College football vs. Pro Football?

Question

Which do you prefer? College? Pro? Or do you like both of them?

I would have to say that I find the college game more exciting. The players are truly playing for the love of the game, not the money. The rivalries are classic. Bama/Auburn, Army/Navy, ND/USC, OSU/Michigan, etc. There just seems to be more passion in the college game.

Anyways, what are your thoughts?

Answer 1

I've been a season ticket holder for both, and college is much better. Each has its benefits, but college just oozes tradition.

The pros clearly execute better, and usually play a good game every time out. The talent is much higher. But you don't sense the passion in watching them. Only the cocky players show any emotion. They truly treat it as a job as much as a game.

Big time college football, on the other hand, is as much tradition as it is a game. Illinois fans, for example, went to games for 80 years to watch Chief Illiniwek dance at halftime as much as the went to watch the game (may he rest in peace). The marching band, cheerleaders, and student section will never be matched. Tailgating on an open field next to the stadium rather than a concrete parking lot, or even worse a parking garage. I feel sorry for those universities that share off-campus stadiums with NFL teams, as they lose so much of the atmosphere that makes college football what is could be.

But I've also attended a I-AA university, and the NFL is better than I-AA. One year, the team averaged 550+ yards per game on offense and gave up about 530 yards per game. The games were exciting, but really did not show much in the way of good football. Winning 49-45 games did not make up much for commenting how the defense was so clueless and the special teams so incompetent. And the I-AA band, student section, and the rest of the experience was nowhere near as exciting as the I-A experience.

When Soldier Field was being renovated, I had season tickets for both Illinois and the Bears in Champaign. The two crowds were wildly different. Bears fans expected good play from a horrible team (heck, they ended up running the option in the last game of the year because the 4th string QB couldn't run the normal offense). Illinois fans just hoped for the best, rooted no matter what, and if nothing else rooted for halftime to see the Chief. The Illinois games were far better because of the tradition, not the football itself.

Answer 2

College Vs Pro Football

Answer 3

I love football in general, even NFLE is interesting to watch, even though I have no team to cheer for, doesn't matter. College does have the history with the huge Michigan/OSU games or Army/Navy...but NFL has those also...Bears/Packers....Redskins/Cowboys...and more recently...Patriots/Colts. And the play level is higher, which makes the game a little more interesting...because lets face it...Any team in the NFL can beat any other team at any time....NCAA Football isn't quite so random...would USC ever lose to a smaller crappier team? Like Houston beating Indy last year 27-24....

Still...If I had to choose one to watch for the rest of my life...I'd take the pros mostly because the players are in the league for 7-10 years if they are good as opposed to 2-3 in college (4 if they're good enough).

Answer 4

In terms of technique, the pros are better.

But, try as I may, pro football is about as interesting as watching a Xerox/IBM executive softball game. The players on the team have nothing invested in their teams. There are only 32 teams, which means that vast swaths of the country really don't have a local favorite, and the tickets are typically so scarce that your Uncle practically has to will them to you.

College on the other hand has the rivalries, the pageantry, and the sheer fanaticism that the NFL utterly lacks. Just go to an SEC game at night on Separation Saturday, and you'll know exactly what I mean.

Answer 5

I prefer the NFL for a couple of reasons. The biggest is that I just got into the college football (mostly because I became a football fan in 2003 and hadn't had time to get into college ball. I'm obsessed with football now). Also I like how the NFL teams get better with trades, the draft etc. not like how teams in college get better by being the best and actracting the best new players.

Answer 6

I like both, but if I had to choose I'd take the NFL. Personally, I've got a lot more of myself invested in the Chiefs than any college team so it would be harder to give up the pro games than the college games.

Answer 7

I love any football, but I would have to agree with all of you reasons about why college is better, even though I HATE the BCS system. But, on Sundays, I do like to watch the NFL.

Roll Tide!

Answer 8

Nothing better than an afternoon in The Swamp beating up on someone :-)

Or playing at Alltel, beating up on Georgia...AGAIN

*laugh*

Actually just college period. All the rivalries you mentioned, the pomp, the cheerleaders, the bands, the students...when it becomes about the money (see most alumni sections & the NFL) it becomes about looking good, not really supporting your team. Plus if it's your college, you're a part of that family/community. You feel personally involved in it, like you're watching a game with over 80,000 or 90,000 or over 100,000 of your favorite friends.

Answer 9

I sit down and watch Pro Football more, but I do find that college games are more exciting and funner to watch.

I also think that college basketball is better to watch than pro basketball.

gw

Answer 10

well college is my favorite...i am buckeye...but i definately money hugely affects college football..so to say they strictly play for love of game...i just dont buy it anymore.....these kids have huge pressure to win by the colleges.....it brings in a lot of money for the schools....nevermind the temptation to accept moeny, gifts etc. .i know when i was at ohio state the football players are royalty because of the money they bring to the school...and i think its even more so now....i just dont think you can say the college kids have more passion for the game than NFL players....i think some players just have the passion and some are driven by the money...both in college and in pros.......

The rivalries in college are better though.....so much tradition.....so much intenseness.....my son once went through phase where he rooted for michigan and i told him he had to move out......cuz there were no wolverines allowed in our house! :-) sometimes you gotta tough lvoe as a parent huh? :-)