bladerunnr said:
I'm wondering if there might be a generation gap on this topic. When I was in school in the 80's, not many games were on tv. There weren't so many tv timeouts. Now, with nearly every game on tv, it seems that the number of dead times or time outs has increased dramatically. Games used to take 3 hours max, sometimes less. Now, games take 3 1/2 hours more often than not. Maybe younger fans are not bothered by all the stopages in play.
Most of the video board clips are cringe worthy, at best. Standing in line for beer might make the time go faster.
One venue that is always fun to visit is Air Force. The flyover before the game and some of the falcon stunts are pretty impressive. Maybe we just need more creative entertainment during timeouts. Maybe a wet t-shirt contest? Or some hot cheerleaders that come into the stands and pass out free stuff?
Well, the Game Day experience for me is everything that comes with college football: The band, the tailgating, the cheer leaders, the vehicles en route on the interstate with team flags flying out the window; the sense you were going to DisneyLand for the cool kids.
When I was a kid, my dad and I would drive from Evanston to Laramie for games and I remember being so excited the entire 4 hour drive.
Every vehicle we passed it seemed like I asked my dad if they were going to the game. When we finally got passed Rawlins and the road signs had the distance to Laramie, I knew something special was on the horizon.
Then when we finally got to where you can see Laramie, the excitement multiplied.
We would drive up Grand and the Wyo flags would be out on the streets, the trees were changing colors, we would see groups of students wearing brown and gold shirts walking to the stadium. We would hit the Brown and Gold and get some new gear along with the hundreds of other people in the store at the same time.
Then we would go to the tailgate park (which I remember being just north of the AA- but I was a kid so I could be mistaken, does that seem right?). At the tailgate park I remember seeing cheerleaders and the band and I would play the little game where you threw the football into hole. People were eating burgers and brats and drinking beer I'm sure.
Then you head into the stadium and walk around, find your seats, watch the players warm up, etc.
Throughout the game you get into any and every cheer that started. You sang the fight song as loud and proud as you could. You embraced being part of The War.
That is what college football is; that is what the game day experience was and still is.
It's the anticipation of the game, the trip there. The excitement of going to a D1 football game. The opponent? Didn't matter unless it was BYU, then it was extra special. It's about being a part of the thousands of fans there for a college football game and all the awesomeness that comes with it. It's about the event. The all day event, exhausting but worth it.
That is how I see college football. I don't want stupid Family Guy sound bits during the game. I want FIRST DOWN MOTHERFUCKERS! I don't want a sissy "canon". I want the canon that scares everyone every time!
I don't want LPD patrolling the student section keeping us in order, I want a wild student section.
Long post, but I think you get what I am saying. That is what the gameday experience is.
opcorn: $40 and all....