Why I Love College Football

At first glance, I might not look like someone who might enjoy college football. It's noisy. It's confusing. It brings out the worst in people. But it can also bring out the best in people. It brings a group of people who might not have otherwise been in the same place, like ever, together for a common goal. It lets them feel like they're part of a group. And yes, I like sitting in a stadium with 40,000 of my closest friends all cheering for the same team. 

One of the reasons that I love college football is the feeling of being at the game. I love being surrounded by people who are all rooting for the same team, who just for that day, agree on at least one thing and they will share that bond. Especially in the student section of the stadium. You are standing (no, no sitting happens unless there's a time out) squished next to friends and strangers all screaming your heads off. There's the shared feelings of elation and disappointment and sadness and excitement. There's the cheers that everyone knows no matter what. There's the feeling of just a little bit of rebellion if you're part of the line of people passing the football to the top of the stadium after the other team scores a field goal. This might be a total case of crowd mentality but it's seriously one of the best ones. 

And then there's the mascots. Yes, my favorite is Aubie but I might be a little biased. I love how the mascot is there to really get the crowd pumped up. One of my favorite parts of actually going to a football game is watching the silly things that Aubie gets up to. Like crowd surfing, on a surfboard. Or wearing a recycling bin around the field. I love how there is this adored character whose only job is to cheer people up and get them cheering. (Aubie was a guest star in Auburn University Theatre's pops concerts that we held 2 times while I was there and during the second time, I was very happy with my role of "making sure Aubie was where he needed to be). 

I will forever be an Auburn Tiger. I will try my best every Saturday during each fall to tune in to the game. I will be cheering and screaming along with all the fans in the stadium. To me, college football is more than just a sport. It is a single event that brings people together. It brings a spirit together. It is amazing.