The atmosphere at a college campus on a game day is like no other feeling. Game days are even more fun on smaller campuses because of the close-knit community. You wake up with the butterflies already fluttering around in your stomach, getting you all the more excited. Then it comes to getting dressed for the day. You get to dress up differently from the rest of the student body, whether it's a sweat suit with your team logo on it or dress pants with a nice top. This makes you feel special and announces that you have a game that night. Then comes going to class. Professors know that you have a game, but unfortunately this doesn’t change their lesson plans. If you’re lucky enough they will talk to you about the upcoming game and show that they care. With class comes walking to and from, when people wish you good luck and send their support throughout the day.
After being calm and sitting still in class for too long, you get to finally express your excitement. Some use this energy in their warm up, but my favorite is getting in the locker room and dancing with my teammates. These are the people who understand how excited you have been all day and don’t judge you for how crazy you get. Once the pre-game warm up comes around, the team is fired up and almost impossible to shut up about their excitement. Next comes getting dressed and getting ready for the game, the energy and excitement is still there, but being directed in a more intense way.
Finally, you get to go into the arena and get down to business. All of a sudden, all of those countless hours of practice are paying off and you get to do what you love: play the game. The best part about game day is standing on the line with your team and listening to the anthem, seeing all of the people who have come to support you and your teammates.
Being a college athlete, you play more than for your parents or teammates, but you play for your school pride as well. It is an honor. Not everyone gets to put on that jersey and represent the students, faculty and school itself. All of the joy you feel all day meets the pride that you feel for your school and all of a sudden you feel invincible and ready to fight for that victory.
