As any girl dating a sports junkie knows, there are a few rules that apply. These unwritten rules (until now) include a brief understanding of fantasy football, loyalty toward his teams and accepting the emotional highs and lows (in my case lows) that come with the outcomes of the games.

When it comes to fantasy football, despite all the intricacies, all you need to know is that athletes get points for touchdowns and yards. If you don’t know the basics of football, such as what a touchdown or kickoff are, there’s probably no hope for you. Perks are awarded if you can remember who is on his fantasy team. However, it doesn’t matter how sexy Eric Decker is if he doesn’t contribute his share of points.

As important as fantasy football is, just remember that his real team winning is ten times more important than his fantasy team winning. If truly committed to your relationship and sports knowledge, contemplate the idea of starting your own fantasy team to compete against his. For further questions, refer to FX’s comedic show “The League.” Conveniently, all the seasons are available on Netflix, so you can marathon it to your heart’s content.

As a Colorado native, the Denver Broncos have always had a soft spot in my heart. However, upon meeting my boyfriend, I had to accept the fact that I was now a Carolina Panthers fan. Should the opportunity arise, he may just leave me for Cam Newton. Although this was hard to accept at first, due to the Panther’s initial record (they lost a couple times) I have grown to like them and their baby blue jerseys.

For those girls who shudder at the idea of wearing an odd-colored jersey, Victoria’s Secret’s Pink has a wide collection of your NFL swag needs. So you can now wear odd-colored shirts and sweats bedazzled in rhinestones while making your man happy.

With the Panthers initial record of 0-2, I had to accept the fact that at times my boyfriend would be on a downward spiral of depression, especially when losing to the Cardinals. However, after winning four out of five games, screaming at fans of the other team in public and downing countless Bud Lights has now become a norm. Many may see this as bi-polar, but in reality it’s just the life of a diehard sports fan.

Remember, never change for another person. Unless it’s your outlook on sports and your favorite teams.

cchiovit@mavs.coloradomesa.edu