Football Season and the big game

All three of us kids were in marching band in high school, so at least for me, that was when I started actually liking football! It was a great opportunity to yell and scream and get excited. I remember when Mom found me a book at the elementary library explaining how the game of football was played. Before that book, I only knew that a first down was pretty decent because we played the 1st down fight song and a touchdown was even better because we played the entire fight song! Then I went to college.

I really learned to appreciate football when I was in college. Luckily we had a great football program at Wartburg so games were pretty exciting and filled with touchdowns and even some playoff appearances. And since I had quite a few male friends in college and they would spend their weekends watching football on tv, I learned to appreciate that too. It still cant beat a live game though. I even hosted a superbowl party senior year and coined the phrase "I LOVE FOOTBALL!" although the party was more about the food then the game!

So anyways, tommorrow is the big Iowa vs Iowa State game. I didnt grow up being a fan of either team, nor did I even enjoy football until high school.  Dad didnt spend the weekends sitting in front of the TV watching football in the fall so we never did either. I think more then anyone, Mom was the one who care most about the Iowa vs Iowa State game...and that was still very little.

So every year when this weekend comes around, I am torn between who to cheer for. I could cheer for Iowa. My extended family lives right in the heart of Hawkeye country so they are fans and I suppose I could be to just because of the association. Plus, did attend one of the greatest college football games ever at the Capital One Bowl when Iowa went on to beat LSU in the final seconds of the game! I think there are no more loyal fans then Iowa fans though. They travel with the team everywhere and live and die by the Hawks...even though they have not done well in recent years.

Then again, I could cheer for Iowa State. They are the underdogs, they have a new coach and I like the academic programs at that school better. Plus I have friends that go to Iowa State and they tend to like it quite a bit. And, my first ever college football game was at Iowa State when they played Ball State back in 1998 (we went and marched at halftime when I was in high school for ISU Band Day). The fans at Iowa State however are pretty loyal in a different way. ISU is hardly ever good and those ISU fans usually stick by them so I feel bad!

I guess since I am so torn I will just hope that each team does their best and that the Knights and Peacocks both win their home games this weekend because after all thats what matters! Thank goodness Upper Iowa switched divisions and that those 2 teams dont play each other anymore...then we would really have a problem with who to cheer for!