SEC College Football Game Experience!

IT’S GAME DAY!!! Well it’s probably not game day when you’re reading this, but I had to start out like that for excitement purposes. College football is HUGE in the south. Saturdays are dedicated strictly to SEC football and only SEC football. I would say that college football is bigger than the NFL in the south. Want to know what game day is like in the south? Then keep reading!

I go to the University of South Carolina, one of the 14 SEC schools, school spirit on game day is insane. It’s all over snapchat and YikYak. People are honking and screaming the entire day. And, everyone is dressed in garnet and/or black. I’ve never been to a college football game in my 18 years of being on Earth, and I attended my first game on September 12th, 2015. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

Now, I grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, which is home to the University of Tennessee. For my entire life, I’ve watched UT and cheered for UT. This year we’re actually ranked! That’s exciting. The football spirit in Knoxville is amazing. Google ‘Tennessee vol walk’ and ‘Tennessee checker board stadium’. It’s breathtaking. On the 12th, UT #23 played Oklahoma #19. That game was so stressful. I was at the USC game and keeping track of the UT game at the same time. A majority of my high school friends go to UT and they were sending me updates and pictures the entire game. We lost in double overtime, but I feel like at that point, it’s just luck. I’m still proud of UT!

Now, let’s get to the school I actually attend, haha. The University of South Carolina doesn’t have the best football team this year, but that doesn’t mean the games still aren’t fun! We were playing the University of Kentucky, another SEC team. My friend Katy and I headed over to the game at around 4:30. Kickoff was at 7:30, but it’s always fun to go early! We didn’t tailgate because we’re not into the whole partying and drinking thing. The atmosphere is great! We were lucky enough to get lower deck student tickets which means we were right behind the goal post. Not the best view, but it was still amazing.

Because we got there so early, we were able to be the first few people through the gate when it opened at 6:00. That meant we were able to choose exactly where we wanted to sit! The next hour and a half passed relatively quickly, and it was time for kickoff!

Being in the student section was so much fun! All I can say is that being at the game is so different from watching it on TV. USC has a tradition of using rally towels. Because we got there early, we were able to snag two! I, however, think that people who have consumed alcohol should not be able to use them. You’re supposed to hold up you arm and not hit people in the head with them. This girl behind us did not do that. She held it straight out in front of her, and whenever she kept twirling it, it would hit Katy and me in the face. Not pleasant.

USC ultimately lost, but the game was so much fun. The next day, I barely had a voice left. Going to games and being in the student section makes me feel like a part of the school. I can’t wait for the next home game!

What was your college game day like? I love hearing from you! It seriously makes my day!

-Abigail T.