Attending college football games on my campus is one of my biggest goals this semester. You see, I don’t know the first thing about football and I never really cared to go out to any of the games. But this past weekend I went to my school’s football game and actually had a really great time, despite my lack of knowledge for the sport. Plus, it was my first ever time attending a football game as a spectator so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect other than going, sitting, and, well, watching the game.
If it’s your first time going to a game and you need some super cool *insider knowledge*, here’s what I learned at my first football game:
1. Familiarize yourself with your school’s policy on attending sports games.
Do you have to reserve tickets in advance? Can you just walk right in and sit anywhere you want? If you bring family members how much do the tickets cost? These are questions you should find the answers to before game day arrives! I had no idea that I needed to reserve a ticket for the game; I assumed that because I’m a student I could just show my ID at the gate and walk right in. It was a good thing my friend told me the proper way to attend games at our school.
2. Wear your school’s colors.
At my school, there is never a shortage of red t-shirts that say, “WHAT’S A SEAWOLF?” Wearing your school’s colors is an easy way to feel connected and feel like you’re really one with the thousands of other students who go there. I’m a major sucker for cool collegiate apparel so I have two hats, two sweatshirts, sweatpants, two t-shirts, a long sleeve top, and a football jersey with my school’s logo and whatnot on them (told ya I’m obsessed with this stuff). But if you aren’t going to wear your school’s colors then MAKE SURE you DON’T wear the rival school’s colors accidentally!
3. Do fun nail art to show off your school pride.
I love combining beauty with school spirit! For the game this past weekend, I did SBU-themed nail art using my school’s colors and it was not only super fun to do the night before, but it was also cool to show off. Get creative and make your eye makeup match your school’s colors! I didn’t have red eyeshadow on me, but if I did I would’ve also done that. If you don’t believe in your makeup skills (don’t worry, I believe in you!!) you can never go wrong with stickers. Just buy star-shaped stickers in your school’s colors and put them on your face, but don’t do this if your skin is sensitive to the glue!
4. Dress in layers if you aren’t sure about the weather.
The weather can be surprising sometimes, especially out here in Long Island. On game day, I thought it would be a bit colder because of the wind, so I wore a sweatshirt over my football jersey; if it got hot, at least I could just take off the sweatshirt, and if it got cold I could put it back on. Something as seemingly small as a change in the weather can really take away from your experience — you might even be inclined to leave early if you’re too hot or too cold.
5. Be prepared to spend about 3-4 hours at the game.
Football can be a little slow because the clock seems to stop frequently. There isn’t really an exact time limit for the game, so it can really go on for a while. If you know you have a lot of work to do but you’re still determined to have a good time at the game, get as much of your work done as possible before the game, because you might be haunted by the thought of all the exams you still have to study for and you might want to leave early. Also, make sure you have adequate phone battery. You probably won’t bring a portable charger with you (especially not if you carry a tiny crossbody) so make sure your battery can last at least until the game is over.
Btw, don’t forget to check out my post on how to get organized so you can keep track of all your assignments and not miss a game!
6. Don’t bring food or drinks with you.
Security at the gate will make you throw it out before entering. And don’t think you can get away with hiding it in a big bag because they check your bags as well. If you’re intent on not spending a dime for overpriced concession stand food, eat a big meal and hydrate before the game. I caved and had to buy a cheesy pretzel (which a WASP crawled on!) because I didn’t eat enough before leaving my room.
7. Get to the game on time.
But if you’re attending homecoming, plan to get to the game early because you may not get the seats you want if you arrive late or even on time. Homecoming is, like, a next level football game that literally everyone and their mother wants to go to because of all the festivities going on, so you must account for all that. During normal football games, sometimes it doesn’t get really crowded until around half-time, but if you really want to take your football experience to the *next level* you should try to make it to see the whole thing.
8. Beware of bees!
It was still fairly hot for September weather and bees and wasps were EVERYWHERE. I know that they say the key to conquering those little mother truckers is to just stay calm and be still and they’ll leave you alone. But let me tell you, I cannot count the number of times when a wasp flew near me and even though I was still and tried to not pay attention to it, it only got bolder and got all up in my face. It seemed like there was no actual way to win, so I ended up just standing behind the rail rather than sitting in the bleachers because I got sick of all the buzzing. Just keep in mind that if you want to beat the bees, you might have to try to attend a game later in the season.
9. Don’t stay glued to your phone screen the entire game.
Look up and actually try to follow the game. I know the temptation of wanting your Snap Story game to be strong that day, but just make sure you also try to follow what’s happening. And if you’re like me and don’t understand what the terms mean or why they stop the clock, like, every 30 seconds, it doesn’t hurt to go with a friend who knows a little something about the sport and can explain to you. It’s hard to genuinely have fun when you don’t make the effort.
10. Really get into the game and have fun!
Get on your feet and cheer! Sing along to any songs and join in on any chants for your school. I sometimes think that I’ll look ridiculous cheering and singing but then I realize that I feel awkward when I don’t. Just getting into the vibe of things can really help you have a lot more fun and ultimately enjoy your experience. So don’t be afraid let yourself enjoy the game!
I really hope this post provided some insight into how to prepare for a college football game, and even motivated you to go out to one if you haven’t thought of it. I definitely hope that I can make it to all of the home games this season!
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Have you been to a college football game? What was your experience like?
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