Growing up, I went to Stanford University’s football games and saw the tailgates, crowds, and student section and thought that was what college was all about. Little did seven-year-old Molly know, not all schools are football schools, and that’s okay. As a student at Villanova University, I have learned what it’s like to experience football season at a non-football school and I thought I’d share what football season is like for those of us on the outside. So, without further ado, here are five things anyone who doesn't go to a football school can totally relate to.
1. Tailgate Season Doesn't Exist
We've all seen them--those wild Snap Stories and Instagram pics with the caption "Tailgate Szn". While these posts still exist at our schools, they are lies. Our attempts to tailgate are sad, to say the least. Last year, for our homecoming game, t-shirts were made that read, "We pregame harder than you party" and I honestly laughed. So while we watch our friends at Penn State, Notre Dame, and Temple live it up at their tailgates, we go to a small parking lot with a few cars just long enough to snag a cute picture to put a false caption on, hoping that Public Safety doesn't decide it's "too rowdy" and shut it down.
2. No One Knows Who the Football Players Are
When I talk to my friends from the bigger football schools about their classes, they almost always mention if they have a football player in their class. From what it sounds like, those athletes are celebrities on campus. Can't relate. I do not think I could name a single football player off of Villanova's roster, let alone if any are in my classes. Now, throw a basketball player my way and it's a different story...
3. Come Game Day, the Stands are Empty
As part of the Villanova Band, I went to every home football game last season and all the games so far this season. To say that the bleachers of our 12,500 seated stadium (compare to Michigan's that holds over 100,000 people or Notre Dame's at over 80,000 capacity) are a quarter filled is generous. Even at the bigger games during Family Weekend and Homecoming, stands are pretty empty come the second half.
4. The Record of the Football Team Is Irrelevant
Last weekend, Villanova football faced off Lafayette and won 59-0. Yes, you read that correctly. Fifty-nine. To zero. That was on Saturday evening. Come Sunday, I went around asking people if they went to the game and most said no (see #3) then asked me if I had gone, as any polite person would do. Every time, without fail, when I told whoever had asked that I had gone, they did a sort of nod or a quick "cool" was uttered and that was that. No one asked who won. Not. A. Single. Person. Why? Because no one cares. This stinks for our football team, but that's the way it is.