Thursday, September 8, 2011

How to Be a GREAT College Football Fan (Among Other Things)

This is a wonderful time of year in the southeastern United States. Fall is trying to nudge out summer. School is back in session. Best of all, college football is in full swing!

Now I could just as easily focus on high school or pro football (NBC News highlighted the Cheeseheads this morning in Green Bay), but to me there is something special about college football. Living in Augusta GA we have a rich blend of college teams represented, and the closer you get to the weekend the more the talk is about football. I won't even go into the details of a certain UGA-SC game that is all the buzz in my area this week!

As I was enjoying cooler weather and doing some yard work, I couldn't help but think about the way great fans are a key part of college football. Watch ESPN Game Day, or attend your local game, and you know what I'm talking about.

Great fans plan and prepare to be part of the experience-- the clothes, the food, & all the preparations are part of the fun!

Great fans expect great things to happen in the next game! It usually doesn't matter what the record is since a great fan is going to hold out hope for the extraordinary to happen.

Great fans try to persuade other fans their team is the best. A great fan sticks with a team no matter the season record. Year in and year out they'll try to recruit other fans, players, and anyone who will listen that their team is the best.

Great fans know the players for this season and follow the numbers. A great fan gets into the details of the game. Such a fan isn't content with a superficial level of knowledge of the team.

Great fans encourage the coach. A person who has the long term interest of a team in mind accepts reality, yet is looking to build on the long term tradition.

Great fans are part of the game! They aren't idle participants, or lazy observers, but are actively engaged in the game even though they aren't playing on the field.

Great fans are part of why I love college football. Great fans attract other great fans and build on the tradition.

How exciting to be part of a crowd of rabid enthusiasts!

It's an old metaphor, yet still full of truth. Come to think of it, a great fan makes all the difference in church as well. I wonder what would happen if we all got as prepared, expecting the extraordinary, and as personally engaged in church life as we are with college football? The enthusiasm and excitement of one great fan is contagious and will attract other excited participation.

Let's bring on game day at church- I'll meet you in the parking lot for the tailgate party!

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Romans 12:11

No comments: