Home Coming: When Fútbol and Football Collide

Today is Syracuse University's Homecoming. The one day where all alumni decide to take a step back in time and relive their college experience. In Florence, almost any game at Il Stadio seemed like homecoming: a packed stadium where fans seem to really care about a game. For Syracuse football, this happens once a year. Let's disect the differences.

The Dome:

1. Pretty cool for an inside stadium.

2. Orange screams through the stands.

3. People leave after the first half (unless there is some sort of lead).

4. More people are outside tailgating or watching the game at Chuck's rather than paying $25 for student tickets..

5. The box office is on site.

6. Majority of attendees are freshman, alumni, or locals.

7. Beer is not sold after half time.

8. Hot dogs, sausages, popcorn and soda lines are long.

9. Bathroom lines are longer.

10. A big orange named Otto is dancing and tumbling around during timeouts.

Il Stadio

1. There are mountains surrounded the stadium. Enough said.

2. Tailgating does not exist.

3. Gelato is served in the food lobby.

4. The box office is in Piazza de Republica, all the way on the other side of the city. Go Figure.

5. There is separate seating for locals. Students get shafted.

6. The crowd bleeds purple: purple scarves, purple jerseys, and purple hats. Face paint is not an option.

7. The only people drinking wine boxes out of straws are Americans. No alcohol is allowed in.

8. Beer is not served, ever.

9. Teams are sponsored by cell phone companies. There jersey's reflect that (if Verizon were in Florence, the shirt would say Verizon. They have a company called Wind. I think wind is cooler).

10. A huge carton of Mukki, or milk is for some reason propped up in the middle of the field.

Real Car bombs instead of Irish Car bombs, fire pits instead of bon fires, and the same loud, obnoxious fans that yell at you for blocking their view when you decide to go to the bathroom during a field goal or a penalty kick.

And most importantly-no matter if it's Fútbol, Football, or Foozeball-all real fans just have a big foot up their ass. It's what makes game day so great :)