As a high school student, college sports may be your hyperfixation throughout the year. As many students are athletes themselves, they look up to the players and coaches as they cheer on the team they choose to represent. With fall sports coming to a close, that means the conclusion of the 2023 NCAA college football season. With this conclusion comes the exciting occurrence that is a championship game.
On January 8th 2024, the teams Washington Huskies of the University of Washington and the Michigan Wolverines of the University of Michigan went head to head to claim the title of the College Football Playoff (CFP) winners.
When the game drew to a close, the University of Michigan Wolverines had secured the win with an ending score of 34 – 13 to put the Wolverines 21 points ahead of the Huskies. While the game had ended there, there is no doubt that the controversy of the game is alive and well in the halls of Woodland Regional High School.
“I think Michigan’s win was appropriate. They are a pretty worthy team. However if Washington had shut down the run, it would have been a different final. It was just the running game for Michigan that made all the difference,” said Bryce Digiovanna, an avid football fan.
It did not take long for students to analyze the game and make conclusions of how each play affected the final result, and they are not afraid to share those conclusions with their peers and fellow football fans, whether they agree… or not.
“I think Washington’s defense was not up to par with Michigan’s offense. If there was a different move made on that run, well that is up in the air, but it is safe to say we will never know what would have happened if Washington shut that down,” said Nate Messina, who shares the same love for football as Digiovanna.
The debates were getting heated, Digiovanna firing back with more personal opinions,
“I think it was less of Michigan’s offense as a whole and more of just Michigan’s running game because I think JJ McCarthy is trash”
Messina coming back with a stunned, “Oh wow”
Aside from this miniature feud between the two football fans, Woodland is also divided between the two sides. 82% of Woodland was behind the Wolverines while 18% backed the Huskies.
“Dovovan Edwards ran the ball very well, which really helped secure the Michigan win,” said Tyler DeCrescenzo, yet another college football fan.
It is safe to say that the students are not afraid to share their opinions about a subject they are passionate about, and the controversy and debates are truly what make the games all that exciting. While football season may be drawing to a close, we can still look forward to the excitement of Super Bowl LVIII and March Madness to keep the disputes and trash-talking alive.
