The Mystique of Monday Night Football

Monday night might seem to be a great time to recover from the weekend--by reading a little Hume, doing a few math problem sets, or maybe catching up on the chemistry homework.

But for scores of Harvard students, it is instead the moment for a weekly ritual featuring Frank Gifford, Al Michaels, synthesized theme music and beer commercials. In short, it's time for Monday Night Football.

"I don't understand the mystique of it," says Alejandro M. Soschin '95. "We're driven, compelled to watch it."

For many, the weekly ABC program, which usually starts at 9 p.m. and runs from September to December, takes precedence over class work and other commitments.

"I do my homework before, or I throw it off," says Carlos A. Gonzalez '94. "I've got my priorities."

There's a variety of ways to enjoy the Monday night pigskin ritual. Most people watch with friends in a dorm room, although some prefer a locale where food is available, such as a house grill. There are even those who believe the program is an intense experience best had in solitude.

Still, one constant of the Monday night experience is the emotional upheaval it creates for viewers.

"I let out primal screams of agony and ecstasy," Soschin says.

"If one of my favorite teams is playing, I can't digest food, I'm so nervous," says Todd J. Betzag '95. Pregame tension can also be intense: a first-year student was inspired to streak through the North Yard naked last Sunday, yelling in support of the Chiefs, who did not play until the next day.

Although the overwhelming majority of Monday night watchers are male, Soschin insists "it's not a male bonding thing."

"For some reason, whenever we watched, our girlfriends were supremely busy," he says. "Mothers get into it, though. Mine doesn't know if it's a touchdown or a home run, but she gets into it."

Sue E. Mortensen '95 appreciates the program, too--although for a different reason. She says she watches for the "cute buns" on display during the games.

One reason the Monday night games are so popular is that the league goes out of its way to schedule important matchups on that day. This leads to Monday Night Football highlights that watchers remember--and agonize over--for a long time.

For Eddie C. Kang '95, that Monday Night moment happened during last year's Giants-49ers game, when San Francisco's Ronnie Lott tipped the ball away from the end zone during a crucial play in the match.

"I wanted to kill him," Kang says. "I wanted to break his legs."

Winning is important to Monday Night followers, but it's not the only thing. The show's format has changed since its beginning in 1970, not always to the joy of afficianados.

"I don't like the new music," Betzag says. "And I still miss Howard Cosell and Don Meredith." The two announcers left the show in 1983.

Still, despite their passion for the weekly ritual, most Monday Night fanatics do manage to keep their perspectives about the game straight.

Says Soschin: "As great as football, especially Monday Night Football, is, there's no beating sex, the ultimate contact sport."