Two words, one nation: American football. This billion dollar industry starts with college football. When you think of college football, it’s easy to think of it as a pool of entertainment from multiple sources.
What role does college football play for American students?
The college football industry has encompassed several other sources of entertainment. Solid examples include a college marching band and cheerleading team. A football game is not complete without loud cheers and blaring marching band performances: these are an integral part of the full college football experience.
In addition, football game day often involves tailgate attendance and daytime parties, and these are often seen as rites of passage. The hype and excitement surrounding college football has made it a medium for essential college experiences.
A huge propeller for the excitement of this experience was social media.
How Has Social Media Driven College Football’s Entertainment Factor?
Social media has played an important role in igniting this excitement by allowing students to show off their school spirit.
Dressing up for soccer games and showing your support has also evolved into a whole aesthetic. Instagram posts and stories of college students dressing up for the big game flood the timeline when an important game takes place.
College athletes themselves have also benefited from the social media spark. The increasing urge to share and publicize their day-to-day life as college athletes on social media may even elevate their rank to the level of professional athletes.
This high ranking affects their personal income as many are able to participate in endorsement deals.
How is college football entertainment affecting American universities?
The promotion of college football as a segment in the entertainment industry has greatly influenced university sports policies.
By leveraging the flexibility of rules that the NCAA has about college football compared to that of the NFL, varsities can create a more positive and safer environment for their athletes.
At the same time, the appeal of being drafted into the NFL can keep young college football players constantly looking to showcase their talent and skills. That extra boost can often make college football games more interesting than NFL games because of the inspirational environment they cultivate.
All of this greatly impacts the performance, rank, and fame of college football teams. The larger a university’s soccer program, the more likely it is that the university will see a spike in applications and higher retention rates.
Undoubtedly, the rise of American college football’s entertainment status has increased its impact on students.