Give college football a chance

By Tyler Wilson

There is just something about college football that draws me in. It's a combination of the traditions, the collegiate atmosphere, the student sections and the bands that gets me going. The rivalries, the alumni, just everything about it turns me on. It's better than the NFL, in every way but talent. But that's what is so amazing about college football. Yes there are kids like Terrelle Pryor who take what they aren't supposed to, but about 90 percent of the kids playing college football don't get drafted and go on to real life jobs. It's this 90 percent that makes it all worth it for me. I know, college football is in an extremely negative state right now because of all the scandals and the NCAA's inability to control them. And even though there are probably many more corrupt players out there than anyone thinks, I still love it because the majority of the players play for the love of the game, not for money or fame.

And even though the talent level is obviously not up to par with the NFL, I love the excitement it provides. I don't care about the quality of the play. I'm not a coach, It's not my job to critique good quality football. More so, if college football wasn't exciting, would it be as popular as it is today? No, it would not. Comparing college football with the NFL is like comparing Tommy Boy to Monty Python movies. Tommy Boy is a great comedy. It may not be as sophisticated and the jokes may not be as good as in Monty Python movies, but it is still entertaining nonetheless.

And it's also different than the NFL. One can argue between the different atmospheres of the two. Honestly, one isn't better than the other. They are just completely different. Student sections, bands and alumni versus fanatics and diehard fans. Both have different tailgating atmospheres, but neither one is better. I honestly prefer tailgating in a collegiate atmosphere, where students have food booths set up all over campus and alumni come back, not just to root for their football team, but to support the alma mater that gave them the foundation for what they currently know as their life.

I know, the BCS sucks and the bowl system is just a way to make money. I know, I know, I know. Yes, I want to get rid of the BCS and go to a playoff system. But it does provide a lot of unnecessary narratives on college football, which I like to listen to. That may make no sense to NFL lovers, but I don't care. I love college football. I don't love the BCS, but it does put the limelight on college football because of the controversy. And even though it's a negative limelight, it means more college football to watch and listen to.

Yes, the NFL has better talent and a better playoff system, and I do realize that all NFL atmospheres are not like the Chargers', where obnoxious fans are wearing halloween costumes to the games and getting drunk (I actually witnessed this at a Chargers game). And there are obviously some college football fans like this too. But, I don't care. I'm not trying to win you over to college football, I'm just stating why I like the it better than the NFL. Maybe it's the fact that I grew up in San Antonio, where there is no football team, and maybe it's the fact that I grew up a diehard Notre Dame fan. Nonetheless, I like it better.

College football may be the only football this fall for at least a little bit, so for all those NFL lovers and college football haters out there, please give college football a chance. Even if you hate it, at least try to see why some people love it.