well, you've built-in props. goalposts and helmets spring to mind, and heck, a football is pretty much cursor-shaped. Maybe for the 'wait' state you could make the football gyrate/spin slightly, like it was flying throught the air. I don't play/watch football, but I'm sure someone else here would have a few more ideas.
oh, and watch out for all the folks who are gonna rant about how Soccer and Rugby are really 'football'
