Hello, everyone! Do you enjoy watching football? Until last Saturday, I had never seen an American football game and barely knew the basic rules. Still, I went with friends to Dial-Roberson Stadium for my first live game. The matchup featured Ohio Northern University’s football team against Heidelberg University. Even though it was my first time, I enjoyed it a lot — maybe some of you reading this were there, too.
The day before the game, my friends and I agreed to wear ONU-related clothing. Although I don’t own many ONU shirts, I chose my favorite black T-shirt. Before heading to the stadium, we met at the Honors House for face painting. I used orange paint — ONU’s signature color — to draw a bear paw on my left cheek. My friends dotted their cheeks and foreheads with paint, making them look like Christmas lights. I had never put this much effort into a school event, so I was both excited and curious.
Dial-Roberson Stadium was crowded with fans. I hadn’t realized how popular American football was because, in Korea, it’s rare to see a game; soccer is much more widely followed. Seeing so many people — especially ONU students — cheering made me understand the sport’s popularity. I also found myself comparing soccer and American football. At first I wondered about the large rosters, the frequent substitutions and the heavy protective gear. But as the game went on, I realized football is played far more aggressively than soccer.
Because I didn’t know the rules (and still don’t fully), I focused more on the crowd’s energy than on the game itself. What impressed me most was the fans’ passion. The ONU students behind me chanted players’ names and shouted in unison, creating a sense of community. During halftime, dozens of students in the marching band performed lively routines and great music. This unified spirit helped me, as an exchange student, feel part of ONU, too.
At my home university, Hanyang University, our basketball and soccer teams are strong but don’t have a marching band or student-led events to encourage attendance. That contrast made ONU’s culture feel unfamiliar but even more appealing. This first football experience left such a strong impression on me that I’m already looking forward to attending the next game and cheering for ONU again.
I love that you got to attend your first American football game here at ONU. As a big fan of professional football, any talk about the sport always catches my interest. I also play soccer, and I agree the two sports are very different, but both great in their own ways. I am glad you enjoyed the environment of the game, and I hope you can attend more games this fall. Don't worry about not knowing all of rules of the game. I have watched since my childhood and still learn new things about the sport every week it feels like.
ReplyDelete