Posted on 11/24/2021 11:02:43 AM PST by Kaslin
America loves college football, loves its flyovers and cheers and opportunities to show patriotic pride, and doesn't want it tainted by politics.
When college football came roaring back in September, sticking it to the Faucian fear porn that gathering with fellow fans in stadiums (or with anyone, anywhere) wasn’t “smart,” fans cheered the camaraderie of mass sports gatherings — as well as the lack of politicized messaging, in contrast to the wokeness of pro leagues like the NFL.
Fans made their disdain for the COVID establishment known with chants of “F-ck Joe Biden,” and later the more tactful euphemism “Let’s go, Brandon,” reminding everyone that America loves college football and doesn’t stand for being told not to celebrate with 50,000 of our fellow patriots.
As the college season nears a close, enjoying a game at the University of Central Florida in Orlando last weekend reminded me just how infectious the enthusiasm is — and why, as the NFL (and other pro sports groups like the NBA) lean into empty leftist signaling, I hope college ball never changes.
I had the good fortune of landing on the military appreciation game, which meant patriotism was on full display — perfectly sandwiched between Veterans’ Day and a holiday to remember our pilgrim roots. Red, white, and blue bunting lined the field, camouflage wraps adorned the goalposts, and stars and stripes decorated the home team’s helmets.
At halftime, the huge marching band played “America the Beautiful” before performing each military branch’s song while requesting members of each branch to stand and be recognized. A visiting Marine Corps Reserve band played “God Bless America,” and the Jumbotron displayed a slideshow of students in the Armed Forces.
Following all the anti-American sentiment of the last several years, it felt good to hear “Let’s hear it for … the United States of America!” roll over the loudspeakers, and then to hear a resounding cheer.
After wide receiver Brandon Johnson caught a pass, the corner of the stadium to my right showed its enthusiastic support by chanting “Let’s go, Brandon” — twice. Oh, and I think I saw two COVID masks in the 45,000-seat stadium. Fans ate hot dogs and pizza, and the kids a few rows in front of me tossed a miniature pigskin with their dad in between plays.
It’s no secret that America loves college football, loves its flyovers and cheers and opportunities to show patriotic pride, and doesn’t want all of this tainted by politics.
So far at least, college football has been a reliable old favorite while pro football has waded into political quagmires. After the national anthem protests instigated by former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, some fans drifted away from the NFL. In 2017, the kneeling protests were the No. 1 reason fans watched fewer games, with 26 percent of people citing them as the reason they weren’t watching as much. The NFL’s net brand favorability plummeted from 30 percent to 17 percent shortly afterward.
When former Saints quarterback Drew Brees expressed that he would “never agree with anyone disrespecting” the American flag, the rest of the league quickly dogpiled him, leading to his apology for the patriotic statement.
The NFL also waded into politics and made enemies when it decided in September to play one anthem for black Americans and another for everyone else, and the year before when it turned end zones and helmets into billboards for Black Lives Matter-inspired slogans after banning the Dallas Cowboys from wearing helmet decals commemorating five murdered Dallas police officers. (Or when it decided to declare that “football is gay,” or to ditch the name of the Washington Redskins.)
Instead of pushing politics, the college football world understands that Americans want football from their football — and maybe (definitely) tailgating, halftime shows, military flyovers, and their team’s favorite sacred traditions like “The Wave” or “Jump Around” or “Country Roads.” We want to revel in the team spirit that gives us something in common with perfect strangers, instead of looking at everything through the lens of divisive identity politics. We want the chance, not just to gather, but to experience camaraderie with strangers after a year and a half of being told to avoid each other.
But absolutely, we don’t want politics from our football, and we don’t want lying, shifty bureaucrats telling us we’re not allowed to fill the stands, either. If they keep trying, they’ll be hearing plenty more “Let’s go, Brandon” cheers from the bleachers.
For me all the good rivalries are gone except OSU Michigan.
I hate everything about the SEC. Just how it is. College is way too close to pro now.
Yes, he doesn’t watch much college football, or he would see all the segments about the first black who did this or that, the interviews that focus on race, the practice shirts with BLM type slogans, or the crap words on the backs of helmets. I still watch college football, and at least this year they haven’t done this crap as much.
OU and Texas may be begging the Big 12 to let them back in. They won’t be able to dominate the SEC and the only sure victory for them will be Vanderbilt.
As long as the cash flows increase, they’ll happily finish 6-6.
Well the big 12 pretty much slammed the door the next week.
It was a stupid stupid move if you appreciate College Football for what it is and not solely as a cash cow. OU just destroyed 100+years of rivalry games in a lot of sports.
Teams are dying to get into the big 12.
“Nebraska gave up their whole legacy by moving.”
Yeah. I miss the days of the Big Eight and Big 12.
Really good article here on Nebraska’s problems in the Big Ten
https://worldfannews.com/2021/07/19/nebraska-and-the-big-ten-a-decade-of-struggle-for-stability/
I do agree with the lack of stability. Some of the idiots they have had as coach - Bill Callahan?!? - predate the move to the Big Ten. At the top, they have had crappy ADs, who have made bad decisions, year after year.
If they had stayed in the Big 12, odds are they would be moving to the SEC with Texas and OU.
Yeah, OU will be just another team in the SEC. But lots of money in the SEC.
The SEC and some indies such as ND have more power than the NCAA. The SEC pretty much calls the shots for a large chunk of college football.
Yeah, I think you’re right.
When I have some time, I’ll post my proposal to overhaul College Football.
So you like less competition
And $$$$
That’s why they joined isn’t it...
I agree it’s weird
Soon enough it’ll be SEC and some grouping of holdouts
And of course media’s fav
Jesus Team
I love their uniforms but the annual fawning all my life....ugh
When I was a kid Oklahoma and Nebraska were awesome
Orange bowl bound
Or the Bluebonnet
The competition is still there, just the motivation has changed to mostly cash compensation vs a degree. Of course a degree in communication or sports isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.
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