There are very few things that can make staying in on a Saturday night worthwhile.
Although my friends had all made plans to go out, I elected to forgo a night of drunken antics and stay home. Don’t worry though, I wasn’t alone. I tuned in and joined an NCAA-record crowd of 114,804 spectators at the Big House to watch the Michigan Wolverines take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
In what one ESPN announcer called an “instant classic,” Michigan’s star quarterback, Denard Robinson, threw a 16-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left in the game to lift his team over the Irish 35-31.
As the clock ticked down, my heart was pounding, my knuckles were white and my eyes were glued to the TV screen. Believe it or not, I’m not even a Wolverine fan! I’m just a football fan. Particularly college football. This exciting game brought to mind the top three reasons why I love this sport.
1. It’s violent. The sports world is the only acceptable arena for human beings to revert to their primal nature, and there is no greater display of that innate ferocity than on the football field. From jarring hits to daring catches to dog piles taller than the running back himself, there is nothing better than watching guys wholeheartedly sacrifice their bodies in the hopes of winning.
2. It’s pure (for the most part). College football players play the game because they love the game. Sure, there are the Miami’s and the Ohio State’s, but the overwhelming majority of guys aren’t playing for an under-the-table paycheck (or an aboveboard paycheck like in the National Football League).
Take our Bulldogs for example. They’re playing for their teammates and for their school. They give up their summers and put in countless hours of hard work for the chance to bring glory to FSU. Hmmm…enthusiastic college athlete or jaded professional? Sorry, NFL, but the choice is obvious.
3. It’s all about heart. Forgive me for the cliché, but there’s no denying football players are passionate about the game. In football, talent and skill will only take a team so far. In the end, the team with the greatest desire—whether that is the favorite or the underdog—comes out on top. Like the late Tom Landry, former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, said, “Football is an incredible game. Sometimes it’s so incredible, it’s unbelievable.” Every game has the potential to be a Cinderella story, and that’s why I love college football.