I’m the only child of a football-loving father, so, naturally, I love football. I grew up watching game after game on Sundays sitting on the corner of my little blue couch, and through no fault of my own, I learned the ins and outs of the sport. I know all the various penalties, different types of plays, and who the star players are. Some might even say that I’m a bit obsessed.
Despite this strong love for the sport, I don’t typically tell people that I love watching and analyzing football. I’ve learned that whenever I bring up any sort of knowledge about a team, a nearby teenage boy will become skeptical of my interests. I’ve been quizzed on football terms and players one too many times because there seems to be an automatic assumption that as a girl I have ulterior motives in liking the game. Typically boys think that either I watch because I know every single thing about football or simply because I think the players are hot. And I’m really tired of it. With the emergence of Taylor Swift into the world of football, I’ve found that my football knowledge has come under even deeper scrutiny. Now, it’s assumed that I love football because I love watching her scream from the stands.
Let me start by saying that I absolutely adore Taylor Swift. I’ve been a fan since my mom played Red for me as we danced around the kitchen singing together. I’m even lucky enough to say that I’ve seen her in concert three times. However, Taylor Swift has complicated what it means for me to love football. I was so excited the first time I saw her at a Kansas City Chiefs game because it meant that my two worlds were colliding. She even seems to be a football fan, so the representation of a woman like her understanding the game was so valuable. But the Monday after her first football appearance, I was talking to someone about how I had watched the whole game and he automatically assumed that I watched only because Taylor Swift was on the broadcast and because I thought Travis Kelce might be hot.
These feelings persisted throughout much of the football season, and came to a head when the Kansas City Chiefs made it to the Super Bowl, meaning that Taylor Swift would be in attendance. This was my first Super Bowl away from home, and I was feeling sad about not being able to watch in the comfort of my own home, away from any teenage boys. I ended up getting to watch the game with my sorority, which meant the chance to watch football in a completely female environment. We all gathered on the living room floor, eating pizza and waiting for the game to start. I was nervous to flex my football muscles for fear of Taylor Swift jokes, but quickly realized that not a single girl there judged me. Many of the girls were football fans themselves, and we all bonded over our shared love of the game. The most beautiful thing about the night was that we could discuss penalties, how attractive Usher was, important missed plays, and what Taylor Swift was wearing, all in one space. It was a brand new experience, but probably one of the most memorable football watching nights I’ve ever had.
So, I’m here to set the record straight that girls can love Taylor Swift while also knowing that an offensive lineman missed a block. Girls can think that Travis Kelce is gorgeous while also knowing his position and stats. To put it simply, girls can love football AND love Taylor Swift—the two are not mutually exclusive.