College football game days are unlike anything else. Crowds of students with theme-centered apparel roar with excitement and adrenaline, while friend groups gather to take pictures to look back at such unforgettable memories and post them online. To college students, football is more than just a sport; college football is a shared experience that brings students, alumni and fans together, forming a sense of community on campus.
The history of college football dates back to the year 1869, when the first game ever was held between Rutgers and Princeton. According to NCAA: College Football History: Notable Firsts and Milestones. Rutgers won the game 6-4 in a contest that more closely mirrored that of soccer or rugby rules, rather than modern American football. Interestingly, each team was made up of 25 players and the ball was a spherical shape, in contrast to today’s spheroid football. This singular game sparked interest in the sport across the country, prompting various colleges to begin forming their own teams in order to play against each other. From then on, rules started to change and the number of spectators in the stadium increased drastically throughout the 20th century.
Traditions vary vastly across different colleges when it comes to football. From distinctive chants to unique rituals, the customs of a college on game day resemble the unity and pride between alumni and fans. A widely recognized tradition is held at the University of Hawaii, where the football team performs the “Haka” before the game begins. Additionally, University of Notre Dame is known for its Notre Dame Victory March, staged after every match, whether they won or lost. During this march, the entire team joins together to sing the school’s famous fight song. Without these traditions, colleges would not have a way to bond with their students and create experiences worth reminiscing.
