McGill University's Annual "Fill the Stadium"- More Than Just a Game

It takes the average McGill student approximately 48 hours to fully recover from the university's annual "Fill the Stadium" football game, and this year was no exception.  "Fill the Stadium," an event of which no other university can offer anything even remotely comparable, takes place once a year and is undeniably one of the most anticipated events of the season.  It needs to be understood as much more than a football game and more so as a social event that cannot be missed.  For those of you who weren't at the "game" (I truly believe that the word gala or carnival could be used to properly describe the event), I want you to take a minute and reflect on the reasons for which you felt compelled to skip out on such an event.  Everyone and anyone was at this game.  It doesn't matter whether they showed up for the pre game Molson party or not until the last quarter- this game was the place to be, as it always has been.

As a student who has had the opportunity to attend my fair share of "Fill the Stadium" events, my proclamations asserting the necessity of attendance is rather warranted.  As I mentioned before, "Fill the Stadium" is so much more than a football game.  For our beloved Redmen varsity football players, it is an opportunity that allows them to feel like absolute rock stars for a couple of hours while girls with bright red lipstick and meticulously colour-coordinated attire cheer them (and their tight red pants) on, and guys without their shirts on and painted beer bellies cat call the opposing team's fans.  For actual football fans, it is an opportunity to watch a university level game between two rival schools. 

I would argue, however, that it's not about the teams, players or football enthusiasts but the fans in the stands, wearing their McGill attire oh so proudly (totally disregarding the fact that McGill Redmen have only won one game in the last four years).  It is these people who despite skipping out on the first quarter of the game due to pre-game festivities, cheer the loudest amongst the sea of red (even without any knowledge of the score), and who are most willing to act disorderly to the point of removal in order to show their McGill pride and support.  These people are there to show their love not necessarily for the game of football, but for their love for McGill and to have a congenial time amongst their closest friends, acquaintances and those they have yet to meet.  This game is an event during which fans of not just football, but McGill in general, cat congregate and celebrate their pride and spirit as McGill students.

This year's MVF (Most Valuable Fan) title belongs unquestionably to the young man who, over the course of three quarters, not only inspired fans to cheer louder and clap harder while discarding garment after garment of clothing, but also was escorted out of the game by security as a result of his devotion and zealousness for the Redmen.  For the majority of the crowd, this nameless fan got us up on our feet cheering and yelling collectively as a student body, for the mutual love of McGill athletics, McGill football and the for the institution of McGill itself.