When friends back home ask about my experiences as an athiest at the world’s most prominent Catholic university, I tell them a stale joke, that it’s far more blasphemous that I don’t go to football games. In reality, it’s not a joke. As someone who has never been to a football game on campus I get reactions ranging from “could you not afford the tickets?” to “you’re going to regret this for the rest of your life!”
Will I?
I realize everyone has different opinions on what’s fun and exciting. To me, campus football games don’t seem like an unforgettable experience. I say ‘seem’ because I have never been to a game, which may make my words a bit hard to swallow. However, from what I know about football games, they aren’t my style of entertainment. Here are my reasons, for all those who wonder:
Weather
I suffer from chronic dehydration which is exacerbated by prolonged heat exposure. Summer/early fall games would be tortorous without any sort of shielding from the elements. On the flip side, I hail originally from sunny Florida and am still getting used to Midwestern blizzards. I’m one of those people that needs three or four coats just to walk to class, let alone sit outside for four hours in the blistering cold. Overall, weather is not my friend, and neither is football.
Crowds
I don’t like crowds. I really, really don’t. There’s no medical condition behind it, I just don’t like the collective noise and dense air of a large crowd. In addition, I’ve been told it’s necessary to drink to really enjoy a football game and forget about the noise and elements. I don’t drink, as a matter of principle and culture. I don’t judge those who do drink, but I find that I’m rarely comfortable in settings where others are drinking. For this reason I don’t attend parties, either. (I know, I sound like the most boring person in the world right now, but I swear, I’m fun! If you ever want to knit and have a movie marathon, give me a call!
School Spirit
I’m going to sound like the world’s biggest Grinch right now, but hear me out. I’ve never really had an alliegiance to a college football team (my parents went to school overseas), and my other sports teams are all regional (Tampa Bay Rays, anyone?). All through school I’ve avoided sporting events due to the clique-y nature those events can have, and I find that not knowing anyone on the team makes it difficult for me to cheer blindly. So don’t get me wrong, I’m not someone who cheers for Michigan for the heck of it. But I’m not the type that knows the fight song or would want to be part of crowd push-ups, either.
Time
I love being in my dorm on a football Saturday. It’s quiet and perfect for productivity, there are no lines for the washing machines, and I can take a sprawling, ugly nap on a couch without anyone judging me. There are maybe two girls on my floor that don’t attend the games, and we have a sort of sisterhood as a result. Plus, it’s nice being on top of my work and undistracted by friends wanting to hang out.
Home sweet home
I Don’t Want To
Perhaps the best reason anyone needs to refuse anything. I don’t want to. Not liking football doesn’t make me not a Notre Dame student. I still love this University and the opportunities it has presented me. I still love the fact that I live on a campus that is engaged and supportive of one another. I have my own interests and hobbies that make me who I am, I don’t need to conform to validate myself.
For all those that don’t care for football but go anyway just to fit in, you don’t have to. Come knock on my door sometime.
P.S. Take everything I said with a whole lotta salt. I’m going to my first ND football game this weekend. Go Irish!
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