Football season is hands down the most exciting time of year in any college town. Even during an away game, when your Sunbelt Conference team beats #22 LSU on their own homecoming and gets paid $985,000 to do so. The fall air buzzes with all things leading up to a game day, including pep rallies, picking out a game day outfit, and the population of your college's small town amplifying as people travel in to cheer on their team. During the week of a home game, when you see those white tents going up on the quad and hear the booming sound of the band coming from their practice field, it sparks a feeling of pride and excitement for your school's upcoming event.
Game day can be a great time, but it is always different depending on which way you experience it. Depending on how you experience game day, you may have wondered what it's like to be in the student section, or the skybox, the reserve seats, watching the game from a tailgate tent, or even on the field... As someone who has grown up going to college football games and danced on the sidelines for a season, I can fill you in on just about every angle of college football.
1. The Skybox
The ideal option here is spending the game in a skybox, typically here you will find alumni groups and donors to the university. While it is rarely a feasible option, when given the opportunity to watch the game here you should always take it. Since football season occurs in the 'fall', we often forget how hot it usually is during football games and air conditioning is the biggest perk to being in a box. There is also premium parking, unlimited food and drink choices without having to wait in line, and comfortable seating. The one downfall to watching the game in the box is that if you aren't sitting in the front of the box you basically just watch the game on the TVs, and often times end up socializing more than watching the game anyway.....but still, nothing beats air conditioning on a humid Saturday in September.
2. Reserve Seats
Reserve seats also provide a little more shade and a great view of the game but the main perk here is food, usually a full buffet of food. College games typically happen either during lunch or dinner time so it's nice to watch the game in a comfortable seat back with a plate full of food. This option is best for the avid football fan who is serious about catching every moment of the game.
3. Tailgate Tents
Staying out of the stadium to watch the game in a tent is a very laid back and unique option. While setting up a tent with a TV in it can be a lot of work, it is nice to be able to sit back and relax in your own space during the game, and if you're in the right spot you get to watch the players do their walk-in without even having to fight your way through the crowd. While it would seemingly be way too hot, the tent is actually a lot cooler than being inside the stadium and you have a much more comfortable chair. It is neat to be sitting right outside the stadium and still hear the band and the roar of the crowd, but the best part of tailgating during a game is making acquaintances with the fellow fans tailgating next to you...not to mention the fact that you can have your dog with you at your tent.
4. Student Section
Before I got to college, everyone told me there is nothing like experiencing a game in the student section. While this is true, it is arguably not my favorite way to watch a football game. As a wide-eyed young freshman I showed up to the fraternity house to meet my game day date with a little sorority button pinned on my dress, I wanted to stop by EVERY tent I knew someone at and EVERY house I had a friend at in order to have the full game day experience, and had to do all of this hours before kickoff since freshman game day dates were pledges who had to go in the game at least an hour early to save seats. Now, as a senior I can be found sitting at one fraternity house or one tent with the same hand full of friends until I go into the game about two minutes before kickoff. Game day consists of a lot of walking and it is all too easy to overdo yourself trying to go to every single tailgate; to the point where you can't even make it through the whole game. The student section also means standing up the entire time and waiting in long lines to buy food with the money on your Student ID, since you don't want to spend your actual cash. I will say for the student section, that the spirit and morale here is unparalleled by any other seat in the house as you get to sing "Here's to the school we love.." with all your fellow Trojans.
5. On The Sidelines
The last way I have insight towards experiencing a game is on the field. Having been on Troy University's dance-line for one season, I got to experience the joy of cheering on my team from the sidelines. It is a feeling I can't explain and a dream come true that I am so glad I got to experience, however, the work each week that goes into preparing for those few hours on the field is much more than anyone realizes. On game day you are usually in full hair and makeup by 7 am and have a morning practice, then you finish getting your uniforms ready and packing your bag to line up for the big walk into the stadium. You want your family and friends to come in town to enjoy the game and watch you dance, but will barely get to see them the whole day and once the game is over, you're so exhausted that you just want to go straight to bed. Once you are at the game you don't get a chance to sit down, or frown, or take a break...it's all smiles and dancing. It's incredible and exhausting at the same time, you get to do what you love you for the school that you love and looking up into the crowd while the lights shine onto the field fills you with a pride and excitement for your school like no other.
For any game day goers thinking that the grass may be greener on the other side, the best way to enjoy a college game is to just surround yourself with good people while cheering on your team! Go Trojans!
