Crash seeks the attention and validation he hopes to receive from his parents from the sport of football instead. Football becomes a symbol of the acceptance Crash sorely desires from home but does not receive. Unlike a parent who provides equal parts encouragement and wisdom, football only serves to boost Crash’s arrogance. He is rewarded for his physical prowess and his aggression, which spills over into his life off the field. The sport which rewards Crash a sense of purpose and adoration doesn’t provide the moral compass Crash needs to know when he’s crossing the line.

Football also serves as the lens through which Crash processes his identity. In his moments of insecurity, he bolsters himself with self-encouragement reminiscent like that of his football coaches. When he attempts to dance with Jane, he tries to present himself as an attractive choice for her through his size and the number of touchdowns he scores. Gathering his confidence, he thinks to himself, “On the football field I don’t run around people, I run through them. Life is football […] I was the holder of the single-game touchdown record for Springfield Middle School […] I was Crash Coogan” (83).

Football becomes a way for Crash to explain away his aggression, until he tackles

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now