Building Community with Football

At universities across the United States, football is as integral to school culture as classes, dormitories, and dining halls. Fans dress up in school colors (babies and dogs also participate!) and even paint their faces to show support for their team. Before the game, many fans participate in tailgating where they eat and drink in the parking lot before the kickoff, bringing tents, tables, music to create a party-like atmosphere.

American football can be a challenging sport to understand, especially for those outside of the United States. Each team has four opportunities, called ‘downs’, to carry the ball ten yards. The goal is to get the ball in the endzone to score a touchdown worth six points. They may then attempt to kick the ball between the goalposts in order to score an extra point. If the team is close to the endzone, they may choose to kick the ball to earn a field goal worth three points.  

Regardless of one’s affinity for the sport, participation in supporting the school team is an important part of integrating into the American university community. During sporting events, one learns to cheer, sing fight songs, and celebrate the wins and losses with others. In the stadium, differences melt away into team spirit, allowing students to become part of a greater whole.

Students in the University Performance Program (UPP) at North Carolina State University had the opportunity to experience American football culture firsthand at a recent game where the NC State University WolfPack played the Miami Hurricanes. They enjoyed traditional tailgating food from Bojangles, a local fast food restaurant, including fried chicken, french fries, and sweet tea before the big game.   

Before kickoff, the students were treated to a pregame show with the NC State marching band, fireworks, and even a flyover of planes. At the game, there was plenty to enjoy from the fast-paced game itself, to the screaming fans, light shows, food, and additional performances by the university marching band. Since the game coincided with military appreciation day, students also enjoyed watching contests among current military members and a special patriotic halftime show including an enormous American flag that spanned the entire field.

Kai, a UPP student from Guanxi Province was surprised by the fans, “The American fans are really crazy!  I wish the fans in China were like that.  It was a great vibe.”

It was Alan’s first time experiencing a football game, “I saw a player score a touchdown.  Everyone stood up and raised their hands and did some hand gestures.  Everyone was very excited and yelling all the time.”

The UPP students enjoyed cheering with fellow WolfPack fans and were thrilled when their team won. As they celebrated the win with other fans, they were no longer international students but were embraced simply as fellow Wolfpack fans!

Erin Holloway