Why I Love College Football

NOTE: This is, in no way, an argument disagreeing with DMQ’s post below. In fact, I agree with DMQ 100%. There are toxic people involved in CFB – players, coaches, fans, administrators, you name it. But they’re not all that way. Hence…

There are a few things that make me love college football. I love the tradition, the pageantry, the variety of skill level and the difference in schemes, the personalities, the politics, the rivalries (all 70 of them for ND), and the joy of just sitting back with a beer in my hand for 7 hours straight on a saturday.

But what is it that I love most?

The fans.

NOT the (relatively small) part of the fanbase that are unreasonable zealots about which DMQ rants below. But the rest of the fanbase. The ones that don’t wish death on a kid because he chose another school. The ones that understand that the education is just as important as the football. Those fans that love the game for the game, and are actually saddened when they see a 19-year-old opposing player break a leg to end a career. 99% of the folks I encounter around ND football, and on this blog, are this way.

People that LOVE the game, and LOVE Notre Dame, but that always keep their fandom and the game in perspective.

There are an absolute TON of these people. And while they tend to be a bit quieter, these are awesome people. These are my friends, these are the folks that give me a random high-five on my way into Notre Dame Stadium, these are the folks that pass along pictures of their game experiences, that talk about how Notre Dame football brought the family together every Saturday.

Yes, it’s a game. And yes, there are annoying people associated with it. But even with all the ugliness that can come out of college football – all the undeserved vitriol and hate – it can also be beautiful. It can be a spirited contest of wills. It can be about underdog stories and grit and determination. It can be about overcoming the odds and it can be about bonding with your friends and family around a sport you love.

Here’s hoping that more people can see it that way.

Here’s hoping that we all can.

Here’s hoping that I can talk DMQ off the freaking ledge of blowing up HLS. Cuz if he does, I’ll have to go back to work.