As the scorching summer months of 2023 slowly turn to the familiar cool breezes of fall, an undercurrent of energy can be felt rippling through the world of sports fandom.
For some Americans, fall means pumpkin-spiced lattes and preparing for the holidays. But there is a special sect within our society that celebrates the fall for an entirely different reason. We don’t count down the days to Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. We count down the days until the ceremonious inception of the greatest game this great nation has to offer: College Football.
A basketball player flying through the air to throw down a dunk and hang on the rim is breathtaking. Hockey players effortlessly gliding on ice at speeds up to 35 miles per hour is awe-inspiring. However, these spectacles pale in comparison to the cross-campus combat that has taken place on fall Saturdays since the late 1800’s.
“But what about the NFL?” you might be saying… “Those guys are bigger, stronger, and faster than college football players.” That’s undoubtedly true, but the ritualistic pageantry, unique atmospheres, rich traditions, and rivalries make the college game completely unparalleled. Pro football is a festivity. College football is a religion.
Nothing compares to Metalica’s “Enter Sandman” blaring at Lane Stadium as Virginia Tech players take the field, or House of Pane’s “Jump Around” forcing every man, woman, and child at Camp Randall to recklessly bounce on the bleachers as the Badgers prepare for the 4th quarter.
In Austin, horn signs proudly fly upward, while folks riding atop the Sooner Schooner in Norman, Oklahoma intentionally point their horns disrespectfully down at the ground. It’s a spine-tingling scene every time the maize and blue winged helmets emerge from the tunnel at the Big House, followed by players leaping to touch the celebrated “Go Blue” banner before every home game. And I must admit, college football wouldn’t be complete without the disgusting display of “dotting the I” performed by Ohio State’s marching band in Columbus.
Perhaps the greatest new tradition in all of college football happens in Iowa City. As the first quarter comes to an end for the Iowa Hawkeyes, more than 70,000 players, fans, and event staff turn and wave to the pediatric patients at nearby Stead Family Children’s Hospital, where ailing children can be seen watching the games from the windows above.
Rich tradition isn’t the only thing that separates this great sport from its relatives. What happens on the field carries a weight and urgency that is rarely experienced within any other great sports competitions. You would be hard-pressed to find any regular-season game in any other sport that carries the magnitude, significance, and downright hatred of a Michigan/Ohio State or Auburn/Alabama matchup.
Despite what your opinions are of the recent evolution of collegiate football (NIL, playoff expansion, and conference realignment) you can’t deny that the incredible essence of college football lives on, perhaps in its greatest form yet.
So as we head into the 2023 season, let us not forget our beloved game was abruptly stolen from us less than 3 years ago by unprecedented circumstances, reminding us of its fragility. While it can be frustrating as a fan when the ball doesn’t bounce your way, no matter how bad your team sucks this season, don’t forget to be grateful for the greatest American sport: College Football.
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