Whether your boyfriend is at a junior college, plays Division III level football, redshirts for the season in the SEC, or is the Heisman Trophy recipient, we all have one thing in common: we understand the pros and cons of dating a college football player. It is a challenge, it is an honor, and it is a new lesson every day.
He will be busy all the time.
Chances are he wakes up when you are still in your deepest sleep and if you’re just as lazy as I am, you’ll be waking up when he gets out of his morning practice. But chances are he has physical therapy or a meeting to go to. He might squeeze in a quick nap if he’s lucky but then he is off to class just like the rest of us. After his classes, he will probably go work out or spend a few mandatory hours in study hall. Hopefully he finds time to eat and shower during his day before falling asleep standing up at 11 pm. Yet somehow, just because he loves you more than life, he will find time to shoot you an “I hope you’re having a great day. I love you” text message just because he knows it will make your day. Appreciate his gestures.
Sometimes football will alter his mood.
He might have had a bad practice, his coach might have been extra hard on him, or the pressures of his potential future might just be weighing on him today. Be patient. He has a dream that he has worked for every day since he put on his first set of pads. We aren’t here to ridicule or add stress. Part of the reason why they love us is because on these days, we have the ability to calm them down and remind them how great they are. Be kind.
You get to be a part of something bigger than yourself.
College football is like a religion to many parts of our country. I get to witness my boyfriend playing in front of tens of thousands of people at his game. People will believe in him just as you do. People will be proud of him just like you are. People will see the potential that you see. College football attracts fans by the thousands and you get to stand in the stadium cheering him on with a group that supports him the way you do. Never stop supporting him.
The good, the bad, and the ugly will never stop us from supporting them. Their sleepless nights of studying plays, their constant physical pain, and their focus on football will never outshine the pride we feel when their name is announced over the entire stadium. The challenges are worth it when you watch the person you love do what they love—and that is what we should all have in common.
