Maroon and White Nation
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What color to wear to the game? How about whatever color I feel like wearing

By Thomas K. Stark

Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs fans cheer before the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi won 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs fans cheer before the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Davis Wade Stadium. Mississippi won 38-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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What color are we wearing to the first game of the year? I don’t really care.

Yesterday I was reading through my Twitter timeline and my friend Jake Wimberly (@jakewim), who is the play by play voice for Brandon High School, tweeted out one of those “what color to wear” lists for each game on their 2016 football schedule.  When I saw that, something inside me just snapped.  So now the high schools are doing it?  It’s been a thing with colleges for several years, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

Now please understand, this is no criticism of Jake. He’s their radio guy and has an obligation to support the efforts of Brandon High School to promote their school. And obviously their booster club sees this as a way to promote school spirit.

I’m sorry, but there’s just something about trying to tell fans what to wear to a college football game that rubs me the wrong way.  We’re all adults here (at least most of us are). We’re not in middle school and this is not the workplace, two places where dress codes are both appropriate and expected.

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No, this is a football game, for crying out loud. I realize that no one is actually forcing anyone to wear a specific color. But there’s just something about some kid in the MSU marketing department deciding what color everyone should wear to every home football game that irks me.  Maybe I’m just a cranky old fart, but I’ve never liked being told what to do. Ever.  And when told what to do, my natural inclination is to rebel against it.

I understand what they are trying to accomplish here, and I don’t have a problem with the occasional “white out” or “black out” game. But this every game stuff seems like overkill to me.

My decision about what to wear to a football game is based on practicality. For example, which shirt happens to be clean and hanging in my closet when I pack for the weekend. Or which shirt fits me the most comfortably. Or what time of day is the game and what is the temperature supposed to be. I’m not a big fan of wearing maroon when it is 90 degrees and kickoff is 11 am.

So if my color happens to fit what I’m “supposed” to wear, then great. But if it doesn’t, don’t be the person who says to me “hey, you’re supposed to be wearing ____.”  Because my answer will probably be something akin to “get off my yard, kid.”

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