏼.

I will say I also had the most amazing support from coaches wives and football friends. Bringing me dinner and checking in on us regularly to see how we were doing. Sometimes I truly wonder where I would I be without all of you ladies❤️🏈👩🏼👩🏻👩🏽👩🏾👩🏿.

Two weeks after He was born, Maverick, attended his first football game.....all geared up of course. What can I say......I start them young. All my boys were born into this game and I am going to make sure they love every single minute of it🏈😍👍🏼.

My first born, Quentin, went to a bowl game as an infant, and just two seasons ago my oldest three boys traveled with the team when we went to the D2 national championship game. We were at Minnesota State University, Mankato (the Mavericks!), and my 5 year old still to this day talks about how much he loved Kansas City💛👦🏼💜🏈. We didn't bring home the trophy, but we found out we brought home something better.....we were pregnant with our Maverick💛🏈👶🏼🏆💜.

I know there are many out there that  think it's better to time up babies during the off season......trust me, I've heard your opinions. Life happens people, and what a blessing that is. We coaches' wives are tough women and can handle a baby during the season or under any kind of circumstances. Plus we can't all have our babies in July right😉.

I just love my football baby. He's worth any scar and all the pain I dealt with then. For Maverick's second football season he will probably go to some close away games, and he will be at almost every home game (unless it's a night game....he's ornery if he doesn't get his sleep.....sorry....mama wants to watch the game😉👶🏼💙🐰💛🏈.)

God bless all the wives this season having babies. They make the best snugglers on those game days. Wins are great, and losses are hard, but those football babies help remind us what is truly important. I can't imagine this football life without my kids cheering by my side......GO JACKS💛🐰💙🏈!!!

🏈My "Game Plan" to Feeding The Players💍

This Sunday we fed the offensive line.....we always try to do it at least once during the season for my husband's players.

We usually feed anywhere from 15 to 25 guys who all have big appetites. Here is my game plan of how to get it done:

1. Prepare ahead of time.

I clean the house that week, make my menu/shopping list, and grocery shop🏃🏼📝

2. Put together the side dishes.

I always make about 2-3 chili cheese dips the night before. That way I can just throw 

them in the oven and they have something to snack on right when they get to our house. A big pasta salad is always good to make the day before too. I just add the 

dressing the day of.

Chili Cheese Dip

2 cans Hormel chili 

Shredded Mexican cheese

2 packages of cream cheese.

Layer a large baking dish with two blocks of cream cheese. Add cans of chili, and top with shredded cheese. This will make one pan. 

3. Grill out.

I handle all the sides while my husband mans the grill......there's no "i" in 

team......right??😉🏈. Burgers, hot dogs, brats, or chicken breasts are the usual choices. 

4. Drinks. Keep it simple. Bottled waters,  lemonade, or gatorades. Really, anything that's already in a can or bottle. It eliminates needing cups and you can chill them in a cooler ahead of time.

5. The sides.

A pasta salad and a fruit salad are my staples, but another player favorite in the fall is my famous fruit dip with sliced apples. Super easy and they love it.  Recipe below:

Fruit Dip

2-4 blocks of cream cheese 

Brown sugar 

Best paired with green apples

I microwave the cream cheese for about 30 seconds or so too help the mixing 

process. Mix in brown sugar with cream cheese until smooth. Taste test to decide if you need more brown sugar or cream cheese. Serve on ua tray with sliced apples.

5. The Traditional O-Line dessert.

I learned a great recipe from another coach's wife (thanks Bev!) when we were at the University of Colorado. It's an ice cream dessert that the players love, and best of all its SO easy! Coaches' wives are always asking me for the recipe, and I am happy to share as it was shared with me. The only tedious part is unwrapping all the ice cream sandwiches. I make 2-3 pans of it just to be safe. Again, best to prepare morning of, 

or the night before to allow it to re-freeze. 

The O-line Dessert

Two packages of Ice cream sandwiches

Large container of cool whip

Caramel sauce

Chocolate sauce 

Peanuts (salted)

Layer a large pan with unwrapped ice cream sandwiches. Next, put half of the large tub of cool whip on top. Drizzle caramel, chocolate sauce, and peanuts. Repeat all 

steps. Chill for at least a few hours. 

6. Don't forget the little details.

I try to have the house set up with football games on TV, corn hole and croquet set up outside, and our boys decked out in team gear. I get plates and napkins in team colors and always pick up a few table cloth covers at the dollar tree. They're easy to throw away and make cleaning up easier when it's all said and done (also available in school colors). 

I always feel our dinner was a success when there are leftovers and we are sending home 15+ O-Lineman full and happy. Another successful night for our Jackrabbits.....thanks to a good game plan💛🐰💙🏈.

🏈A Prayer For The Coach's Wife👰🏼

A little Monday motivation......and prayer to help get us through this football season. I keep this and read it every year before the season starts. With fall camps coming to an end, I wanted to share this prayer with you all...........

Best of luck to you all this season ladies. Go Jacks🙏🏼💛🏈💙🐰👰🏼💍!!!!!!!!!

👰🏼🏈How a Coach's Wife Survives Fall Training Camp❤️💍

There is a reason why so many of us jokingly say to our family & friends, or post on social media......"hello August....goodbye husband."...... or maybe the old saying...."we interrupt this marriage to bring you the football season." But all jokes aside.....it's pretty much the truth.

It's not easy for any of us....period. Whether you have kids or not. Work outside the home or are a full time mama. In August, being a football wife (or as some like to joke...football widow), can be lonely and training camp can seem to drag on⏳. Our husbands are working extremely hard to prepare for the season......while we handle pretty much everything else on the Homefront👶🏼👦🏼👦🏻👦🏼🏃🏼🏡.

Here are some ways I try to look at the positive sides to fall training camp:

1. Travel. You can go see family or friends you haven't been able to see.  I have spent many Summers going to visit my family while my husband started fall camp✈️🛣🚙.

2. Meals Just Got A Whole Lot Easier. My kids make me feel like I am some big time chef when I make buttered noodles or chicken nuggets & fries. I can also remember many nights of fall training camps over the years eating cereal for dinner....just to be easy. No elaborate meals
necessary!

3. That Extra ME Time. I have some nights to myself for a mani/pedi or face mask. I'll go get my hair done (the season is approaching😉), or even catch up on my favorite shows.....Housewives anyone?💅🏼💆🏼💇🏼📺🍷

 

4. Less Housework. Having four babes that are all boys is an endless amount of laundry and things never seem or stay clean. Eliminating one boy (the biggest one) some how makes things seem a little bit easier👶🏼👦🏼👦🏻👦🏼.

5. Football Wives Night. Almost every school we've been to, (9 in 14 years to get specific), there is some kind of get together with the other coaches wives during camp. It's always comforting being around women who actually get why you haven't seen much of your husband. It's also nice to have some adult conversation.....without hearing the theme song of Paw Patrol in the background. Plus wine and food is always a great reason to get together🏈😉🍷.

6. You Can Finish Your "Must Get Done  Before The Season List." From getting the kids ready for school (supplies, haircuts, clothes, appointments, etcetera), deep cleaning the house (we always visitors in the season), washing the car before the first home game (ok, I admit, I am a little superstitious about that one), and planning and stocking up the fridge/pantry for tailgating, there is a lot to get done before the first game. I know we all have our own version of the list ....right🏈😉📝?

7. DIY Time?! I've been crafty enough during camp to make a football wreath a time or two (probably more) for the upcoming football season (we've moved around....trust me). Plus I know we all have that one board on Pinterest on some random things we have to make. It's also a time I like to catch up on scrapbooking my kiddos. 

8. Another Summer Break in the Books. I love enjoying the last few weeks of summer with just my kiddos and I.....there is only so many summer breaks you have with them. Have a movie night, play a board game, go to the pool, go watch practice (four boys+football field=❤️), and just keep busy enjoying those last moments of summer with them....they grow up so fast.👶🏼👦🏼👦🏻👦🏼🏈🏃🏼☀️🏊🏼🚲

Some days can be long and lonely, but there is a reason why our husbands chose us to be their wives. We are strong, understanding, dedicated, and independent women who just happen to love football.....boy are they lucky!!!!!👰🏼💍🏈❤️. 

At SDSU we are officially over a week into fall training camp....not that I am counting...and Team Eck is excitedly anticipating the football season.....Go Jacks!!🗓💙🐰💛🏈

I wish you all the best this season 😉🏈❤️🙏🏼.

🏈The Football Wife👰🏼

This was given to me by another coaches wife back when we were at the University of Idaho. I thought it could help motivate us during fall camp and the upcoming football season. Best of luck to you this season.

The Football Wife👰🏼

The good Lord was creating a model for football wives, and was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared.  She said, "Lord you seem to be having a lot of trouble with this one.  What's wrong with the standard model?"

The Lord replied, "Have you seen the specs on this order?  She has to be completely independent, possess the qualities of both father and mother, be a perfect hostess to 4 or 40 with an hour's notice, run on black coffee, handle every emergency imaginable without a manual, be able to carry on cheerfully, even if she is pregnant and has the flu, and she must be willing to move to a new location 10 times in 17 years.  And oh, yes, she must have six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head.  "Six pairs of hands? No way."

The Lord continued, "Don't worry, we will make other football wives to help her.  And we will give her an unusually strong heart so it can swell with pride in her husband's achievements, sustain the pain of separations, beat soundly when it is overworked and tired, and be large enough to say, 'I understand,' when she doesn't, and say, 'Iove you,' regardless."

"Lord," said the angel, touching his arm gently, "Go to bed and get some rest.  You can finish this tomorrow."

"I can't stop now,"  said the Lord.  "I am so close to creating something unique.  Already this model heals herself when she is sick, can put up six unexpected guests for the weekend, wave goodbye to her husband and understand why it's important that he leave."

The angel circled the model of the football wife, looked at it closely and sighed, "it looks fine, but it's too soft."

"She might look soft, " replied the Lord, "but she has the strength of a lion.  You would not believe what she can endure."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Lord's creation.  "There's a leak," she announced.  "Something is wrong with the construction.  I am not surprised that it has cracked.  You are trying to put too much into this model."

The Lord appeared offended at the angel's lack of confidence.  "What you see is not a leak," he said.  "It's a tear."

"A tear?  What is it there for?" asked the angel.

The Lord replied, "It's for joy, sadness, pain, disappointment, loneliness, pride and a dedication to all the values that she and her husband hold dear."

"You are a genius!" exclaimed the angel.

The Lord looked puzzled and replied, "I didn't put it there"

👗Be a Game Day Fashionista🏈

Football is just around the corner ladies and we all need to be getting ready for our game day fashions. One of my favorite spots to shop for football clothing/accessories is on Etsy. I have bought custom accessories and clothing that make you feel like a one of a kind game day fashionista🏈💃🏼.

Don't get me wrong, the book store always has some cute gear, but who wants to see your game day look on hundreds of other ladies....am I right? Plus, a hoodie can only be so cute......comfy, yes....but not always the most flattering. 

Here are some tips to spruce up your game day look👗🏈💅🏼:

#1 Always ACCESSORIZE!! I bought the most adorable football cuff bracelet on Etsy. It's always fun to have a little bling on to show your team spirit. I am also not afraid to sport team eye black stickers for the big games! Even my purse or diaper bags has to coordinate🏈👜.

#2 Go custom girl. I am currently having a cute custom scarf made through a boutique I found on Pinterest. The boutique, takes a couple of your team t-shirts and makes a cute scarf out of it. Another great online boutique I found takes a team t-shirt and turns it into a fabulous dress (maxi, short, strapless, sleeved, or even one shouldered.) Plus she works with you on finding a fabric that coordinates amazingly with your t-shirt. Love my new one of a kind Jackrabbits dress💙🏈💛🐰👗!!!

#3 Shop Team Colors. Because I usually have football season on the brain, whenever I am out shopping I am always thinking team colors. I found a cute navy/white chevron maxi dress at Sam's club (yes, I am dead serious) when I was pregnant. I paired it with a cute gold scarf to wear for a game last season. Or pick a cute flannel for colder games to wear with leggings  (in your team colors of course💙🐰💛🏈.)

#4 Best foot forward. I have a collection of game shoes/boots I love to wear for games. Uggs are my favorite for cold weather because they keep your toes warm and you can find them in many colors. I have a growing collection and they've all been very good to me on a chilly game days. Or for those wet games, a Hunter boot is fun because they also come in an array of team colors and pair nicely with sweaters, or a flannel with leggings. 

#5 Search the Internet. I have found the Custest clothes online just by searching "game day gear" , "football fashion for women", etcetera on Google. You can also follow my Pinterest Board "Football Wife" (under Kimberly Eck) to get links to online boutiques, custom pieces, or other gameday fashion ideas.

#6 Nail it!!!! Step it up with a great mani/pedi in team colors. I prefer gel/shellac because it lasts longer with kiddos and I am constantly washing my hands. It's also fun to try some cute nail art. Bring those spirit fingers to the game girl 🙌🏻💅🏼🏈!!!!

#7 What's old is new again. I had this really cute under armor top from a school my husband used to coach at (sometimes I keep a few of my favorites😉). I went to our book store and bought a team patch for $5.99 and covered the old logo with our new team.....GO JACKRABBITS!!! The top was pricey, and now I get a little more use out of it💙🏈💛🐰.

#8 Game Day Hair!!! I always get my hair done (highlights and lows) as close to the first football game as possible. My favorite is to mix up styles for game day. Straight, curled, also who doesn't love a side pony, but my fave look is beach waves with a bandana headband. Beach waves are very forgiving on a windy game day.....plus you can find any color bandanna you can imagine at a Hobby Lobby💆🏼💇🏼👩🏼.

#9 Don't forget the Babes!  I make sure I'm not the only one geared up from head to toe on game day! Jerseys, eyeblack, football leg warmers for baby, game day bows, beanies, mittens, etc...... Go big or go home 🏈👶🏼👦🏼👦🏻👦🏼🐰.

So with our first game of the season, one month away (but who's counting😉), I am anxiously awaiting for the mail to bring me my new looks for SDSU's 2016 season......GO JACKS👦🏻🏈🐰💙! In this house we are always prepared for football season👍🏼. Bring it on gameday ladies....and be a football fashionista🏈👗.