There is an abundance of significant events happening in our world in the present day, especially for Americans. From Hurricane Harvey devastating Houston to the recent wildfires plaguing Washington and several nearby states, it seems like this slew of ongoing magnitudes will never stop. However, there are other events (besides politics) that can create a distraction for us all. Perhaps the most prominent one is football season. People always get excited when it comes around, and that excitement usually lingers until it ends, allowing us to briefly escape from the realities of life.

Why do people like football so much? It is an exciting sport to watch for numerous reasons, especially for college students, most of whom have their own team at the university they attend. As is the case with nearly every sport in existence, football revolves around two teams trying to score more points than the other. However, it is far more complex than that, which is a major reason why it is so enjoyable for so many. There is certainly something appealing about every sport, but there is something about football’s fast-paced nature that keeps us engaged and on the edge of our seats. At times, I still get chills when the ball is released from the quarterback’s hands and into the arms of a wide receiver for a touchdown. Because the game moves so fast, it is all the more invigorating when it is a close game, especially near the end.

Of course, football has its issues as well. There have been numerous injuries that have plagued players throughout the entire history of the game. Since players tackle each other, it is a precarious game with high risk of injury. It is not easy for football players to consistently stay healthy and active, and concussions are frequent, especially at the professional level. Despite this, people play football for the love of the game itself, and fans watch it for the same reason.

Fans love to brag about their teams to fans of opposing teams. Trash-talk is another common theme in football. Even though I do not partake in much of it, I feel like it adds to the overall enjoyable atmosphere of football. It always amuses me to hear my friends at Washington State University exchanging trash-talk with fans of opposing teams before a big game, knowing that one of the two sides will have to eat every word they say.

Perhaps my favorite thing about football is that it allows me to escape from the real world for a while, just like everyone else. Everything that is happening in this world can be quite a downer sometimes, especially in the present day with a seemingly endless number of natural disasters and political corruption. Football is an effective portal of escape for me, and I forget all about the world once I get sucked in.

Football season can be a great thing when it comes around. The game is always exciting to watch and it should continue to serve as a distraction from everyday life for people in great numbers.