College Football: Tradition, Legacy, & the Future

By Jacob Sorenson

The Dudes from these dudes sports blog

We as These Dudes Sports Blog spent our weekend in the mecca of college sports. That isn’t to say it’s really the Mecca, I’m just basically telling you it’s the most iconic sports venue I have ever attended. Next to the house the Jerry built for the Dallas cowboys, and the Rose bowl, it is the largest stadium I have ever entered in my near quarter of a century of life. The scene was so immaculate and something that I have not quite experienced elsewhere. Near Compton, the city of Los Angeles, and about 45 minutes from coastal areas, the Coliseum was so historic and utterly stunning.

I arrived with my party of 8 to the LA metro tracks and took the opposite train to hit Hollywood before the game, I noticed that I had entered enemy territory because the metro driver was even saying I hope the drive home isn’t too long. What more can you do than just chuckle? We visited the walk of fame and no kidding, every couple feet we had USC fans or UCLA fans asking how come we had made the trip. I was in sports Saturday heaven.

Game time was nearing, I was nervous, yet collected. We rode all the way back to city station where we switched metro lines to head to Vermont and Expo. USC fans were wall to wall, and there were four other Utes fans sitting in the back of the train. We all had a lovely conversation about college football and the surprises of the day, including that Georgia tech and Florida state game.

Upon arrival to the stadium I met up with Shawn and Dawson. Walking through the tailgating was something I definitely need to touch on here. Hot dogs, cheese, pepper, and onion covered hot dogs. So tasteful, from smell only, I was too cheap to pay for a $6 hot dog. Then the museums on left and right. The rose garden rotunda with an empty fountain. The space museum and the gravel walk which leads to the gates of the stadium. Need I say more?

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Once in the gates we were giddy. We nearly ran to the gate, then to a long tunnel with the only light at the end of it being the stadium and a shadow of the event staffer at the very end. We ran up the stairs and what other to see than the giant cauldron at the other end of the stadium, marking the memorial for the coliseum.

Game time came, the crowd was quiet, and restless. I sat there partially exhausted from driving through the night and a day of play, but too excited to calm down. After the hour wait and hundreds of photos we finally made it to kickoff. The 4:30pm sun was beating down and the weather was unbeatable. The air cooled as the sun went down and the lights cast their beams on stands and grass. 28 – 17 was the halftime score. The Utes made a critical 4^th down decision to go for it on 4^th and 3 which had led to a pick six. Britton covey had then broken a big play on the insuing drive but some poor play calling and poor clock management led the Utes to settle for a field goal heading in to halftime.

The second half is all but memorable for the Utes, not a single point for the second half until 4 minutes remained and again Britton broke a long screen pass for a 66 yard touchdown or so. The Utes had hope, but, the onside kick failed, time dwindled, and the clock struck 0. The #3 Utes had been beaten. Us, the Utes fans, were dejected, shocked, and needless to say exhausted. Dawson kept a level head, that and a burst of excitement as the Trojans took the ball down the field multiple times. Juju smith-schuster and Adoree Jackson just seemed to be too much for the Utes to handle.

Halftime at the Coliseum

These games, in stadiums like these, make me wonder what every college town and every college team would be like if only their school and team pride were to this level. After having now attended both the Rose Bowl and the Coliseum in one year, I beg the question to each REAL sports fan, what more can you do for your team and to add to your team pride? I digress in saying, I’ve never been a full supporter of the Utes, in fact, my loyalties would remain with “The team down south” in a holy war match-up, however, there is something invigorating about joining forces and backing the state. The Utes are on their best run since the 2008 season in which they capped off a Sugar Bowl victory against Alabama to shake the BCS, and the conference alignment. There are bound to be more surprises and miracles with the remaining 4 or 5 games on every schedule as well, and the Utes remain in the mix.

This year to date has taught me so much about my passion for sports. I don’t necessarily only love the teams I support, but I love the game, and I love people who play the game I love at a high level. Can we imagine the sports scene if every person had this level of enthusiasm for the game, and even more so for their teams? Our tailgate parties would be filled with grill smoke, music from the bands, a parade through the streets, and festivities before-hand that match the excitement of the actual event. USC taught me a lesson for no doubt; a great fan can become an excellent fan, and local tailgates could use some work.

Get out there sports fans. Hype up your team! Hype up your crowd! Make some traditions that will not be easily forgotten or pushed to the wayside. This is College Football, this season only happens once, and then we must wait another grueling 6-8 months to see our guys play again. Let’s make the most of it!