Ohio State Football: Why college football fans are so important

Coaches, players and trainers are some of the most integral parts of college football. However, though often overlooked, the fans are equally as important and create a worth more than just gaining revenue.

College football is layered with passion and pageantry ranging from traditions to stadiums. However, the true beauty of the sport resides in the court of the people. Also known as fans, the people involved in college football are what make it so special, but one aspect towers above the rest, storytelling.

The ability to communicate is an incredibly powerful tool, but when paired with experience it’s even better. I grew up outside of Columbus, Ohio as an avid fan of the Ohio State football team.

For years, I would watch the Buckeyes on television or hear stories from my father, other adults, former coaches and players, or announcers and long to experience what they were talking about one day.

When the day came for me to attend my first college football game I was ecstatic. It was the season opener against Youngstown State in 2008 and Ohio State won 43-0. The feeling of being a part of the 105,000 faithful was electric.

Participating in the Buckeye Bounce, Stadium Ohio, and singing along to Hang on Sloopy and Carmen Ohio were all so much fun to that nine year old kid. I can still remember the day vividly.

The game day experience and storytelling are inseparable, we can’t have one without the other. As the possibility of limited capacity crowds threatens the 2020 college football season, I can’t help but think of how the game day experience will be affected and how many people will miss out on such special moments.

Some of the most iconic, memorable times during college football games (aside from the game itself) are made possible by the fans. Jump Around to start the fourth quarter in Camp Randall under the lights. Waving to the kids in the Children’s Hospital from the stadium in Kinnick.

Screaming and gesturing O-H-I-O depending on your section for Stadium Ohio in The Shoe. The tomahawk chop in Doak Campbell. The deafening sound of Seven Nation Army under Whiteout conditions in Happy Valley are just to name a few.

The exhilarating feeling of taking part in those moments last a lifetime and further prove why fans generate more than just revenue. The unrelenting passion and enthusiasm exuding from college kids paired with generational family tradition is the perfect marriage of ingredients which creates the unparalleled atmospheres in college football.

Watching a game from your home on the couch or at a restaurant is one thing, but witnessing it in person is another. The thrill of beating your rival is felt through a screen, but the satisfaction of seeing it live and rushing the field after the clock hits triple zeros is a whole new level of awesome.

These stadiums that are classified as landmarks or historical sites wouldn’t have those titles without the fans. For example, it’s a crisp New Year’s Day with temperatures in the mid-60s with abundant sunshine. 90,000+ fans pack the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California sitting at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains.

As the third quarter comes to a close, you look up and see the sunset beaming off of the towering landscape creating the most majestic backdrop for the Granddaddy of Them All. There isn’t a better view in college football.

Players make the game possible, but live fans make it exciting. There is no disputing the importance of fans in college football. Their level of fandom reaches drastic heights…looking at you, Ohio State fans who refuse to buy gas in the state of Michigan.

I’m also guilty, but nevertheless, the rivalries and traditions transcend the gridiron and calendar schedule. However, that respected hatred and traditions are brought together as the public gathers united for four hours to help deliver the latest edition of the greatest game on earth, college football.