With the eve of Homecoming weekend upon us, it is hard to hide the fact that everyone seems to be getting excited about one thing: the football game. Homecoming weekend is the time when everyone young and old, big and tall, freshman and upper class men ban together for this one night.
For many, this day has been strategically planned for weeks. This weekend means tailgating with the family and hanging out with friends in the stands. All for this fall sport that means watching guys throw a ball and run into each other, but nevertheless, it dominates most high school and college towns. Its a time to get all bundled up in your team's colors to cheer in the stands for the boys on the field. In college towns especially, Homecoming weekend is when alum come back to reminisce on their college days. This weekend and football games are the highlight of their weekends. This is what defines their school spirit. But what if you don't do the traditional football thing? Do you still have school spirit?
I have never been to a football in my two years of going to Ashland. Yes, I have been asked to go, and I even lived really close to the stadium, but I just never wanted to go. It might because I am not a football fan or that I would rather be hanging out with my friends in a more indoor setting. Even in high school I was not a massive fan of football games, but I went to all of them. Even participated in dressing up in the outrageous themes or wearing eight thousand layers to stay warm in the later season. I will say that some great memories came out of it, but as my college career went on, I never continued the trend.
I may not paint up for the football game or tailgate all morning with my family in the parking lot, but I still have school spirit. I still support the football team even though I do not spend hours watching them play. I like seeing our success as a school in all sports, but I do not think the measurement of school spirit comes from how many sports games you have attended.
School spirit means you wear your school's colors proudly or you share an article about them when something good happens. I may have never gone to a football game or really participated in any Homecoming events, but I stay involved in different ways. And who knows maybe next year will be the year I finally attend my first college football game.
Happy Homecoming, everyone!
