Ever wondered why our country has such an obsession with American football? Staff writer Olivia McMurray breaks down the how’s and why’s behind this particular fall sport becoming the beloved pastime it is today.
Hey there! My name is Olivia McMurray, and I’m a staff writer for the Northwood Omniscient. In this podcast, we’ll be covering the how’s and why’s behind American football becoming the beloved sport it is today.
In the present world, American football is arguably the most popular sport to watch in the United States. This classic sport is also referred to as gridiron football in other parts of the world, as the name originates from its grid-lined playing field. According to a 2020 Gallup poll, 37% of Americans named football as their favorite sport, 11% favored basketball and 9% favored baseball. Complete with bright lights and crowd-filled stands, two opposing teams each with eleven players fiercely go head to head on a 120-yard rectangular field for a clocked time of 60 minutes.
Today, the sport features an inflated, oval-shaped ball typically made of rubber that is run by the offense who attempts to advance, while the defense aims to take control of the ball and stop their advance. Like most sports, the objective of the game is to score the most points. In terms of football, this is accomplished through advancing the ball down the length of a field, with points coming from different feats such as a touchdown, field goal, safety, four-point conversion, or an extra-point conversion. It’s simple enough, but how did it become the sport that it is today?
In order to gain a better understanding, let’s go back to the past. Often considered a blend between soccer and rugby, the sport was originally adapted from the latter, with most credit given to Yale rugby player, Walter Camp, who famously adjusted the rules of the game in 1880. Over time, new elements were added and others tweaked them until the game was fully separated from rugby and became a sport of its own. In 1922, the National Football League (NFL) was established, along with organized college football and a soon-after adopted athletic program created for high school. By 1960, the American Football League (AFL) was founded, prompted by the immensely positive feedback to games broadcasted on the radio and television.
So what’s so enticing about American football, besides its origin story? It really comes down to this: people love entertainment, and football brings it on full-force. Even though the sport is considered somewhat dangerous, overly rough or sexist by some, fans still manage to find appeal in it. For many viewers, it’s the culture and community built around football that gets them hooked. Watching the game provides a social opportunity between fans and a chance to place friendly bets on different teams.
Centered around tradition, preparation for a football game has become somewhat of a ritual, with many households across the United States accustomed to hosting parties or get-togethers on the weekend to enjoy snacks while watching the game. In 2020 alone, the super bowl amassed 99.9 million total TV viewers–if that doesn’t say something about how popular football is, I’m not sure what does.
In terms of watching in person, attending football games provides a similar social opportunity with several pre-game rituals–in high school, Friday night football games are insanely popular events that bring out large crowds to watch the game. Music is blasted, games are played and vendors give out food while waiting for people to settle in and for the game to start. While some people do attend simply for the game itself, football games also cater to those who are just looking for a night of fun with friends.
As for college football, games are still hugely popular and arguably just as hyped up–if not more–since it appeals to a wider age group. College football is deemed popular because fans have more of a connection with college teams. People rooting for each team usually have a personal connection with the college or state itself. Where and how people grew up largely impacts their love of football, as many people who have memories associated with the sport are more likely to stay tuned to recent game stats and scores.
Locally, people follow teams such as the NC State Wolfpack, Appalachian State Mountaineers and UNC Tar Heels. All three have massive fan bases and play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) subdivision. According to the Amway Coaches Poll, Appalachian State ranked in the top 25 as number 18, which marked the best season the team has had in years. This year, UNC is ranked number 14 in the AP poll ranking as of week eight, with NC State emerging further down the list respectively at number 23. On the topic of NC State, here is a fun fact. Have you heard of NFL quarterbacks Russel Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks or Philip Rivers from the Indianapolis Colts? Both once played college football for the university in the past. Pretty crazy right?
Speaking of the NFL, the Carolina Panthers, the only professional football team in North Carolina which is based in Charlotte, are doing fairly well this season. Holding a three-to-two record in the first six weeks of the 2020 season, Head Coach Matt Rhule has steadily led the team to success to the surprise of many, even amidst the short-term loss of key running back Christian McCaffrey. As of late, it is projected that the Panthers will continue to play out their 26th year in the NFL well, so hope is still on the rise for a solid season.
Now, let’s go back to the sport itself–money has to come into play somewhere, doesn’t it? Football is a profit-centered industry; it’s tailored to suit the audience’s interest, which is a partial factor as to why the sport has become so big. One offshoot that has caused fans to become more involved with the sport is Fantasy Football. In order to give people a fun way to interact with their beloved sport via technology, the original concept was released free for the public in 1997. The virtual platform allows players to act as managers of a hand-picked team from a roster including all current NFL players. Each selected team then virtually competes against other people’s rosters based on real players’ stats. Although not directly affiliated with the NFL, the game still contributed to the overall success of the multi-billion dollar company. As of 2019’s season, the NFL racked up a revenue of about 15.26 billion US dollars over the course of the year. (That’s like 150 three-by-three crates of $100 bills, which is enough to fill up almost 2 floors of the average 2500 square foot single-family home!)
Besides the entertainment, the prime reason behind why football is so well liked is because it is authentically American, and serves as something fans can take pride in. Just like ordering a classic cheeseburger at a McDonald’s or spending a day at DisneyWorld, football is unique to our country with each team representing a different hometown, city, or school that people can show their love for.
So what do you associate with the sport? The next time Football Sunday– or Saturday, if you’re a college fan–rolls around, grab your chips and dip, settle in front of the tv with friends or family and enjoy the game.
Thanks for listening to this podcast on behalf of the Northwood Omniscient, we hope you learned something from it! If you enjoyed, be on the lookout for more podcasts like this to come in the future!
-Olivia McMurray
