Go Ahead Cry, Laugh and Yell

The atmosphere of college football is one that seems to be from another world. One that is away from the stress of real life. The students and fans alike line up at the stadium gates as early as 8 a.m. to secure the best seats. It is a world where you can root for your favorite team to beat your arch rivals, while joining in the occasional “trash talk”.

This setting allows us to become angry when our team loses, which can easily result in “chucking” the remote at the television or leaving dents in the wall. It also allows us to be elevated into extremely happiness when our team earns a “W” in the result category. The emotional response to this can result in giving a total stranger a hug or an unorthodox high-five.

College football brings out an abundance of emotions which vary from one person to another. It is also one of the most enjoyable times of the year. It gives us an excuse to spend time with our friends and family, and even the annoying guy who appears to hate every team known to man. It creates a Saturday tradition of coming together at the family home, parking lots, sports bars, and stadiums.

If you’re anything like me, you may have to drive a long distance to see your favorite team play, or it may be just around the corner. Either way, take the time to enjoy yourself with friends and family. Take a deep breath and slow this ever increasingly rapid world down for a few hours. During this sacred time, called “game day”,  fathers and mothers begin to teach their children about their Alma Maters or their favorite schools. Children decorate their faces with paint and stickers that brings out smiles as wide as goal posts, anxiously waiting for the game to begin.

If you’re lucky enough to attend a college football game during these tough economic times, you will be a part of this atmosphere which makes college football so great. Among all of the excitement is the vast ocean of enthusiastic fans collectively wearing their team’s apparel, creating a band of unity as far as the eye can see. This is also one of the few times when you’re able to carry on a conversation with someone you have never met because he or she is a fellow fan.

Friends, fans, and families stretch for miles eating, drinking and singing their school fight songs. Each member enjoys the benefits of tailgating and cooking outside. Tailgate food always finds a way to be more appealing and satisfying than that of a gourmet restaurant.

Once inside the stadium, your eyes behold the sight of the beautiful field and the fans that surround it. The place begins to buzz with electricity in anticipation for the players to make their grand entrance onto the field. The noise starts to become bone-rattling and you add to the chaos by yelling at the top of your voice. Say what you want about the NFL or any other sport, but nothing comes close to the incredible atmosphere at a college football stadium in the fall.

The amity, fellowship, and brotherhood of college football will make you laugh, cry, and yell at the top of your lungs. Remember to take the opportunity to thank a service member, past and present when able. Stand-up when the National Anthem is played and sing your fight song proudly, but most importantly, remember to enjoy all of it with your friends and family.