Last Saturday night, I experienced my first UVA football game not only as a student, but my first one ever, and I must say it was quite the experience. I was unsure of what to expect as I headed into my first collegiate football outing. Sure, I had gone to college games as a kid with my dad and friends, but never one where I was now a part of the team’s community and, more importantly, sitting in the students’ section.
The atmosphere in Scott stadium, even against a non-conference opponent like Richmond, was so invigorating. I couldn’t get over how much spectator involvement there was throughout the game. The band—whose performances before and after the game were reasons enough to make the trip to the stadium—was relentless in its playing and cheering, and I rarely found myself sitting in silence watching the game. I figured that new head coach Mike London was over-selling the “student and fan support” concept when he spoke to the students at John Paul Jones Arena in late August, but I realized on Saturday that we the fans really are a huge part of every home football game. Not just the student section, but every Virginia fan in the stadium was swaying for the Good Ol’ Song and signaling the “UVA…First Down!” Rarely have I felt such a communal feeling with such a large number of people. This unique, fraternal experience is something that every UVA student, faculty member, alum, and member of the Charlottesville community should be a part of at some point. The next home game takes place on September 25 against VMI.
No comments:
Post a Comment