College football attracts fans of all ages, sizes and varieties. Of course there are plenty of students, most arriving with wild exuberance, some having painted their faces and many half in the can by game time (not at BYU, of course). And there are alumni with their friends or their spouses, or their children and grandchildren, all dressed in school colors and having established their own rituals for the Saturday games. There are fans that know the game extremely well, and others that go only occasionally, when someone offers them a ticket.
It's a fascinating environment, with instant cameraderie and a shared sense of purpose. When your team wins there is such a positive vibe rifting through the stadium that even the disinterested observer feels euphoric. And when they lose, we commiserate. But always there is a sense that there will be another game to play, even if we must wait until next year.
Angelica and I bought season tickets to BYU this year and I think I'm going to like it. Well, I hate the drive and the traffic, but really like being at the games. Today the Cougars destroyed Tulsa 49-24 and a good time was had by all. I met an older gentleman whose family has season tickets next to ours and by the 3rd quarter we were high-fiving good plays and kibitzing like old friends.
This was quite a contrast with Friday night when Sam and I went to the Bees game. It was the play-offs, but the stands were only about a third full. And while we all root for the home team, the players change so frequently that it's hard to have much emotion over it. Basically, it's just fun to be out on a fine summer night and enjoy the relaxed pace of a minor-league baseball game.
I think I could grow old being a college football fan. But I'll need to get a blue shirt.
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