I grew up watching a lot of college football. Even while living abroad, we found a way to watch games, whether early in the morning or late at night. Our family roots for three primary teams: Penn State (Dad is an alumnus), Texas A&M (Mom is a former student), and the University of Texas (Sister is a student). Of course, there are other schools I also like, but these are the three games that are not missed each weekend.
This October, I was able to attend a UT game at DKR. The result wasn’t what we had hoped for, but it was still a great time. As an American, it seems so normal to go to these massive stadiums in the U.S. and watch university teams battle on the field. In reality, this is a very unique American experience.
Love it or hate it, college sports are a huge part of our university culture in the U.S. Big money and huge pride. Maybe the fans went there, maybe they didn’t. Many of these schools have followings that are more like pro sports teams, a regional connection rather than one based on having actually attended the university. The traditions run deep. The expectations are high. Fans really care. So much so that they sometimes donate huge amounts of money to help the program. There are a lot of Dallas Cowboys fans out there, but I doubt many of them are making donations to Jerry Jones in hopes of making the team more competitive. Lionel Messi is arguably the biggest sports star in the world. What is the biggest stadium he has ever played in? Kyle Field at Texas A&M University.
You just don’t see college sports at this level anywhere else in the world. I love it, but I also understand why some feel it is controversial because it can take the focus away from academics. At the same time, it creates an experience and culture that are undeniably unique.
Leave a Reply