When some people think of football, all they can think of is sweaty, jacked dudes running into one another for 3-ish hours. And yeah, while that's definitely a component, American football is about so much more than that.
American football came into popularity in the late 1800s, and at the time was a variant of rugby. As American culture and history evolved, so did the sport. The NFL's original 8 teams (the Giants, Bears, Cardinals, Packers, Lions, Redskins, Eagles, and Steelers) are very representative of the country's most booming areas. As new major cities began growing in population, things like sports teams and city pride followed closely behind.
For much of America, football teams are a way to showcase pride for where you're from. They instill a sense of community and help band together diverse groups of people for one common goal. No matter how much the Bears have sucked in the past, I will always support them because they represent part of the American culture to which I belong, part of my identity.
To me, football is also important because it is something I share with my dad. I can remember many a Sunday evening when my dad and I would just sit on the couch, enjoying a football game together. I would root for whoever he's rooting for, ask him questions, and just enjoy the time I get to spend with him. On Super Bowl Sunday, for the past few years, my family has gotten together with some good snacks, Football Squares on the easel, and sat down to enjoy the game together. I truly cherish those bonding moments, when my mom and sister (who don't care at all about football) would sit through this 3-4 hour debacle, watching my dad and I intensely watch the game, just so that we could be in each others' company. This year will be the first time I will be away from home for the Super Bowl, and I will definitely miss that experience with my family.
However, this Super Bowl Sunday for me will be the start of a new tradition, in which I get to share my family's traditions with my college friends. We will be on the couch watching the game as I furiously try to explain to my friends what a down is, and why "that guy over there" ran into "that one down there." If you've never been a football person, give the Super Bowl a chance anyway! It's an excuse to gorge on Pizza Bagels, laugh at the bogus advertisements, and yell at players who can't hear you, and it'll help you understand all the Twitter memes that are bound to pop up Monday morning!
At the end of the day, it's never been about football. It's about spending time with those you love, screaming at the TV, bonding over your extreme fervent hatred of the Patriots, and creating new traditions. Whether it's football, the new "Grey's" episode, or "Say Yes to the Dress" reruns, this weekend, spend some time with your friends and family, indoors, under piles of warm blankets, and take a moment to be grateful for all the world has given us.
