College football is a curious thing. It can easily creep its way under the skin of even the most resistant to sports. After spending four years at Tech, I can assure you that there are no words to describe the site of women and hippies screaming at the top of their lungs at a football game. Girls who never watched a minute of professional sports in their pre-college life graduate with more than a degree, they transform into creatures of sport, fanatics who will stop at nothing to see their favorite team win a game, statistical guru's capable of delivering accurate predictions as to a games outcome. They transform into the best of sports fans. Then there's the little things that you wouldn't think of. When I was recently buying a bag, I defaulted to customizing it to be orange and maroon for Virginia Tech. I caught myself before I bought it, but it was kind of frightening to see the extent to which I've been programmed. Then there are rivalries. As a Virginia Tech grad and supporter, I can never, ever buy anything that comes in the combination of orange and blue. I like the colors just fine, but so do a few hundred thousand University of Virginia fans, thereby making that color combo off limits for life.
What is it that makes it so powerful? How do people become so passionate about a sports team that they will cry after a devastating loss or get in a fistfight with an opposing fan for insulting "his" team. Is it that the U.S. is so large that we need more localized affiliations to satisfy our nationalistic urges? In modern times, every person can have a personal army to do battle for bragging rights and amusement; a luxury afforded only to nobility in times gone by.
Well whatever. The game was a blast. We all got housed beforehand, spent a few hours with good friends screaming at the top of our lungs, and watched Tech win 30 to 10. We all slept with smiles on our faces on the bus ride home. Smiles that those who didn't attend football schools will never understand.