9781422285329

Game Day At colleges and universities across the United States, Saturday afternoon in the fall means one thing: football. In college athletics, football draws the biggest crowds and provides many schools with needed revenue . Many games are televised, helping the colleges and universities spread their names beyond their home cities and states. And for alumni , those football games give them a chance to go back to their school, meet old friends, and feel proud when their team wins. At larger schools, football is big business, and at the best of those programs, such as theUniversity of Alabama, the successful football program helps pay for other intercollegiate sports. On the field, the game is about athletic skill. But around and outside the football stadium, dozens and perhaps even hundreds of people have worked to make that game happen. At smaller schools and junior colleges , sports might not bring in as much money as big-time football, but they attract student athletes looking to compete after high school. The sports programs also serve as a rallying point for other students, alumni, and local communities. At most schools, students take part in recreational sports for fun and exercise, too.

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