This past weekend, I experienced a first. My first Big 10 Football game.

We were visiting my son for family weekend (how could that have happened already?) and the Maryland campus was ready for football.

We walked by many a tailgate tent on our way up to the stadium. OK, I admit to never having seen a tailgate before and the tents were interesting. We had read earlier about the security requirements at the stadium so we were prepared with our clear plastic 12” x 6” x 12” carry bag. Of course, I had to leave my umbrella at the gate but that’s another story.

Once seated, the pomp and circumstance was everywhere. The only other college football game I have ever attended was at the Yale Bowl which was fun – but completely different. The Yale Marching Band was awesome but the entire half time performance was the band making fun of itself. The UMD band was an opposite experience. Very serious about the entire performance with fun mixed in.

And the excitement in the stands for these college athletes was, well, contagious.

If you know me at all, you know I am not the biggest sports fan. But, I think I’m now a college football fan.