Why Are You A "College" Football Fan?
- Thread starter NDVT
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I hardly ever watch NFL. I have no idea who is leading their division or what any teams record is.
Just like you I find college football far more exciting and tune in to watch all the games from 11am est to wee hours of the night. I think the games are more exciting because there's more passion and energy at college level. More pageantry, the bands, the beautiful environment of college campuses along with slightly less commercial emphasis on the games because its a university environment all play a role into this.
I've been to just 2 NFL games and they seemed so dull and boring to me. I've been to many ND games (road & home) and they seemed so festive and exciting compared to NFL.
Just like you I find college football far more exciting and tune in to watch all the games from 11am est to wee hours of the night. I think the games are more exciting because there's more passion and energy at college level. More pageantry, the bands, the beautiful environment of college campuses along with slightly less commercial emphasis on the games because its a university environment all play a role into this.
I've been to just 2 NFL games and they seemed so dull and boring to me. I've been to many ND games (road & home) and they seemed so festive and exciting compared to NFL.
IMHO, once you've been to college and make that connection, it's almost impossible to have the same level of passion with any NFL team that you have with your alma mater. Before I went to ND in the mid 70's we were Patriots season tix holders and I considered myself a passionate fan. But once you make the personal college connection, it's just not the same.
Leading from that, your passion for your college team leads you to take a bigger interest in other college games. Your rivals, teams you have played, teams you are scheduled to play, historic rivalry games, etc. So eventually that stuff trumps your NFL interest.
An added factor is, once you get to the age where you actually have responsibilities in life, like families, kids, jobs, etc., you can not devote BOTH Saturday and Sunday, mentally or physically, to football. That creates a bigger divide between your college and NFL level of interest.
Leading from that, your passion for your college team leads you to take a bigger interest in other college games. Your rivals, teams you have played, teams you are scheduled to play, historic rivalry games, etc. So eventually that stuff trumps your NFL interest.
An added factor is, once you get to the age where you actually have responsibilities in life, like families, kids, jobs, etc., you can not devote BOTH Saturday and Sunday, mentally or physically, to football. That creates a bigger divide between your college and NFL level of interest.
I read a book not too long ago which described CFB as "a cornucopia of singular traditions." The game simply has traditions like no other sport. From alums returning to haunting grounds of their youth, to marching bands and fight songs, the game has something the NFL can't touch.
I not watched an NFL game for literally 30-35 years. It interests me not at all. But every Saturday in September, October and November, I am either at a game or parked in my den watching games on TV.
I not watched an NFL game for literally 30-35 years. It interests me not at all. But every Saturday in September, October and November, I am either at a game or parked in my den watching games on TV.
All the reasons previously cited plus a young man CHOOSES to come to ND no money unless you count the scholie involved
It is more emotion and pure
All great answers and they sum it up exactly how I feel. I can watch a Thursday night game and all day Saturday when it comes to college ball. When it comes to the NFL, when my team (the Pats) play and it's boring or late I have zero problems turning the game off.
Let's all enojoy it why we can, before the big money gets its fingers deeper into the game .
Who need losing records playing in playoofs and parity running rampid
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Well my father got me into following ND football. In fact my whole family has followed ND football which goes way back. I do watch the NFL. Not as much as I use to though. The college game is just better overall in terms of traditions, pagentry and big games. Sure, there are lots of mismatches. But there are also great games and great rivalries all over the country. The NFL doesn't have that. The whole game day atmosphere is just better. I know plenty of people who don't get into college football. They are into the NFL. No biggie, to each his own. By far my favorite time of year is the start of college football to all the bowl games. When it's over, I am already looking foward to the new season. I thought as i got older my passion would diminish. It has not. I am has passionate now about ND football as I was 30 to 40 years ago. Go Irish!!
Because ND beat Alabama 24-23 on a New Years Eve night in 1973 and an 8 year old boy fell in love with ND Football and College Football.
College has certainly become closer to pros over the years, but there is nothing like college. Whether football or basketball, the college game far exceeds the pros. Not because they are more athletic, but probably because they aren't. They play for each other and for their school. I went to an NFL game a couple of weeks ago, and while it was fun to be there, it was mainly because we were in club suites with all of the food and drinks at our disposal. We sat inside and talked about everything other than the game. In fact while waiting in line for one of the buffets, I saw a friend from town and commented to him that this was a great meal and I even heard there was a game going on. College has more loyalty. When players come, they are generally there for four years - at their choice. In the pros, while they may be team games, it is all about the individual and getting paid. I am happy to see people get to the NFL and get paid, but in hearing from players who made it to Sundays, they seem to miss the camaraderie of the college environment.
I failed to mention that specific game. New Years Eve, Tulane stadium. I know there are those who feel ND/ Miami was the greatest game. However, that 1973 Sugar Bowl was for the national championship. A game where no one gave ND much of a chance. And for the record even though Alabama claims the 1973 championship, only because the AP poll back then voted before the bowl games. ND is the true 1973 champion.
College football is just a warm up for the real games on Sundays that are actually decided on the field and playoffs are not beauty contests that need to be picked by committees or polls. NFL playoffs mean something unlike the 40 useless college bowls and you dont have to wait 4 weeks after the season ends losing interest every day.
I couldn't disagree more with this entire post. Go enjoy the NFL. IMO, the NFL sucks.
Perhaps in northern California. Not in the midwest, and 100% definitely not in the south or southwest.
Like you, I was forming my football fanship for life at that time. The Redskins were going to the SB and ND won the national championship and I watched every minute of the game. That was the first time in my life that I stayed up to ring in the New Year's celebration.
Back then I was much more into the NFL and it stayed that way until the early 90's even though I was very passionate about ND football - I was just more passionate about the Redskins. Then, after the Redskins won their last SB something changed in the NFL - free agency. I no longer viewed the NFL as a team sport but, rather, an individual sport where players go to the highest bidder. It became too hard to follow a team because so many players were gone the next year.
ND no longer has to split my passion for football with any team in the NFL - it's all theirs. I love the emotion of CFB and the team camaraderie. CFB is steeped in tradition that cannot be matched, IMO.
If the NFL went out of business tomorrow, I wouldn't shed a tear. I find it incredibly boring.
college football hands down. grew up and live in Calif - became an ND fan in 1970 - watched the ND / SC game and then I think it was the ND / TX game in the bowl that year. The 73 Suger Bowl locked me in for life very hard into ND. Had a close relative on the 73 team and my parents were at the game along w/ aunts and uncles. It was such a classic game. One of the best games of all time.
When the game was over - as a10 year old - I rearranged our Christmas lights on the front upper balcony of our two story house to read as "ND 1" kept the Xmass lights up an extra week that year.
First game ever to attend at ND was the 77 Green Jersey game - got to go to the friday practice and in the locker room after practice one of the coaches told us there was gonna be a great surprise for the game on Sat.
But, aside from ND football w/ all the great tradition / the band / the mission and value of the school - graduating over 95 % of all its football players every year - the other main reason I love the College game over the pro game is that the pro game is extremely predictable and boring. No creativity - every team runs dam near the same type offense and almost all the coaches rarely take chances - very few trick plays - no kick off returns anymore. No 4th down gambles to go for it or very rare.
In college football - you have different offensive schemes from just enough teams - you see more trick plays - you have much more creativity - which makes the game a lot more fun to watch. And you have many more coaches willing to go for it on 4th down from the other teams 49 to 35 yard line - and sometimes even from the other side of the 50 - much more ballsy play calling. And the game day experience w/ each school's pride and spirit is so much better than an NFL game.
The two are not all that close IMO in terms of what is better to watch and enjoy.
I am amazed that the NFL has such a hardcore following though - I do watch it once the playoffs come around.
When the game was over - as a10 year old - I rearranged our Christmas lights on the front upper balcony of our two story house to read as "ND 1" kept the Xmass lights up an extra week that year.
First game ever to attend at ND was the 77 Green Jersey game - got to go to the friday practice and in the locker room after practice one of the coaches told us there was gonna be a great surprise for the game on Sat.
But, aside from ND football w/ all the great tradition / the band / the mission and value of the school - graduating over 95 % of all its football players every year - the other main reason I love the College game over the pro game is that the pro game is extremely predictable and boring. No creativity - every team runs dam near the same type offense and almost all the coaches rarely take chances - very few trick plays - no kick off returns anymore. No 4th down gambles to go for it or very rare.
In college football - you have different offensive schemes from just enough teams - you see more trick plays - you have much more creativity - which makes the game a lot more fun to watch. And you have many more coaches willing to go for it on 4th down from the other teams 49 to 35 yard line - and sometimes even from the other side of the 50 - much more ballsy play calling. And the game day experience w/ each school's pride and spirit is so much better than an NFL game.
The two are not all that close IMO in terms of what is better to watch and enjoy.
I am amazed that the NFL has such a hardcore following though - I do watch it once the playoffs come around.
as a football purist i would never say the nfl sucks. it's the best players at the highest level. i prefer watching a college game as it's much less cookie cutter than the nfl. i do enjoy both but hell i can spend a morning watching a freshman game and enjoy it too.
In my state, a non-marginal percentage of the entire population is involved in football Saturdays.
Indiana is huge, but consider a state like Oklahoma with <only> 3.5 million people. One fall gamedays, I bet almost 1/3 of the entire state is going to one of the college games, tailgating outside, or watching it at home. For big games, that chunk is bigger.
Rivalries aren't the domain of just a few screwballs. They are those screwballs and 300 times more of their friends cheering for one side and against the other.
College Football is the best sport, period. Even down here, the NFL carries a faint wisp of interest in comparison.
Indiana is huge, but consider a state like Oklahoma with <only> 3.5 million people. One fall gamedays, I bet almost 1/3 of the entire state is going to one of the college games, tailgating outside, or watching it at home. For big games, that chunk is bigger.
Rivalries aren't the domain of just a few screwballs. They are those screwballs and 300 times more of their friends cheering for one side and against the other.
College Football is the best sport, period. Even down here, the NFL carries a faint wisp of interest in comparison.
I lived in Alabama for some years and they were over-the-top for the college programs (i.e. Alabama and Auburn). Their NFL team was the Saints and for many years rooting for them was futile. I went to an Auburn game once and realized that CFB was their football life.
I like college because of all the traditions, history, rivalries, the fact that it takes near perfection to win a championship.
You get a lot more variety in schemes as well.
I don't like college because of the corruption and some schools don't care about their student athletes.
I like the NFL because of the competitiveness of every game and there isn't blatant cheating like you see in college. No reason to suspect that officials made or missed a call on purpose. Some of the college replay reviews over the years have been insane.
You get a lot more variety in schemes as well.
I don't like college because of the corruption and some schools don't care about their student athletes.
I like the NFL because of the competitiveness of every game and there isn't blatant cheating like you see in college. No reason to suspect that officials made or missed a call on purpose. Some of the college replay reviews over the years have been insane.
I dunno. I don't watch the NFL. But I hear people complaining about the officiating in the NFL all the time.
That may be, and I have seen some bad calls, but I've never gotten the feeling that they did something on purpose like I've felt at times in college.
Thank god the NFL is bailing out the lame meaningless college bowl games Saturday night with some watchable football.
No one is forcing you to watch bowl games. As far as I am concerned, I'd rather watch any bowl game than any NFL game.
What's so awful about it? I love football, so I watch any fooball game that's on. Its still an amazing game regardless of whatever else is going on.
Must suck to only have 13 games a year to watch your team and only Saturday for football.
I spent four years at ND, so I have an allegiance to my alma mater. What allegiance do I have to millionaires who would play for any team that pays them the most money?
I'm happy for you. I have zero interest in the NFL. It is a poor imitation of the college game. And I don't watch just 13 games a year. CFB is on all day Saturday and almost every Thursday.
Ah, "real men." Thanks for sharing with the rest of the board that you suffer from small penis syndrome. I suggest you keep it to yourself.
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