My favorite season is fall. I’m a huge fan of the weather, the clothing options, and most of all… Football!
Tomorrow night marks the beginning of the college football season (unless you count the Cal vs Hawaii blow out last week) and I could not be more excited.
For those who already love to spend a Saturday or Sunday enjoying a game, you already understand.
However, for those that don’t share the love of the game, let me layout a few reasons why you might want to give the most popular sport in the United States a try this season.
The Pace
When it comes to watching sports, the tempo of football is pretty much perfect. While baseball can feel too slow, and basketball can feel too fast, football always seems to feel just right.
Many times you’ll be on the edge of your seat, play after play. Then there will be times during a game when the plays have a little less excitement. That is a great time to do a quick chore or grab a snack. It’s the perfect balance.
Hanging out with Friends and Family
For many families, watching football means hanging out together.
I started watching football because my Dad is a huge fan. Basically, I wanted to be around him, and since he always had the game on, we started watching it together.
By about 8 years old I was totally hooked on the sport, and it’s given us so much to talk about over the years. It may sound cheesy, but it really is a wonderful way for families to bond.
Food
I feel like everyone believes calories don’t count when it comes to eating and watching football.
While that may not be true, the good stuff always seems to come out when the game is on. If football isn’t your thing, but eating is, then football is for you. See my logic??
Monday Morning Quarterbacking
Watching the game on Sunday means you can join in on the conversation at the Monday morning staff meeting. It’s fun to be a part of the conversation, even if you only feel comfortable making comment on an amazing play, or a crazy call by a referee.
Beyond Monday, being up on football serves well at countless other social events. If you run out of things to talk about, you can almost always avoid the awkward silence with a nice question about a favorite team.
Reason to Relax
How many times have you gone a whole weekend without just relaxing on the couch?
Since football ended, I’ve had countless weekends that looked like that.
Now it all comes to a halt- thank you football!
I find myself more productive during the week so things don’t cut into football time. It still all gets done, but for the next few months I don’t feel bad about enjoying some downtime.
Fantasy Football
If you haven’t tried Fantasy Football before, I really recommend it. I did a post about it last week.
It’s fun! You don’t even have to follow football and it will still give you tons to talk about when you find out someone else plays. There are just a few days left until the NFL season starts, and then the leagues are closed. So find a league, signup, and draft a team- and do it soon!
Cheer on Your Alma Mater (or any other school you love for that matter!)
Did the college you go to have a football team? Did you grow up in a city (or even better, do you live in a city now) with a great college or pro team? Then you have an instant favorite team. Buy a sweatshirt and start cheering them on!
Friendly Rivalries
My husband and I have rival college teams, and although things do get a little tense when they play each other, it makes the season really fun. I’m a huge Notre Dame fan, he loves (and is a graduate of) University of Southern California- or as he would say, the ‘real’ USC.
Throughout the season, we go back and forth between cheering each other on and giving each other a hard time. It’s the fun of the sport. Friendly rivalries are great and friendly bets are even better.
Back Stories
If I still haven’t sold you, at least try this- Watch one of the ESPN College Gameday or NFL pregame shows. I know it sounds weird- why would you watch the pregame if you aren’t watching the game? Honestly, the back stories about the players they feature on the pregame shows will warm your heart.
Hearing what people have overcome to live out their dream to play football might just make you fan after all.
Pure Joy
Honestly for me, this is all it comes down to! Here’s to a great season!
