What are the motifs in Autumn Begins in Martins Ferry, Ohio by James Wright?

Several of Wright's poems make mention of sports and most often the game is football. "Autumn Begins" is centered around this seasonal event—one that quickly grew in popularity and has become a very real part of American culture. But why football? Why do sports such as bowling, sailing, fencing, volleyball, or even baseball not elicit the same fervor and, often times, violence from people who go to see them?