9781422283028

The names, such as Cornhuskers, are yet another aspect of college football’s charm. Fighting Irish. Crimson Tide. Volunteers. Buckeyes. Sooners. Longhorns. Tar Heels. Colleges simply have better team names than any professional sports teams do. Purdue University’s marching band boasts “The World’s Largest Drum.” The University of Colorado’s football team runs onto the field accompanied by Ralphie, a live buffalo. Outside Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LSU has a compound for its own live tiger, Mike. Before every home game Ohio State’s marching band spells out “Ohio” in script, and it is a moment of honor for the band member who is selected to “dot the i.” Such traditions are a product of the sport span- ning generations, but also of the intense enthusiasm its fans have for college football. The NFL is a lot like McDonald’s: No matter where you travel in this coun- try, the menu remains the same and the structures pretty much resemble one another. College football is a family-owned restaurant. You’re in for a surprise, but you’re usually in for a treat, as well.

10