American football.
When you think of the culture of our country, one’s mind has to go to the sport that originated here in the states as one of the pastimes that makes the U.S. unique compared to the rest of the world.
But why is it so big?
This is the perfect time to ask that question, as we are about to find ourselves in the thick of the fall season, where the sport takes its spot front and center in terms of what to do throughout the autumn months.
One of the biggest reasons as to why the game is played on a gridiron with a pigskin is because every matchup feels like an event. Teams play weekly, and football is the only sport in the country with a schedule that has fans excited for big games seemingly every day on the calendar.
It all starts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as just around the corner, we’ll get weeknight college football games in the Mid-American Conference. It’s an event that Flashes everywhere should be familiar with, as Kent State is a member of the conference.
Thursday starts the NFL weekend with a Thursday Night Football stand-alone game, meaning it’s the only game in the league that is going to be played at that time.
Fridays are set up for high school football and Friday night lights, as boys who dream of being the stars of tomorrow can represent their communities today.
Saturday is all for college football, with pregame shows like College GameDay on ESPN and Big Noon Kickoff on FOX, going live at 9 a.m. and ending just in time for noon kickoff to get fans ready for 12 hours of matchups across a number of networks.
Sunday is the NFL’s time to shine. Six to ten games at 1 p.m., followed by an average of four games at 4:25 p.m. and then Sunday Night Football on NBC at 8:20 p.m. has couch potatoes ready to settle for another full day of football.
It’s a sport where, as opposed to sports like baseball or basketball, every game is important.
Because instead of 162 or 82 games in a regular season, respectively, high school games have 10 games, college football has 12 and the NFL has 17.
Limited chances for ultimate success.
Especially with the fact that many games are played on holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, this gives the sport an association to comfort for most fans, as a period on the calendar to look forward to spending quality time with loved ones.
Many have also played in the game and want to give back in roles within the sport in terms of coaching or broadcasting, aiming to pass that love down to generations.
It’s a sport that is beloved by millions — not just in the country — but worldwide and has absolutely no signs of slowing down whatsoever.
Every game is an opportunity.
That’s why a majority of fans tend to gravitate toward football.
Matt Kiraly is a columnist. Contact him at [email protected].
