Confessions of a college football fan at a basketball school

Every Saturday morning during the months of September to November, I think of how many other places I would rather be than Gonzaga University.

I wake up with a multitude of repercussions from a classic Friday night, haul myself to the couch and turn on the television. The television reveals a world of camaraderie, excitement and passion that is college football, an environment that you will not find anywhere near the Gonzaga campus.

I knew when I made my decision to attend Gonzaga that it did not have a football team. While at no moment do I regret spending my college career at Gonzaga, there is always a feeling of emptiness every time a television camera scans a college football stadium around the nation and reveals an atmosphere that is unique to college football.    

I always wondered why watching college football left such a big feeling of emptiness for me, much bigger than that of an NFL game that plays the same sport and contains many of the same aspects as a fan.  I absolutely love the Seahawks and I am undoubtedly a bigger Seahawks fan than any college football team around the nation, but watching Hawks games does not stir up the same emotions as a college game. 

I realized it has nothing to do with the team or the stadium. It has to do with the people I see on the television screen. I see college students, just like myself, trying to soak up the "four greatest years" of their lives.  Even the men on the field, some looked up to as heroes are within four years of the students that praise them. The television exposes you to students with true school pride, not 50-year-old balding men with a fat beer belly complete with an embarassed wife to his right.  It makes you want to be in the middle of that student section, feel the rumble of the stadium and thousands of passionate college students coming together to support their school.

The closest Gonzaga students get to the college football atmosphere is found in the Kennel — an absolutely wonderful college basketball environment. But while students wait for the doors of the McCarthey Athletic Center to open, be a college football fan. 

Three years ago, during college football season I was lost.  I am from the Seattle area, but am not a Huskies fan. Due to some good friends attending WSU and the geographical location, I made a decision that I knew would stick with me for the rest of my life: I am going to be a Cougar football fan.  I bought a Cougs jersey, I hollered "Go Cougs" whenever they were mentioned and watched Cougar games (when they were televised). It made college football season that much more exciting to have a team that I was loyal to and put purpose behind my Saturdays.     

There are a couple key guidelines which people need to follow when picking a college football team if you did not have one coming into college. Most people have connections to other schools whether it is through family or the location of their hometown, which is an easy solution to the dilemma. But if you don't have that luxury, pick a team that you like and go with it. Stay away from Notre Dame though, this nation does not need any more followers of a mediocre team that still thinks of itself as a national contender. Lou Holtz, you're delusional. So after you have picked your team, become a true fan. Do some research and get familiar with your team. I have one friend who picked Oregon State as his team and still thinks Jacquizz Rodgers is their running back. Don't be that guy.

This is a little suggestion I have for every Gonzaga student: Go to a college football game. Take a nice trip to the glory land of Pullman, or take a stroll over to Cheney and be blinded by college football's ugliest field, or if you are from the West Side of Washington state, go home and be part of the Husky faithful (I still think their 3-1 record is a misprint). I understand that not everyone has a friend at either of these schools, but find a friend's friend and go with them. Or just make it a day trip and go with your group of friends. It's absolutely worth it. There is nothing like a tailgate before a college football game, the abundance of red cups and the aroma of burgers on the grill.  The two want-to-be Jake Lockers with their cut-off T-shirts throwing the pigskin between barbecues.  Forget Disneyland, tailgating is the most magical experience on earth.

If you do not have the opportunity to actually go to a game, bring the environment home. Wear your team's jersey or gear all day Saturday. Get the barbecue fired up and put some cold ones in the cooler. Get together with your friends and watch your team battle on the gridiron. It may not be the same as going to the game, but it gives everyone a slice of that ever-so-tasty college football atmosphere. I have noticed that Duck fans are good at this. I see a lot of Oregon gear and I know of numerous groups that get together to watch the game. I don't like the Ducks, but I like the way Duck fans here at Gonzaga still show their pride even though they are hundreds of miles from Eugene. 

So don't hibernate in a dark, lonely cave for the next month waiting for college basketball season to begin. Open your eyes to the light of college football and embrace its greatness.