Homecoming!

One wouldn’t accuse Sarah and I of being overly ‘invested’ in campus life, since I began at Fordham. We take advantage of the gym and the beautiful grounds to run through in the morning, but - save for the occasional visiting dignitary, interesting lecture, or free meal - we tend to be disconnected from activities on campus. So as we approach the end of our time here, we figured that homecoming would be a good chance to check out some sports.

Coming from Columbus, I was assuming that Sarah would be underwhelmed by the football culture surrounding Fordham. She probably (and correctly) was. Regarding scale, of course, Fordham can’t compare to Columbus*, but the Fordham alumni association did a nice job of rolling out the red carpet for all the returning alumni… and some graduate student hangers-on. The free food and booze was flowing and the atmosphere was upbeat and fun in the tent before the game. I was surprised at the number of blazers and ties that were on display though. (These east-coasters will get dressed up for anything…even a football game.)

The game did not disappoint either. We brought in Columbia (figuring we could definitely beat this ivy-league push-over), but they put up a fight. The game was decided by a 99-yard interception return for a Fordham touchdown on a Columbia attempt to score on a fourth and one at the goal line. In the end Fordham smashed the mighty __________of Columbia (who knows what that school’s mascot is anyhow?)

We had two new students from South Africa who had never been to an American Football game before, so I spent the majority of the time explaining all the rules and nuances of the game. Growing up in America, I had never really thought about it, but football is really quite complicated. I dare the reader to think for a second where exactly they would begin if they were asked, “how does this game work?” It’s quite a task, but as they began to understand the basic structure and rules of the game it was really fun to start explain the nuances and strategy of things. Football is a neat sport. We’ll see if we’re back for Homecoming next year as Alumni.

*Note that both Fordham’s coaching staff and players adhere to the Jesuit tradition of not selling awards or signatures for tattoos. So that’s kind of a difference too, I suppose.