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"Let's go Orange," says another fan, whose bright orange helmet is counterbalanced by his dark blue jersey and orange facepaint. Various bar patrons, inspired by the cheers of the sharply dressed fan, roar in approval.
But not all agree with Mr. Orange, which is what we will call the rabid Syracuse fan. After hearing the chants from the Syracuse faction of the bar, a random fan bellows out a "Let's Go Blue" chant.
Mr. Orange, not at all pleased that some foreigner had attempted to make a mark in his territory, repeated his pro-Syracuse cheer. The Michigan fan soon followed, accompanied by some friends, inspired by their friend's lack of regard for his personal well-being. This war of attrition continues, at least until the patrons run out of beer.
Football is a religion at most college campuses every Saturday from early September to January.
Alumni drive back to their respective campuses in droves, setting up camp in any sort of parking lot they can find. These revelers come prepared, armed with grills, coolers and all the meat and beer that they can find.
Like Santa Claus at Christmastime, these partiers share their gifts with all who will talk football with them, friend or foe. Parking lots near football stadiums become a party all their own, Everyone in a two-mile radius is invited to come over and share food.
But alumni aren't the only ones suckered into a frenzy on autumn Saturdays. The students, intent to show that the alumni aren't the only people who know how to party, line the campus streets, sporting the garb of their home university.
As students walks down these streets to the stadium, they witness a lot of things.
People standing on house lawns, equipped with a glass of beer and a football, talking in high tones about how good their team is. There is also a guy running down the middle of the street, pretending to score the game-winning touchdown.
But all this bustle is drowned out by the music that is booming from the houses. Whether it be Guns & Roses, Jay-Z, the Outhere Brothers or the school's fight song, the tunes consume every inch of a fan's eardrum - in the process, revving up that person's excitement for the action at hand.
That, folks, is the essence of college football.
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College football isn't about the final score of the football game. College football isn't really even about the game at hand.
True, the hoopla surrounding the game probably would not exist before a glee club recital. The concept of one school proving that it is superior to another in the field of battle is something that can't be overlooked.
But it isn't the only reason why people flock to stadiums on Saturdays. If seeing two teams kick the living snot out of each other was the only attraction to college football, the only people that would show up to games would be liquored-up frat boys, wannabe athletes, and vengeful alumni.
But those factions of spectators don't even come close to making up the dynamics of a college football crowd.
Sitting with the wannabe athletes are their roommates or housemates, who don't understand how one person can be depressed for hours over a simple game. And a couple of sections down the alum's spouse is at the game, trying to help his/her husband/wife relive the glory days of years gone by.
But people like the indifferent roommate and the supporting spouse are what make college football great. When you store a game in your long-term memory, the image of who scored what touchdown is not what stands out the most.
Instead, it is being cramped in close quarters with thousands of people yearning for a good time which burns in your mind. Slapping hands and hugging a total stranger after a good play. The flavor explosion that comes from a juicy hot dog - grilled to perfection - after taking a bite at a pre-game tailgate.
That is what brings people to college football stadiums around the country every Saturday. And that's what keeps them, and their sons and daughters, to keep coming for decades to come.
- T.J. Berka can be reached via e-mail at berkat@umich.edu
09-20-99
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