CAPS Introduces Fantasy Football Addiction Counseling
Last week, Texas A&M Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) announced the beginning of the Fantasy Football Fixation (FFF) program, a group counseling session designed for Texas A&M University students and faculty who are struggling to resist the urge to check their fantasy lineups during work and school. The implementation of this program comes after a dramatic surge in the number of fantasy football leagues based in the Bryan-College Station area for the 2021 National Football League (NFL) season. The ultimate goal of FFF is to reeducate fantasy team owners on time management and tangible skills so that they can be fully ready to enter the real world when the NFL season ends this winter.
CAPS was inspired by the story of Matthew Berrymore, student and former avid fantasy league commissioner turned cautionary tale. “My team was a total bust,” Berrymore said. “I had to make trades and waiver claims every week just to make ends meet, which often occurred during my lectures.” After posting his worst GPA of his college career and coming in dead last in his FLO’s league, Berrymore decided he needed a change. He proceeded to change his major to sports management and even got an internship with a major football team this past summer. Berrymore attributes his success to the redirection of his passion within fantasy to his real life.
FFF has already begun this semester, teaching current and former fantasy players how to refocus their energy into more positive outlets. CAPS counselor and FFF mentor Adam Scheflin has already seen progress in participants, such as increased involvement in romantic and platonic relationships, improved academic performance, and increased career development. In his statement, Scheflin remarked, “FFF may not have saved me from spending 24 hours in Denny’s as a loser punishment in Fantasy Football— but it did save my marriage, which is arguably more important.”
— Century Swingers
If there’s one thing the members of the Century Club know better than soliciting donations, it’s swinging. Regardless of age, gender, or income, these people are serious about cutting loose and swinging to their hearts’ content. And by swinging, we do mean swing sets. The Association’s master swinger, Century Swingers, is a pro at installing any type of swing: tree swings, rope swings, porch swings, sawhorse swings, you name it. Rumor has it he once went the full loop around a swing set, but we’ve yet to see it happen.