Across the country this past weekend, the sights and sounds of college football returned to the American sports landscape. From the smell of barbecue in the parking lots, to the sounds of the marching bands leading fans into stadiums, to the sights of students with their bodies painted in school colors, it is an experience like none other.
Unless you go to AU, where there is no football team. Yes, we might take pride in our T-shirts that say "Still Undefeated," but that is due to a lack of games played, rather than actual talent.
Students here often cheer for their hometown teams, such as the Ohio State University Buckeyes or the University of Michigan Wolverines. They sit in their rooms watching the games on TV or follow them through game casts online.
But rather than give support to other schools, why don't students at AU cheer for their own school's teams? We still have plenty of reason to be proud of our school, even if our sports don't involve oversized men fighting over pigskin.
Let's start on the lime-green turf of the Jacobs Recreational Complex, where the AU field hockey team is ranked 14th in the nation. That's right, the entire country, not just D.C. Led by coach Steve Jennings, who just returned from a stint at the Beijing Olympics as the assistant coach of the U.S. women's team, the Eagles look to capture their sixth consecutive Patriot League title.
If hockey is not your sport, head on down the steps to Reeves Field, where the men's and women's soccer teams will be playing some of the top squads in the region. After playing in multiple tournaments to start the season, each team will look to play strong in PL play to make the NCAA tournament. If nothing else, soccer is called football in every other country, so that has to count for something, right?
Finally, there is volleyball inside Bender Arena. Similar to the sport Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh made famous at the Beijing Olympics, minus the sand and bikinis, volleyball is one of AU's most successful sports. The team has dominated PL play in recent years, having won seven straight league titles, and looks to return once again to the NCAA tournament.
So there you have it, fans of AU. While you are disappointed that we do not have a football team, take pride in the sports that we do have. Unlike college football, where the national champs are decided through a mythical polling system, our athletes will earn their rings the way it was meant to be - on the field.
You can reach this columnist at jhall@theeagleonline.com.
