4. The atmosphere
Soak it all in. The large crowds, a roaring student section and other crazed fans ready for a Saturday showdown.
I’ve always felt that one huge plus offered by college football is the intense atmosphere. While some more recently built NFL stadiums that have gotten to around 80,000 in capacity, there have already been plenty of college football stadiums that have held the same capacity for years. There are even a handful of stadiums that play host to more than 100,000 spectators. Take “The Big House” for example that is estimated to seat 107,601 people.
The one other thing that makes college football stand out from the pros is the band. The students who put on countless hours of practice to entertain and to serve as the heartbeat of the crowd. Fight songs being played when a team scores, first down melodies when the chains are moved and other tunes attached to a college team make each band unique.
Some NFL teams have established bands of their own, but they don’t match up to the size and effect that a college team band does. Some college bands have gameday rituals that add to their flavor. Bands like Notre Dame’s encircle the hallways of the Golden Dome and play a variety of songs in the Irish Trumpets ceremony. Other bands, like the Ohio State, famously select a special member to dot the ”i” during their pre-game routine after forming a script O-H-I-O.
Both the elements of a stadium crowd and the band add to the intense atmosphere produced by college football.