Not the only clueless one at the game
For Maryland and its college football fans, the sixth game of the season against Minnesota marked a disappointing defeat. It is a game I will never forget. Not because the game was particularly dramatic or noteworthy-it wasn’t- but because it was my first ever exposure to American football.
Before I am dismissed as an unpatriotic American, at odds with what some might describe as a fundamental part of American society, let me present my defense. I am from across the pond so to speak. From a land where football refers to lean men running around the pitch kicking a round ball into a net. A mere accidental knock of the leg is enough to send them writhing to the floor in apparent agony until the referee grants a free kick. As one can imagine, it took only a matter of seconds for me to realize that American football is a very different type of game, with a very different breed of men.
Having been told Maryland had only suffered one loss at Penn State the week before, my expectations were high. After an impressive performance by the brass band, a chorus of the national anthem, some fireworks appearing from out of nowhere and a riveting performance by a very talented young cheerleader, I was pretty revved up.
This fervor continued as the Maryland players stormed onto the pitch, dressed from head to toe in menacing black. They ran full pelt towards the stands and proceeded to throw themselves onto the unsuspecting fans that had been unfortunate enough to choose front row seating. I would have run a mile at the sight of these enormous men charging towards me, but the adoring fans seemed ecstatic by the circumstance they found themselves in, lunging at the players in a delighted frenzy.
When the game began, my confusion in no way lessened. From my high perch up in the media booth, the play resembled a group of oversized toddlers throwing themselves at one another until the whistle was blown. This practice continued repeatedly and deciphering when it should be succeeded with applause, and when a groan of defeat was instead required, was honestly a mystery to me. At half time, Minnesota was up by 14-0 points, as two of their players had managed to cross the line that had been the cause of all this chaos, and then followed it up by kicking the ball impressively through some posts.
During the break, I took the liberty to prize myself from the safety of my booth and enter into the buzzing sea of red below. Hyped fans bustled around the stadium, proudly displaying team jerseys and soaking up the sun and atmosphere. Pretzel and coke firmly in hand, they dawdled from stand to stand, apparently unfazed by the trailing score of their home team. Students attempted to pass the time by partaking in humorous competitions on the pitch under the lens of the stadium camera, their peers sniggering at their displays of self-mockery. What struck me the most was the scope of people this game had attracted. People of all walks of life had taken the time out of their Saturday to brave the traffic and crowds and watch these college teams play. “I live nearby and always make the effort to come and watch a game”, said a man I had stopped on my travels, sporting a Maryland cap and clutching a burger. “It’s a great atmosphere.”
After an exciting second half, with a number of pile-ups and snatching of the ball, Minnesota claimed victory. Maryland players looked rather glum as the camera panned across their exhausted faces. From the vibes I was picking up from those around me, although Maryland put up a good fight in the second half, Minnesota played an impressive game and the final score of 31-10 was a fair one.
At the Maryland press conference, it appeared the coach and players were just as clueless as me when it came to analysis of the game. “We could really just never get on track,” said Head Coach DJ Durkin. “We were just kind of out of sync, the whole thing was. In all ways.”
I could certainly relate.