Every year, thousands of football fans across the nation embark on a season-long journey toward fame, immortality and yearlong bragging rights. I am talking about fantasy football.

In the past few years, I have noticed a boom in the number of my friends who have been persuaded to join a number of different fantasy leagues. But none of them has joined more leagues than I have.

I was groomed for the sport from an early age after attending a yearly fantasy draft with which my dad was involved. I was not old enough to be in the league, but I was fascinated with it from the moment I saw my first draft.

At the age of fourteen, I decided it was time to finally begin playing. I started out like many people, just playing in an online league with no one I knew. It was exhilarating to control a team of my own, free from the worries of salary cap or team chemistry. I quickly learned the ins and outs of fantasy football, how to add and drop players at the right times and pick the sleepers for the year.

But my love for the game quickly consumed me. By the time the 2006 season rolled around I was in more leagues than anyone else I knew. I had joined two online leagues on ESPN and a yahoo league with friends. I just couldn’t get enough of the draft. I felt the exhilaration of getting that one player I wanted, or picking up that player in the 13th round that I knew was going to have a break-out season.

This year my addiction has reached heights I never thought possible. I have joined four leagues with friends and continue to play in an online league that I have been a part of for three years.

I am hoping to start a help group on campus for all of us who are addicted to drafting Johnny Knox and Bernard Scott in the eighth round just because they attended ACU.

My name is Brandon Tripp, and I am addicted to fantasy football.