Football, Family and the Feeling of Fall
Today, I am writing my blog for UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media and Gary Kayye’s ‘MEJO 577: The Branding of Me’ class about the game of American football. From Panthers touchdowns to family fun, join me as I share the stories and warmth of fall weekends that bring us all together.
Sundays in the fall have always been more than just a day of rest for me—they’re a ritual. Every Sunday afternoon, I curl up on the couch, remote in hand, ready for a full day of the National Football League. This routine, this love for football, has been with me since childhood, a small tradition passed down from my dad. Even as a little girl, I knew the start of fall by the unmistakable sound of roaring fans on the TV, a signal that football season had arrived.
In our house in Hickory, North Carolina, surrounded by a family full of girls, my dad was on a mission: make us Panthers fans, through and through. And it worked. We had no other option, actually. The Carolina Panthers were in our blood. Every Sunday, my sisters and I would put on our pink Jake Delhomme jerseys—if you’re a Panthers fan, you know that’s a throwback—and we’d run around the house, belting out the Sunday Night Football theme song. There was a certain magic in the air, especially when the Panthers secured a win.
Sundays weren’t just about football, though. They were about family. My mom’s cornbread, my dad’s chili (strictly reserved for post-kickoff), and the collective excitement that filled our living room made each Sunday feel like the best day of the week. Football Sundays were cozy, like a warm hug, your grandma’s cookies, or the first sip of a perfect pumpkin spice latte. They were the bouquet of fresh flowers on the kitchen table that signaled the start of fall—my favorite season.
Now, as a college student, Sundays bring a different energy. There’s the looming cloud of Monday and the inevitable stress it carries. Homework to finish. Papers to submit. Projects to coordinate. But this past Sunday marked the first NFL Sunday of the year, and with it, all the magic of those childhood weekends came rushing back.
I woke up to the rarest of things in my poorly air-conditioned apartment this past Sunday—a cool breeze. The weather app confirmed it was the coolest day of the year yet. It was as if the weight of summer had lifted, and fall was just within reach. With that crisp air came memories. I could feel my dad’s cheers echoing in my ears, the warmth of my family crowded around the TV, and the smile that always spread across my face.
Though I’m now 130 miles from home, football Sundays still tether me to those memories. The moment NFL RedZone hums through my TV, I’m transported back to my parents’ couch, where all the best Sundays live.
So, here’s to Sundays filled with football, couch lounging, and the sweet taste of nostalgia. And yes, we can all agree, that NFL RedZone should definitely be cheaper.
