Like many other people, I was hesitant when college football decided to take over New Year’s Eve. It’s a holiday that is firmly rooted in the tradition of getting incredibly sloppy, listening to bad music, and watching some stiff host announce a variety of celebrities-who-are-not-really-celebrities as everyone stares at a clock. It was fine the way it was, right?
Not so. Having football on New Year’s isn’t bad at all. It gives something else for the TV to be tuned to, it brings the tailgating atmosphere into what was already a stuffy party, and you’re giving yourself something to pay attention to and have more fun doing. The best part of the whole deal is this – you still have the decision not to include college football into your New Year’s plans, but having college football gives you a whole new alternative plan, should you choose to avoid paying a huge cover or buying some expensive clothes you will inevitably get a guacamole stain on anyway.
Comedian and ESPN SportsCenter contributor Reese Waters agrees, and that’s why he gave us his five reasons why college football is going to make this year’s New Year’s Eve the best New Year’s Eve of all-time.
- You can weed out your real friends – As Waters says, “anybody who’s more interested in celebrating New Year’s than the College Football Playoff isn’t worth having in your life, and that includes the ladies.” While I wouldn’t go so far as to say that, it is a way to see how important you are in their lives. If college football is that important to you, wherever you go will make a tiny concession to allow you to watch the games. If they don’t, was this party really worth going to in the first place?
- Saving money – Okay, this one I can really get behind. We’ve all been there. You pay a $100 cover to a bar that’s overcrowded, where you can’t even flag down a bartender to get a drink, there’s nowhere to sit, and it’s so loud you can’t hear your friends. Uber surge pricing is insane. And you spent all kinds of money on an outfit you probably won’t even wear again. And if you’re hosting your own party, what, those 50 bottle of champagne are just going to buy themselves? You know your friends aren’t going to pitch in to buy them; they’ll conveniently bring a bag of Tostitos and a two liter as their “contribution” to the cause.
- Clothing is optional – Now, I’m not suggesting you go naked, but if you want to rock a jersey, go ahead. If you want to wear one under a sport coat with a top hat, sure, it’s your day. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities for you, and you won’t be “jersey shamed” the same way you would be if you wore your old
- Day drinking – Let’s go to Waters here: “Isn’t getting to know an old friend the best way to bring in a New Year?” College football fans have no trouble day drinking. I’ve seen it. I’ve experienced it. I’ve made those choices. But a lot of other folks maybe don’t have the luxury as often. This is a way to bring in something that college football fans have perfected and add it to the New Year’s agenda. Just make sure you’re pacing yourself. You don’t want to be the one asleep on the couch when it’s midnight and the Cotton Bowl is winding down.
- It’s all about you – You can proclaim your fanhood loudly and with vigor. Let’s be honest: you’re not going to do any of the resolutions you say you’re going to do anyway. It’s okay to be selfish here. College football brings joy to so many people, and if you’re invested in the party because the game is going on, and not checking your phone for scores or streaming the game (because, let’s face it, you know you’re going to be guilty of that), nobody’s going to be nearly as mad at you.
The powers that be overseeing college football aren’t kicking the New Year’s Eve habit anytime soon, so rather than choose one over the other, why not integrate them into your plan as a whole? Chances are someone at your party is going to be a huge football fan. Waters gives us five pretty good reasons to kick off (football term) the New Year the right way, but do you have any others?
