‘Totally different’: how the Mizzou football fan’s experience looked, felt this weekend
There were no hordes of cars, tents, grilling out or Missouri Tigers fans tailgating in other ways Saturday in the areas surrounding Faurot Field.
The trademark energy of a typical fall football game was nowhere to be found on campus, fans said.
Mizzou opened its season against No. 2 Alabama at 6 p.m. Saturday at Faurot Field under strict rules enacted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Socially distanced seats, mandatory mask-wearing, limited sideline personnel and even zoned seats at the Rock M area of Memorial Stadium were the new normal.
Perhaps the game-day experience fans missed the most was tailgating, which MU banned in 2020 as a precaution during the pandemic.
“It stinks,” MU fan Evan Richmond said. “It’s part of the game. College football is a day experience, it’s not just the game. It’s getting down, seeing all your friends and all the people you went to school with. It lasts the whole day. We just came straight in here. We didn’t do anything.”
Richmond, who said he’s been going to Mizzou games since 1985, missed that pre-game atmosphere.
Skyler Jameson, who made the 1.5-hour drive from Center, Missouri, said he felt safe being within the confines of the stadium. He donned a Mizzou mask and said he didn’t want to miss out on a tradition he’s shared with his dad for years.
All MU season-ticket holders were able to procure tickets if they wanted to. Mizzou administrators expected about 11,700 fans for Saturday’s game.
“I feel like it’d be more different if the pandemic happened and we started a little early,” Jameson said. “Now that we’re living in a pandemic for seven months, it’s a little easier. It’s different. Especially with Alabama in town, it’d (usually) be 70,000 people. It is what it is.”
Jameson described the cheers as “subdued,” similar to the vibe on campus felt. He said he couldn’t help but notice how many Alabama fans attended this Crimson Tide road game, many wearing the team’s script “A” on their attire.
Richmond, whose daughter is a freshman at MU, said it’s a shame that many students missed out on the game day atmosphere, which he considers a big part of the college experience. Richmond’s daughter was hanging out in the dorms, he said, not roaming campus for tailgates and eventually making her way to Faurot Field.
Fans, for the most part, said they felt safe adhering to Mizzou’s guidelines. The university divided up groups in the stands to ensure they remained 6 feet apart from one another.
“It sucks with no tailgating,” Adam Massen said. “That’s the whole vibe before the pre-game. It’s just different ...”
While fans were disappointed there was no tailgating, Massen said he understood the safety concerns. He was still able to come to the game with his family, which he said was more than he expected he’d be able to do just a few months ago.
Richmond, who’s going on 35 years of making it to the stadium for games, said he was grateful to be there. He said he’s hopeful capactity can return to normal in 2021.
Tailgating, too.
“It’s totally different,” Richmond said. “There’s nobody here. How the kids play in front of this, it’s like a practice game. Except we’re playing Alabama.”
This story was originally published September 26, 2020 at 6:08 PM.