It’s my favorite time of year, fall and football! As girls, saying we like a sport in front of a guy can sometimes come with some backlash. Think about when you were watching the Eagles game last season, or any other game, but the Eagles are superior. It’s mid January and Jalen threw a perfect pass to AJ and he dropped it. If you were like me, you yelled, “that was terrible, how did he drop that?” Now, imagine a random dude next to you goes, “well what actually happened was…” For some reason simply reacting and being a woman requires an unsolicited football explanation. A guy may ask if we “actually like it” or to “name five players.” Even some girls may say we just say that for attention or to get along better with a guy. Why do people assume a girl needs to prove she likes a sport? It’s so stupid. We shouldn’t have to prove we are fans to be taken seriously.Â
For me, football means family. I have been “the coach’s daughter” all of my life. When I was a baby, I sat with my mom in the bleachers. As a kid, I would roll down the hill and run to my dad when the game was done. As a high schooler, I stood by him on the sideline (well, not right next to him he gets loud). And finally, as a college student, I watch them online every Friday night in the fall. It makes me happy watching my dad and my brother doing what they love. I’ve grown up around practices, games and a madhouse from June to November/December. There are probably tons of girls with my story. Maybe their dad coaches like mine, or they played themselves, or even they grew up watching games every Sunday. There isn’t a correct way to be a football fan. Â
Sports and knowledge of sports for some reason are associated with men. Sometimes there’s this assumption that since women aren’t typically associated with playing the sport, they can’t understand it. You don’t need a helmet to have an opinion. Women get involved in multiple ways. Through fantasy leagues, coaching, growing up around it or simply following their favorite team. You don’t have to have played football to appreciate it. Everyone enjoys music, but are we all musicians? Are we all movie critics or food critics? You don’t need credentials to be a fan.Â
Some girls know a lot about football, some don’t, but either way we shouldn’t have to memorize positions or plays to be enthusiastic about a game! College football is such a huge part of our campus culture. Tailgates, student sections, friends and traditions. If you love football, you’re a football fan. So whether you cheer for the Eagles, like me, or you just cheer for the Mountaineers, let’s all enjoy this football season and not mansplain everything!