Football in the South is no joke. Whether you’re watching from home, while tailgating, or in the stands, you are bound to notice the intense emotions that students experience when watching a game. It comes from a sense of pride in their team and the desire to be a winner. When I was preparing for my first ever A&M football game, I knew all about the tailgating and the yells that we were expected to know. What I didn’t know was how important game-day fashion is in the South.
I brought a Texas A&M jersey with me and a few pairs of jean shorts, like everyone else, and thought that was all I needed for game days. I was so wrong. As I walked by people in Kyle Field, and saw everyone taking cute photos for the start of the football season, I noticed that I was severely underdressed. Never in my life had I considered buying a denim dress or putting ribbons on my boots, so seeing the extravagant outfits and hairdos was definitely a shock. This brought up some interesting questions one being, why do people care so much about their outfits on game days?
Dressing up for Texas A&M football games, or any football game in the South, is simply another way to show support for their team. While some may care more about tailgating or showing up early to ticket pull in order to be right next to the field, a majority put time and effort into their outfits to show their school pride.
Although overwhelming at first, especially since it can become costly, it makes sense. Compared to other schools, students at A&M take game days seriously at every level. It seems football fans dedicate time during the summer to shopping for game-day outfits, spending hundreds of dollars to find the best pieces. Thousands of people look up ‘SEC game day outfit inspiration,’ all with the same idea in mind: to stand out and show up for the team. There is no room for laziness when it comes to SEC fashion. It would be a completely different atmosphere if we all showed up in sweatpants and looked like we just rolled out of bed.
The next time you attend an A&M football game, focus on how much thought went into outfit planning — although a shock, it all comes from a sense of school pride and loving the place they call home.