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As the calendar flipped to August, my brain rapidly transfixed onto what would soon be among us. The start of the college football season will be here before we know it. Football season, or as many call it, the greatest time of the year, holds a special place in our hearts. Something about the game with the pigskin keeps people coming back for more. So, to get to the root cause of everyone’s love for the game, I decided to compile a list. Here are the top 10 reasons to love college football.
10. Lazy Saturdays
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Saturdays can be for the boys. But sometimes, it’s nice to be alone and lay on the couch for twelve hours, indulging in the addiction that is college football. The thought of being alone and ordering every meal of the day to be delivered to my doorstep is a moment I’ve been dreaming about. Not that I don’t do that already, but being able to do it while football is on and my apple pumpkin candle smothers the air, I’m getting emotional just thinking about it.
9. Fall Is The Best Season
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Speaking of apple pumpkin candles, can we all agree that Fall is the best season? The weather is perfect, the leaves be crispy, and everyone likes Halloween candy. I’ve often wondered if I’m a basic white girl trapped in a basic white boy body. If I am, then I am not going to complain. What’s better than going to buy some orange Kit-Kat bars after watching your team get decimated by a rival? Actually, a lot is better. But the candy will ease the pain.
8. Mascots
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If you’ve ever had the opportunity to go to a college football game, you have definitely noticed the mascots. Just like the quack in the photo above, college mascots are the heartbeat of the crowd. They are the ones that really get the people going. The mascot of your team is more than just the furry friend or weird guy dressed as a Leprechaun. A mascot keeps the momentum up from the opening kickoff until the final whistle.
7. The Band
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Fight songs are synonymous with college football. Nothing sounds better than the band belting your team’s song after a big touchdown. Some songs are more annoying than others. For instance, ‘Rocky Top,’ which is one of the official songs for the Tennessee Volunteers, is enough to make your ears bleed. However, everyone needs someone or something to hate, right?
6. Rivals
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The knot in your stomach before watching your team play a rival is something we all go through. Nothing is worse than a loss to the team you hate the most. However, nothing can turn a dark day brighter than beating that said team. The pure joy of putting a little brother in their place is one of the many delights in life. Just ask Louisville fans how it feels to be owned by the University of Kentucky.
5. Gameday Rituals
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If you’re a special kind of psychotic college football fan, you probably have gameday rituals. Like eating the same breakfast or wearing the unwashed jersey that your wife has to quietly wash without telling you. Whatever your ritual may be, the thought of that routine is enough to make you believe that you helped your team win the big game. Or that you helped them lose by 60. At that point, it may be time to change up the ritual.
4. Lee Corso
There was no one wilder on TV than peak Lee Corso.
Went down the rabbit hole & boy this man said some crazy shit 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/H94IQtb7cL
— Ryan Hickey (@Ryan_Hickey3) July 29, 2023
Lee Corso is the godfather of college football. The legendary ESPN broadcaster has been a staple of my Saturday mornings for as long as I can remember. There’s a certain feeling of comfort when the Ol Ball Coach is on my television screen. Corso has delivered so many great memories in his time on College Gameday. While many other networks have tried to find their coach, there is only one Lee Corso.
3. Tailgates
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It is not socially acceptable to crank open a tall boy at 9 in the morning. Unless you are in a parking lot preparing for a football game. Getting near blackout levels of intoxicated while mowing down a stranger’s buffalo dip all before noon is an electric feeling. However, always remember to pace yourself if you’re not there for a noon kickoff. Who am I kidding, do what you want.
2. The Atmosphere
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There’s nothing sweeter than the walk into the stadium leading up to kickoff. Music is blaring; those who survived the tailgate have the perfect balance of anticipation and school spirit. The air feels different leading up to the start of the game. Nothing beats the feeling of being in the stadium when your team is creating history. The chill bumps running up and down my arms as I type this has me ready for opening weekend.
1. The Game
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There is a massive difference between college football and the NFL. Watching the NFL is a more crisp product, with the margin for error being minuscule. However, college football brings a certain unpolished product that makes the game just as enticing. Watching a team be absolutely shook by an opposing crowd can only be witnessed at the college level. College football is a game played by kids. This is why the passion and heart will always be the center of the game.
