Well, the college football season is well underway.  Things are getting more competitive as each week goes by.  It's getting far enough along now that some of the cream is already beginning to rise to the top and other teams, who had so much promise, aren't quite living up to expectations. 

I don't know what college football fandom is like anywhere else, but it is downright serious here in the South.  Social media is full of smack talk the week before a game.  Tailgating tents.....well, you just wouldn't believe how they're all done up.  Sunday afternoon brings anticipation of the polls and the numbers that can be heralded for the coming week.  The first few minutes of Sunday morning church are used for rehashing the game with whoever happens to be at the coffee pot with you.  The football schedule is considered when planning any social event for a weekend.  It's just the way it is down here.                 

While watching football this weekend, I noticed all of the fans in the crowd.  As we all know, in every game, there is a loser and for every losing team, there are losing fans.  I love to watch people and as the cameras scanned the stands, I observed how different kinds of fans deal with defeat. 

For a lack of a better topic, let's talk about that today. 

1)  The Ashamed Fan.  The ashamed fan processes loss simply by no longer wanting to be associated with the school or team, which has disappointed him or her.  The loss brings the fan more humiliation than they are willing to bear.  They try to make an early exit to beat the crowd of winning fans or remove any evidence of their association before they have to walk through the parking lot.     
2)  The Praying Fan.  The Praying Fans are deeply religious during game time and believe that God, Himself, undoubtedly loves their team above all the others and will show them favor.  They are of the belief that their team and its fans are God's chosen people.  Surely, the "Hawkeyes" are the people He was referring to throughout the Old Testament.     

4)  The Comfort Food Fan.  As long as the concession stand remains open, the Comfort Food Fan will be able to cope with the possibility of loss.  This fan is from the school of thought which believes that there is nothing a good nacho can't fix. 
5)  The Supportive Fan.  The Supportive Fan is always thinking of others.  She knows how the loss will affect those she loves and tries to be a listening ear and bring comfort to those around her.
7)  The Emotional Fan.  This fan is not afraid to show the raw emotion that he or she is feeling as a result of looming loss.  I mean, there are times when a man should be able to cry, right?  The death of someone special, the birth of his son, giving his daughter away in marriage, and the team of a college, which he never attended, losing a football game.