More Than the Game Itself

To some people, my newfound love of the Ravens is a little bit perplexing. After all, I have lived in Baltimore for 18 years and football was never something that I considered a real interest of mine. I was actually actively involved in musical theater and my Sundays consisted of homework, papers and rehearsal.

Very rarely did I join the family in watching the games because I simply didn't have the time.
As I arrived here at Lehigh University however, I began to miss home more than I ever thought possible. The smallest things could prompt a rush of homesickness and I found myself aching to return to my familiar life in Maryland. On my first Sunday at school, I was not yet buried under the mountain of work that would eventually ensue so I decided to turn the T.V. on and see how the Ravens were doing. From that moment on, things were not the same. I was overwhelmed by the sea of purple filling every niche and corner of M&T Bank Stadium. I was so proud of my hometown.

From that point on, keeping up with football was something I did regularly. I anxiously awaited Sunday afternoons and began reading various online forums to familiarize myself with players, stats and early predictions. Sunday afternoons spent watching the Ravens became my "trip home" for the week. It was my chance to unwind from all of the studying and immerse myself in the game. Purple was my staple color for Sundays and amidst the sea of Steelers, Eagles and Giants fans here in PA, I proudly donned my Ravens sweatshirt around campus.

The Ravens are about more than just a football game for me. The Ravens give me something to hold on to as I desperately try to stay connected to home. I have something that I can chat with my Dad about and I love watching the games with the family as we sit in our cozy family room sporting our Ravens gear when I am home for Christmas break.

Football is a great game and keeps me entertained but my love for the Ravens runs far deeper than a score each Sunday. It represents my pride for the city of Baltimore and my family that I carry close to my heart each and every day. Win or lose, the Ravens will always be number one in my book.