I've chosen to immerse myself in the college football culture. I'm interested to learn where all the enthusiasm surrounding this level of football comes from. Coming from Canada, college level football is not considered a major event. I couldn't even tell you if the University of Calgary has won any championships in the last 10 years. And it’s not a result of Canadians not being football fans, for bars will be filled on Monday night for "Monday Night Football." Yet college football seems to fly under radar for Canadian fans. I've had the opportunity of watching a couple home games to record my observations of the behavior of the fans that take part in this ritual. Approaching this situation with an empathetic attitude I'm hoping to understand the hype that surrounds this small town’s love for their college football team.
I've noticed diversity between the types of fans that take part in watching the games. These different groups represent microcultures within the macoculture in which I was originally researching. Each group contains the collective belief of encouraging their home team, yet with different tactics. The younger generation “Digger” fan can be found half naked, covered in green paint with their favorite players name and number on their back. These individuals travel in a tight group, usually taking up the first row behind the home teams’ bench, yelling and screaming out chants. Their behavior is probably encouraged by alcohol from the “tail-gate party” held before and during every game. Their conduct is usually embarrassing and sometimes a little tasteless, yet they provide another source of entertainment for the other fans. From what I have witnessed, this group of individuals is a norm for this social system, even when it is only 45ºF outside.
The other group can be broken down to many different types of characteristics and ages, yet they all seem to have the same values of conduct at these games. Their age group ranges from infants to seniors. Entire families from the new born babies to grandma and grandpa can be found at a Digger home game. The women of the families will usually sit together talking about future plans, family issues and even the election. Their interests seem everywhere but on the football game. The men seemed to constantly discuss the play’s which had just taken place on the field along with strategies which the team should involve into their game plan. These are not consistent roles for both genders, yet merely a minor observation of general activities that each gender displays. I believe the underlining reason for a family member Digger fan to come to a game seems to be for socializing. The game while take priority over conversations during big plays and excessive cheering, yet as soon as the excitement dwindles conversations will usually pick up where they left off. I’ve also noticed friendships being rekindled during these football games. Individuals who have not seen or communicated for an extensive period of time will meet in the stands and on occasion spend the entire four quarters catching up on past experiences. The stands’ of Alumni Field is a melting pot of many different personalities and age groups which unite to encourage their home team.
