The basics: there are two teams, and the goal is to score the most points.
Points come from touchdowns (worth 7 points) and field goals (a bit like Rugby). The field is 100 yards in length: one team starts with the ball, and they have to run up the field toward their touchdown zone. You get four "downs" to get there, and you have to get at least 10 yards every "down." If the team doesn't manage to get the ball ten yards, then they move up a down (1>2>3>4). Once the team reaches number four, the possession of the ball goes over to the other team. But if you go over ten yards, you're back to the first down and can start all over again from 1.
But the most interesting bit, I think, is all the surrouding ritual. I can only speak for App games, but here is what we do...
Before the game starts, most people spend the morning tailgating. Every club has a pitch on the field by the stadium, and everyone brings food and drink. The games normally start at three o clock, so at about two o clock the marching band make their way to the stadium. It's great to be able to watch them go by, and I'm always impressed by how easy they make it look to jump, walk backwards and play their instruments without walking into each other. Spectators start flooding the stadium about an hour before kick off, you have to go early to get good seats. Then, the marching band come on the pitch and do their thing.
I really love the marching band, I think they're maybe my favourite part of the game! As well as the whole music thing which bands do, they get into formation:
That is a photo of the big screen which affords the birds' eye view, so in case it is not very clear; the band are spelling out "ASU." The people who form the middle of the "A" and the "S" march across so that it spells it both ways. In the bottom photo they are making Yosef's face.
Then there's the presentation of the Colours of the United States and everyone stands whilst the band play the National Anthem. This time, I found myself getting strangely patriotic during this! Of course I love the UK and am really excited to be going back to see my family and friends (and Doctor Who), but I can definitely see myself coming back to the States for longer than these five months. Before I came here, I was humming and hawing for ages about whether to choose to go for a year or a semester - having been here, I would recommend to anyone to come for the year if they get the opportunity, because a semester in many ways does not seem long enough.
Anyway, that is what I was thinking whilst the National Anthem played! Following that, Yosef comes out and everyone cheers him as he gets driven around the stadium. Then the players come through the tunnel and into a big, inflatable tent which is shaped like a football helmet. They're basically totally pumped with adrenaline, and there's always some motivational song playing, so the crowd is pretty hyped up as well - and then they run out onto the pitch and there's usually fireworks too! I really love all the leadup and the stuff that happens before the players even get onto the pitch. It's much different to my usual football experience; which is having a pint at Wetherspoons and watching Liverpool lose on a big TV. The crowd sing the App anthem, and then... kick off!!
This doesn't go halfway to explaining some of the other stuff which completely confused me at first, but I will save that for a time when I have more photos to add.
On Saturday night, I went to a contradance. When I was in Primary School we sometimes had to do contradance in PE lessons and to be honest it was basically my worst nightmare. I imagined Hell to be a place where they make you do contradance non-stop, forever. However, my host mum was really keen to take us, so a few friends and I went to a barn where they dance every Saturday. Despite my initial complete uselessness - so much so that by the end of the first dance I felt sorry for any poor person who had to lead me! - there were maybe about 80 people there and everyone was very welcoming so I quickly got into the swing of things... it was really fun, we danced from 8-11 and now I feel desperate urges to buy a flowing skirt and go back.
Other stuff that has been happening this week is that the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra came to our auditorium last Thursday so I went to see them, which was a really nice thing to do. Plus, the conductor was Welsh and it has been ages since I heard a good Welsh accent! Also, the App students who are preparing to go on study abroad have been gearing up - all us other study abroaders were invited to one of their lectures to answer questions and talk about how great studying abroad is. For the record, it is really great.
Finally, as far as David Tennant comes in... mostly I wanted to make some kind of Doctor Who reference in light of the fast-approaching Christmas episode! But more importantly, I shoved that reference in there because of what I was saying earlier about staying for a year. Now, I really cannot wait to see my family and my friends back at home, but it does also feel a shame to be leaving App just as it has started to feel like a second home. Most of the time, I forget I'm in a "foreign" country at all.
Sorry about the huge photo! I will fix that tomorrow :)
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