Evolution of a College Football Fan (Pt. 3)

It has been almost a week since I published part two of my article in how I evolved into a big fan of college football.  After a few crazy days of games, now is the time to wrap up my story....

While at Maryland, the sport started to develop a TV market – and it helped me to be on the outskirts of ACC country.  Jefferson-Pilot out of Charlotte, NC was the provider of ACC football, and this was the first time that I got to see other conference matchups.  It was also an opportunity to follow my beloved Terps when they were on the road, in particular Frank Reich’s miracle comeback against Miami in 1984!

At about the same time, ESPN got involved in televising games, and through them I was introduced to the SEC and Big Ten.  Most of the games were during the day, but with time we were introduced to the new phenomena of night games.  What college student wouldn’t like an all-day tailgate?

In addition, they created College Gameday, a pre-game show that has now been broadcasted for almost 30 years.  It took me a while though to become a dedicated viewer as I attempted to be a dedicated husband and father.  But then they came up with great theme music, the concept of broadcasting on college campuses (how about that person who waves the Washington State flag at each broadcast!), and casting dynamic personalities who were having a great time doing the show.  I was now hooked!

By the 21st century, there were so many games on television, I resorted to taping the best of the best on our VCRs (remember them?).  This way, I could watch them whenever I wanted to, even on a day in April.  My sister even obliged my request of having her tape the Yale-Harvard game one year because it was broadcasted in her area, and I just had to have the game for my collection.  College football was fast becoming a part of my life every day.  Eventually though, my wife Deb, made me give up my boxes of tapes since they were taking up quite a bit of space.

It was something I was willing to do because I had other ideas - I wanted to go to games again and tailgate.  The final leg of my journey as a college football fan was about to begin. This magnificent road led to Brunswick, Maine, and a small Division III school, Bowdoin College.  I didn’t know what I was about to experience as I prepared to take my girls to their first football game.  After all, my first recollection of Bowdoin football was of my brother going there with his friend in the mid-70s, but I had no idea as to why he would go.  I got my answer to that question almost 30 years later.

As soon as I arrived to see Bowdoin play the Ephs (love that nickname!) of Williams College, I fell in love with the whole package – from the walk through the towering “Bowdoin Pines” (some of the trees are more than 125-years-old), to historic Whittier Field, to the sight and sounds of the game.  To me, it was everything a football game should be!  I could stand right on the sideline and hear and feel every facet of the game.  I felt as if I were actually a part of the game!

Years later, I still look forward to the arrival of each home game for the Bowdoin football team:  the proud alumni giving their support, the kids throwing footballs just beyond the end zone (all waiting and wanting to catch the ball that goes through the uprights), hearing coaches scream, players yell, and fans cheer, and last but not least – owners being tugged around the track by their dogs.  The weather doesn’t matter – I have experienced it all here, just like at Dartmouth.  What does matter is that I am there on the sideline soaking up every minute of the game I love!

This past weekend of college football was exciting, but to me the season hasn’t yet begun in earnest.  There is only one date that signifies the official start of the college football season to me, and that date is on the chalkboard down in the man cave.  October 1st – Bowdoin’s first home game of the season.