Words by Allyson

So I really enjoy watching college football. I didn't for a long time, but somewhere in my junior year of high school it just clicked, and now I just love it. I don't read the blogs or follow ESPN on Twitter, but I do watch SportsCenter over my cereal and College GameDay runs on my computer while I clean on Saturday mornings. I have schedules written in my planners weeks in advance. When I was at BYU, I would watch the Seminoles every weekend, and then head to the stadium to watch the Cougars. I went to the games each week (though admittedly, my last year I gave up; it's not fun to watch when you lose all the time). It's the supreme form of escape to me. I'm not perfect at it. I don't understand everything. But it sure is important to me.

However, this is not the case when it comes to the NFL. I'm disinterested. I watch the Super Bowl like any other person, but with much less enthusiasm than the College Football Championship Game (isn't that the new name for it?). That doesn't mean I don't have opinions or know absolutely nothing. Early morning SportsCenter does help me briefly follow who gets traded where, who's injured, and the big teams, but it just doesn't have the excitement college does.

Then one day, I figured it out.

I don't have a team. There's no point in watching if you have no one to support. I'm not invested in anyone. And I really want to be.

But how do you just pick? You don't pick a team; you grow up with a team. You know the iconic players and coaches. You've been to their stadium and had a shirt since you were little. Your team has to come from somewhere. I think this is my problem with Major League Baseball as well. Are you really a fan if one day you just choose to be?

It's a serious problem.

And I don't know how to fix it.

image via CBSSports.com

So, the national title. I watched at home with my mother, sister, and brother. It was stressful. I think that's the best word. I spent most of the game curled up on couch, consistently covering my mouth or running my hands through my hair just to give myself something to do. I told my family that when I feel anxious, I feel a physical pressure on my sternum, almost like someone is stepping on my chest. That feeling persisted the entire game. It was exciting. We all cheered, and prayed we wouldn't wake up Grandma, and paced around the room throughout the final minutes.  And then it was over, and we busted out the sparkling grape juice (I know, we're classy people) and then texted and posted all about it for a while. We were ecstatic, and judging by the picture above, and a little ridiculous. I went to bed fairly soon after the game ended, but just lay there in bed, so happy that I couldn't sleep. I even woke this morning still happy.  Congratulations to the Florida State Seminoles; you made us proud!