When Friday night comes around, it seems like everyone at our school is heading to the football field. The stands are packed, the energy is high, and even students who don’t know much about the game show up in packs. But why does football attract so much more attention than other sports like soccer, volleyball, or track? To find out, I spoke with Jesus Plascencia, a student athlete who has played on several teams and witnessed firsthand the differences in support and popularity
“I’ve been on the soccer team for the past two years,” Jesus said. “You know, I had to carry the team sometimes.” Despite his dedication and the team’s success (“we’re like top six ranked in the IE for our record”) the crowds just aren’t there. “Not many people show up to soccer games. Like, there needs to be more people.”
This isn’t just a soccer problem. Even volleyball, which Jesus says has a good record (“We went to CIF round one”), struggles with attendance compared to football. “I think there’s for sure more people in volleyball than soccer, I feel like, because it’s a smaller space and it’s packed more people go to volleyball, for sure.” Still, nothing compares to football: “How many people do you think go to the football games?” “Oh my gosh, like the whole school. I don’t even know why. They don’t even know what’s going on!”
so what makes football so special? At many schools, part of the reason is the tradition, the marching band, cheerleaders, halftime shows, and the spectacle of the event. But here at our school, we don’t even have a marching band or many halftime shows. The excitement comes purely from the crowd itself. Students gather not for the extras, but simply to be together and experience the energy of the crowd. This makes the popularity of football at our school even more interesting.
Is football actually more entertaining? That depends on who you ask. “When me and Miguel are on the pitch playing I think soccer is more entertaining than football. For sure,” Jesus said. Yet, the perception persists that football is the main event. Some students attend games simply for the vibe, not necessarily for the sport itself. “Maybe for the vibe, I don’t know, like football, they just really, like, they just go there for no purpose, to be honest. Like, they see our team lose, but keep going. I hear some students complain, like, ‘I don’t even know why I’m going, they’re gonna lose’ but they end up being there. I’m like, why? If the soccer team always wins, go watch that. It’s not boring. But football, oh my gosh they get whooped.”
The imbalance in support can be frustrating for athletes in other sports. When asked if he thinks there is almost an unfair amount of people that go to football compared to other sports, Jesus replied, “I think so, yes.” This statement is echoed by many student athletes who wish their hard work and achievements received the same recognition.
Ultimately, football’s popularity may come down to its status as a cultural phenomenon. It’s more than just a game, it’s an event. But as Jesus points out, there are plenty of reasons to check out other sports. “Go watch soccer or other sports because they are plenty of fun. But next year go watch football because I’m going to make it interesting.”
As our school continues to celebrate football, maybe it’s time to spread the love and support to all of our teams. After all, every athlete deserves a cheering crowd.
