As college football stadiums fill with roaring fans and school colors ripple across campuses, seeing first-hand the passion and pride that comes from cheering for a team influences how students view colleges long before they apply. During college application season, many people base their decisions on factors such as location and cost. However, for many sports fans, their fandom plays a crucial role in their choices.
“When I see good football culture, I want to go to the school more,” Miami Palmetto Senior High senior Noah Portugal said.
Sports culture also often reflects the sense of community within a university. Watching a team succeed creates a sense of unity within a school that can even be felt through the screen. For students who often watch teams, this emotional pull can translate into a strong factor in where they apply.
“It just gives you something to look forward to,” senior and University of Florida sports fan Adam Olster said. “Every week I’m just waiting for the football game.”
Through sports, schools share a collective happiness when they win and a shared disappointment when they lose. Many schools even come together through longstanding traditions. At the University of Alabama, home football games always feature a fourth-quarter singing of “Dixieland Delight” with school-spirited lyric changes. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, students “Jump Around” at the end of the third quarter, often shaking the stands at their Camp Randall Stadium.
“There’s nothing like [being in a student section], honestly,” Olster said.
This emotional attraction also applies to students who grew up watching certain teams. If a student’s parents attended a school, it is very common that they will want to attend that school too, influenced by years of watching and supporting the same team. Other students may have adopted teams through popular sports culture outside of the team itself, like March Madness, or feel a connection to teams thanks to the rise of school-focused TikToks and social media posts.
Whether it is watching from the bleachers or growing up in a family of loyal fans, sports often spark the first connection between students and their future school. For many, the love of the game is the first step toward finding their place.
