Football creates community beyond the campus of White and Gold

I think Georgia Tech football has grown significantly in national recognition ever since the win against Virginia Tech a few weeks ago. That game not only allowed the rest of the nation to see what we are all about with out triple option, butt he Georgia Tech community has grown significantly stronger because we share a common bond of football. Sure, you may say, it's JUST A GAME, but it is so much more than that. Football at Tech gives us something to draw our attention away from school work and studying for an afternoon, even for just three hours or so. No matter how much hate there is between two people during the regular week, these same people will be giving each other high fives after a spectacular touchdown by Jonathan Dwyer.

Another thing I have noticed since the Virginia Tech game is the popularity of Roscoe Flat's song "All the Way Turnt Up." I know people that absolutely hate rap and hip hop altogether, but cant get enough of the unofficial theme song for the football team each Saturday. During pregame, tents and RV's fill the air with the song as I walk down Techwood to Bobby Dodd Stadium. During the game, it pumps us up and makes us feel more connected with the team as they try to stop the opponent on 3rd and inches. After the game this past Saturday against Wake Forest, the woman taking my Buzzcard at Brittain Dining Hall just burst out, albeit with the wrong lyrics, singing All the Way Turnt Up. This goes to show that young, old, black, white, man, or woman all feel even more connected through song with just a few word repeated for four minutes.

Football is such a great game for connecting people, whether in college or professional sports. Georgia Tech alumni live all around the country, and even the world. The Tech community is not just limited to the campus located on North Avenue and Techwood. Saturdays in the Fall make this even more prevalent because many of these alumni are still connected to the campus through football. In porfessional sports, teams lke the Steelers have a fan base that stretches from coast to coast. The Saints have grown to be a rebuilding force and a sign of hope in an area ravaged by Katrina and still recovering. Community goes beyond what kind of house you live in or how bad the traffic is in Atlanta. Community is the sens of connection you have with others like you, and nothing illustrates this better than Gamedays at Georgia Tech.

Posted by - Matthew Orr