even when i became a penn stater, it wasn't important to me to go to games, or watch them with my friends. i cheered them on when i happened to be in front of a tv, but otherwise i just didn't care. maybe if i had gone to main campus this would have been different, but from behrend, it didn't mean much.
two years ago, when i moved to pittsburgh, things started to change. i realized that just by listening to the radio on my way to work, i knew more about the steelers than i ever knew my whole life about the patriots. i also realized that football is actually something a LOT of females get REALLY into, at least in steeler nation. it took me almost two years of living here to give into the fact that i was actually starting to get excited about steeler football. last fall justin took me to my very first pro football game at heinz field, and i was in awe. when we went to a playoff game, in the freezing cold weather, i knew i had been converted. when i was willing to stand outside in -5 degrees, bundled up in a bright yellow tossle cap, waving a terrible towel, it had me.
since i finally accepted the fact that i had been unfairly hating on a team and a sport my whole life, i quickly transformed into a diehard. i can't wait for game day, i am proud to wear my jersey, matching 80% of the people around me. it's not just a game here, it's a lifestyle, and it feels good to be a part of that.
some people call me a bandwagon jumper, because it happened to be the year they win another superbowl, that i started paying attention. but i know that's not the case. it happened because i moved here, and it sucked me in. i didn't jump on any wagon, that wagon rolled right into me. it's not a choice when you live it every day. this place changes you, whether you want to be changed or not.
