(NAPSA}—The football season is moving into high gear as teams vie for victory each weekend. They travel, they prepare, they support, theytailgate...they tailgate? Each weekend over 500,000 NFL fans turn out to support their teams. Traveling long distances, crowding roadways and arriving hours before kickoff, many NFL fans argue that their football passion is a way oflife, not simply a hobby. Researchers scoured the NFL to report on how ultimate football fans participate in the game they love beyond simply attending games: * Far, Far Away—Teams have established networksfor fans that have moved far away from their teams. The Green Bay Packers created the “Packer Watch List” specifically to assure that every fans support the NFL, but how many have what it takes to be an ultimate fan? For the fourth vear, the Visa Hall of Fans contest looks te honor one ultimate fan from each NFL team in a unique fan- only exhibit at the Pro Foothall Hall of Fame as well as honoring the fans’ dedication on field during a home game. Lock on www.visa.comfor contest informa- Packerfan can wateh the games in any eity with fellow Packer fans. Lock on www.packers.cora for mere information. * Get Invelved with Your Team Off the Fieid-—Teams have connections to various local aod national charities such as tion, rules and entryforms. * Take a Walk in Their Shoes—Mini-training camps, fan volunteers in each NFL mar- inforraation. the NFL Quarterback Award. The program recognizes outstanding such as the Jets’ Zone, are held outside stadiums before kickoff. Fans can participate in punt, pass and kick drills to hone their game’s basic skills. Look on www newyorkjets.com or your favorite team’s Web site for more ket and awards more than $1 Fan loyalty is valued well beyond ticket sales. If you're a wwwINFL.com or team Web sites your favorite team’s Web site to million to the charitable organizations they serve. Look on such as www.sf49ers.com for more information on this and other charities. * Prove Yourself—Millions of football fan, look on NFL.com or find an abundance of free team information, contests and events where you can show what you're made of: an ultimate fan.
