Guest Gameday Diva: Laney Mcgarity

September 12, 2017

We are excited to announce our newest Guest Gameday Diva - Laney Mcgarity! She is no stranger to the love of football all year round. Her father, brother, and boyfriend all coach football! Check out the post she wrote for us below about 5 things she's learned from dating a football coach:

5 Things You Learn When You’re Dating A Football Coach

Cheering on the Panthers with my dad!

Football has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Whether cheering on the Wolfpack at NC State or the Carolina Panthers, its been a major theme in our family. My dad coaches high school ball and my brother played, and now coaches. It was only natural for me to be drawn to someone who loves the game just as much as I do. I met

Cheering on my Dad and brother at their school!

Bennett in college when he was a student assistant for our University’s football team. Throughout the (ALMOST 5) years of dating, he has transitioned from student assistant to graduate assistant, and now to full-time coach. And I am so blessed to have been by his side through it all.

I am so thankful for this football lifestyle, its fun and exciting just as much as it is frustrating and exhausting. There are a few things that I never knew I would come from dating a football coach. So here are the top 5 things I have learned from dating a football coach.

Football is A Year Round Sport

The most common misconception people have about coaches is that they only work during the fall. I am here to tell you that is NOT true! While the season does happen August-November (and sometimes into December if you’re lucky ), football is a year round job. The spring is for recruiting, the summer is for workouts and camp and then the last half of the year is reserved for games. My boyfriend is lucky enough to get vacation days for the summer. However for the rest of the year, he’s in the office or on the road recruiting. And nothing ticks me off more than people belittling his job by asking “why can’t Bennett come? Isn’t he only busy during the fall?” WRONG!

Any Fall Plans Become Nonexistent

While football is technically year round, the fall is a no go when it comes to plans. You want your dream wedding in the fall? Get over it (or marry someone else ha!) Other friends getting married and want you both to attend? If it’s on a Saturday, forget about it. Not gonna lie, I have ALWAYS wanted a fall wedding. However as soon as I met Bennett, and the longer we were together, I quickly learned to pick another season. My birthday is also right in the middle of football season, however I haven’t had a problem spending most of my birthdays at a home game or on the road for an away game. This year, God smiled down on me and allowed Bennett’s BYE week to happen on the day of my birthday. So he has a few years to make up for this on this go around

There is Very Little Quality Time in Your Relationship

I do realize that when you get married, this changes. However for now Bennett and I are dating and don’t live together. So quality time can be scarce. I have missed only 3 games in the 5 seasons we have been together, so I like to think our QT is spent at the stadium. He is really good about having me come to his office when he knows he will be there late, just so we can spend time together. Even on non game days, he likes to go watch his dad coach (unreal right? even his brother coaches now!) on Friday nights, and he wants me to tag along. I don’t mind spending my Friday nights watching kids I’ve never heard of play for high schools I have also never heard of, but I know some girls aren’t like me. However, you take your quality time when you can get it.

You Realize Just How Feisty You Are When it Comes to Your Football Coach

Like I said before, my dad coaches high school ball. So before I ever even met Bennett, I was sitting in the stands supporting not only the players, but a coach too. Let me tell you, people are RUDE in the stands. Some don’t know that you’re coaches daughter/girlfriend/wife and some, sadly, don’t care! I have heard more of the meanest, and nastiest stuff come from my own stands than I have heard from opposing teams. Thick skin is essential when your significant other is a football coach. I am very sassy, and outspoken, so I have a hard time holding my tongue sometimes. And nothing brings out your inner sass than hearing someone bad mouth your coach!

You Discover a Love for Football You Never Knew Existed

There is nothing like game day. The months leading up to that first game and every Saturday throughout the season are just so exciting. Whether I am cheering for my dad, my boyfriend, or my Panthers, you can find me in the stands cheering and screaming for my boys. It’s a big joke these days that girls who know a lot about football are just trying to “impress the boys” but honey let me tell you, my love for football has NOTHING to do with impressing anybody. But there is a little sense of pride I can’t help to feel when my boyfriend says he’s proud of my football knowledge Football is a major part of my life and my relationship and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love this game!

Football season is upon us now. It is easily my FAVORITE time of year and I can see why my boyfriend chose this profession. Its exciting, rewarding and so much fun. I know he’s exhausted all the time, I know he works 10 hour days most of the time and I know a loss bring a lot of stress. However the fact that he wants to pour into these young mens lives every single day makes me so proud! I wrote this list WITH Bennett, so I don’t want people to think that this lifestyle is only negative or I am complaining about it. I am so blessed to be dating my football coach and I can’t wait to see where this life takes us next.

Live Love Gameday

PS for my ladies, HOW CUTE are my shirts in my pictures above? I discovered the coolest boutique through Instagram called Live Love Gameday. They specialize in game day apparel (for ALL sports!) and I am in love. I got my “Shake Your Pom Poms its Gameday” shirt and my long-sleeved Football hoodie from them last week and have already gotten so many complements. (They’re sold out of both the articles I am wearing, but I linked similar pieces) Every time I look on their website or Instagram page, they have added new apparel. I already know I am going to get myself into trouble this season with all my purchasing from them If you purchase anything from them, please send me game day pictures! I want to stay connected and can’t wait to see what y’all get!