By Carolyn Todd
Fast Forward to Today
Two decades after I started my football journey, I can say that football, and more specifically, Penn State football, has had a profound impact on my life, something that I would never have predicted when I decided to marry Terry.
But Penn State football is why, when Terry retired, we chose to move to Centre County, Pennsylvania. Penn State football is also why I chose a new career path 13 years ago: teaching marketing at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business and leaving the corporate world behind.
Our attendance streak happened somewhat by accident. It was never intended that we would do this forever. We decided one year – in 1990 – to try to make all the away games as well as home games that season. We missed the USC game in LA early in the season because Terry had a business commitment. But we made all the rest.
We had so much fun following Penn State wherever they played that we decided to do it again in 1991. One year became two years. Then Penn State joined the Big Ten, and it was exciting to travel to a whole group of different stadiums in the Midwest. Two years became a decade, and now it’s been another decade!
It became a routine to organize our lives and annual commitments around the Penn State football schedule.
Why do we continue to do it? Simply put, it’s much more engaging to watch a game in person than it is to watch it on TV. It gets back to the experience of being there. And the fact that you miss a lot of action on the field when you rely on the TV monitors and sports-casters to tell you what’s happening.
Plus, there are the bragging rights of having been there, both for frustrating losses and for incredible turn-around wins. During freak October snowstorms or torrential New Year’s day rain.
Last year, as I was approaching my 100th game in a row, I decided that perhaps it was time to write a blog about the fan experience of following Penn State football.
So again Penn State football has had a profound impact on my life. I have discovered a new avocation in blogging. I enjoy the feedback I receive from college football fans that seem to value my perspectives on the games and the experience as we travel around the Big Ten following the Nittany Lions.
Follow me this fall by visiting my blog at www.viewfromstands.blogspot.com.
Or look for occasional guest columns on Football101Women as we prepare for and enjoy the coming football season.
I will enjoy getting to know you and learning about your passion for football.
