Welcome to www.Collegefootballfan.com

"Get off the couch and go to a game!"

The Goal - See 'em all!

Frequently Asked Questions

1.   Why do you do this?             

     I just love the game of college football!  I love the intensity, the rivalries, and the school spirit surrounding the games.  I love the action, the excitement of big plays, and the efforts of great, young athletes playing to win.  I love the surroundings such as specific school traditions, fight songs and tailgate parties. I love to travel to different places on beautiful fall weekends and I enjoy writing.  It provides an opportunity to get together with good friends for  a weekend of things to do and see.  College games are played on Saturdays so I get to recover watching the Pro games on TV on Sundays (when not traveling back from a long distance).  College football offers me the opportunity to do a lot of things that I enjoy.

2.  How did you come up with this Goal to see all the Division 1 teams?

     I live in northern New Jersey. I've shared Penn State season tickets with friends for about 20 years. The Big Ten was achievable. Rutgers is in the Big East.  Army's about an hour and 15 minute drive to see play in Conference USA.  The Kick-off Classic has hosted major teams from throughout the country at the Meadowlands.  Whenever a team from outside the region plays a team within driving distance, I try to plan to see it.     So when I looked at my history a couple of years ago, I figured I had seen more than half the D1 teams play already, so why not try to see the rest?  I don't know if any individual has done it before.  This is what I like to do as a hobby.  I'll give it a shot. I've heard about others visiting all the Major and Minor baseball stadiums possible, so why not see all 117 (and counting?) Division 1 schools play football?   I learned how to build a web site through Microsoft FrontPage® so I could share the experience with others just for the fun of it.

3.  How do you determine what game to see on a particular weekend?

     I start scouring publications, newspaper articles and web sites for future schedules.  I have a limited travel budget and I want to continue to see three or four PSU games per year so I work around that.  I check out schedules of teams within driving distance such as UConn, Navy, Maryland, Temple, Army and Rutgers and base my CFF schedule around those games where there might be an opportunity to see a school I haven't seen play before.  I also enjoy the Division 1AA schools, so I watch for Delaware, Rhode Island, Princeton and Lehigh among others because they're in driving distance and I have friends to stay with who live within those areas.  I plan side trips with the family as well to some of these locations.  Lately, I peruse schedules for games of distant teams where I can get a decent air fare or use frequent flier miles or stay with a friend or acquaintance I know. It gives me a chance to visit friends I don't see regularly.  Last year I did the UCLA vs. Washington game and went with my brother and friends who live in the LA area.  I also stayed with friends in Georgia who are Auburn alumni to attend the Auburn vs. Mississippi game. This year Oregon State and Stanford come East.  By seeing them out here allows me to budget other games to see two different teams out of the area I have yet to see.  An example is this year's Wyoming at UNLV game.  I also try to select the most competitive match-up for a weekend if I have multiple choices.  For instance, I'll see Ball State meet Connecticut this year rather than see them play a bigger program like a Penn State if possible.  If no new possibilities exist, I'll plan for what seems like the best match-up for a good, competitive game no matter what division.

4.  Why do you refer to "we" as opposed to "I" since you're the only one pursuing this goal?

      I always plan to attend games with family or friends and refer to them in articles as "Guest Game Analysts" and include their observations and comments about the games and the events surrounding them.  I include them as part of the CFF team.  Without their input and support, the games wouldn't be as enjoyable.

5.  What are some of the most memorable games you've attended?

          Since "we're" at 230+ games already, I'd list these briefly as my top ten which include several non-Division 1A games.  In chronological order:  

1.) Penn State defeating rival Pitt in the last game of the 1982 season, 19-10, preceding its win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl for its first National Championship.

2.) Rhode Island's 38-28 win over Akron in the 1985 1AA playoffs where URI QB Rob Earnhart threw on every play but one which went for a 50 yard TD run.  The Akron mascot, "Zippy", also kicked a ball into the stands which caused a ruckus.

3.) Columbia's record-setting NCAA 35th straight loss in 1987 at Princeton to set the mark later broken by Prairie View.  What's most memorable are the well-attended Columbia stands with signs like "35 straight - Go for it!"

4.) The 1987 21-20 victory by Penn State over Notre Dame on a cold, snowy day in which I decided my date, who stuck it out that cold, sub-freezing, blustery day, was worthy of being my wife.  Though she admitted the reason she didn't leave was because she was too cold to move and that her feet were warmed when she stepped back out into the snow, we got married in August 1989 so "we" could be back in time for the Kick-off Classic. She and the kids now tolerate and somewhat support my fall excursions.  Sometimes, they'll come with me when it can be worked out around Scouts and soccer in the fall.

5.) Penn State's 1995 Rose Bowl win over Oregon, 38-20.  The real story is how we got the tickets! Too long to tell here, but my real contact was Kermit the Frog!

6.) The rain-drenched 1996 Army-Navy game where Navy threatened four times from the Army 10-yard in the final drive of the game to have the final pass intercepted to seal an Army victory, 28-24.  Both squads would go on to much deserved bowl games.

7.) #1 Florida destroying #2 Florida State for the national championship in the 1997 Sugar Bowl, 52-20.

8.) Syracuse's 28-26 win over VA Tech in 1998 when Donavon McNabb threw a TD pass with no time remaining in the Carrier Dome.

9.) Army's 1999 big comeback defeating Louisville in a Thursday night game in 2 overtimes, 59-52.  It was our first OT game, and an exciting one at that!

10.)  Joe Paterno's 324th win to break Paul "Bear" Bryant's record in 2002 with a great comeback victory led by Frosh QB Zack Mills over Ohio State, 29-27, and the celebration that followed.

6.)  Though you want to see every team, you must have a favorite.  Who is it?

     I grew up as a Notre Dame fan, but as you can see over the years, I've been converted primarily to a Penn State fan, a program I grew up liking as well.  As a season-ticket holder for about 20 years, one is bound to develop an allegiance.  Graduating from a Division 3 school in central PA, Juniata College, also helped influence me being only 30 miles away from State College.  I still root for the Irish.  Through friends, the Auburn Tigers are my team in the SEC despite also having friends from Florida and Tennessee, too.  I root for the Navy, Army and Air Force Academies in that particular order since they are the "purest" of what intercollegiate athletics should be about.  At the 1AA level, I always liked Delaware although that could change with the replacement of Tubby Raymond with KC Keeler.  I admire the Lehigh program and I root for Princeton among the Ivies.  URI is a favorite due to family loyalties.  East Stroudsburg and Slippery Rock are favorites in D2 based on location for the former and an association with the original "Rock" at the latter.  The alma mater, Juniata, is tops in D3 while Montclair State is a perennial local favorite.

7.)  What will you do after you reach The Goal?

     With 44 teams remaining to be seen at the beginning of the 2002 season,  I'm giving myself about eight years to get there with the hope that my oldest daughter is free to choose a school of her choice at that time without my influence of needing a dorm room on particular weekends so her dad can come up to see a few teams that haven't appeared on the schedule yet!  That aside, we'll probably focus on the best games possible at any level as long as it's still affordable.  I'll still enjoy the games, but hopefully I'll have a reason to attend our local high school games as well.

If you have a question about this site, click on to sjk_cff@collegefootballfan.com and e-mail me!  I always love to talk College Football!