I have a confession to make: I’ve never been to a UVa football game. I’m not what you’d call a huge football fan and so, be forewarned, when I do, inevitably end up at a game some time
in the future, seat me near someone who doesn’t care if I chatter away the entire game. Except for halftime, of course. I revere marching bands.
So as oblivious as I seemingly am to college football in my college town, I’m not at all, really. The schedule for games is on my fridge; I’m aware of when everyone with whom I do business will be heading to a game. I know when orange and blue are appropriate to wear (and where). I know when to avoid the grocery store and stocking up tailgaters.
You can’t, in other words, live in a college town and completely ignore football. In St. Louis, there was a similar impact on business with the St. Louis Cardinals (I am, despite my football apathy, a major league baseball fan). Opening day in the spring in St. Louis is a regional holiday; no one works and everyone watches, listens to and celebrates baseball.