How to Show School Spirit (From the Comfort of Your Couch)

The beautiful thing about school spirit is that it isn’t tied to a place. A stadium could crumble and the campus could close down but as long as there are people like us, people who have pride and love for the heart and soul of an institution then school spirit is alive and well. The thunderous roar of thousands of students and alumni in the stands of a football game is just a reflection of that.

When you think about why you have school spirit, what comes to mind? There are memories and a feeling, right? If you already graduated then you might remember all the friendships, the loves had and lost, the crazy late nights, struggling through exams, going wild at tailgates and during the games. These memories are school spirit and the people you made them with are part of that too. For those who haven’t graduated yet, you are building these memories right now and making your school spirit even stronger. Cherish that.

Eventually, the time does come to graduate and move on. Things happen and life happens and you won’t always be able to be on the campus you love or go to the college basketball and football games you eagerly look forward to each weekend. This doesn’t mean you should stop showing school spirit, in fact, it means the opposite. It is especially in those times when all the great memories and experiences of your institution seem so far away that you should double down and show school spirit.

Sometimes, all you can do is sit on your couch at home and watch highlight reels. This is when you need to immerse yourself in the common culture of the school you love. It’s possible to show school spirit from anywhere. How you do that exactly is up to you but there are definitely a few ways you can go about it that will have you on the same page as everyone else. Consider this your unofficially official rulebook on how to show school spirit from the comfort of your couch.

The School Spirit Gear

With the right gear, you can show school spirit without even saying a word. Your school’s colors and logo are made to embody that. Try imagining your college experience without them. When you picture the campus, the people, the games, and the culture, those colors and that logo are everywhere, aren’t they? As simple as it is, just wearing a nice hoodie sporting your school colors and logo can transport you. It’s the single best way to show school spirit from home.

The essential gear includes a hoodie and a hat. That is school spirit 101. The school spirit vibe really ramps up though when you graduate from the basics. You can go as wild as your school spirit drives you to be. The best things to get are a nice big flag and some shot glasses. Place the flag high up on the wall, do some shots while sporting your school colors and you’ll be on your way.

As you have probably seen, it is possible to get your school colors and logo on almost anything. From footballs and car magnets to blankets and backpacks there seem to be a million and one ways to express your school spirit. It’s important to find what fits you and your personality. If you forget your keys all the time, buy a lanyard. If you play golf then get some golf balls sporting your alma mater. When it comes to gear and school spirit you ultimately want to do it the way that fits you.

The School Spirit Sound

The riotous roar of an entire stadium singing the same song or chanting the same thing is an experience you don’t soon forget. It is simultaneously very unique to the moment but also common for the culture of a university and universities everywhere. This is one of the things that make your school’s songs and chants such an integral part of the school spirit. You can be stuck at home by yourself but once you put on your gear, throw an old game up on the screen and start chanting along you begin to feel the spirit.

The power in this is the understanding that you are not the only one doing it. Thousands of other students and alumni are wearing their gear and chanting the same songs. Saying the same words that express the same ideals. School spirit is ultimately about shared experience and togetherness, even when you aren’t together. A school’s songs and chants are a reminder of that shared experience because they were so often sung at gatherings and rarely alone. Well, now, sing them alone. You won’t really be alone anyway.

Don’t Forget to Talk Smack

Every university worth its salt has a rival and talking smack about them is an important part of school spirit. It’s important to remember why you chose the school you did, why you didn’t go study with the other guys, why you are proud of where you are. If you’re at home far and away from your fellow alumni and/or students then it's time to jump on to the fan pages on Facebook and Instagram. Social media is a great place to show school spirit from the comfort of your couch.

Show your School Spirit Everywhere

Your school spirit might have grown out of your love for a place but really it is about a legacy of shared experience in that place. You can show school spirit anywhere. It is especially important in those times when you aren’t near the other students and alumni that you love. When you can’t watch college basketball and football that you look forward to and you are just by yourself. Those are the best times to put up your flag, grab a shot glass emblazoned with your school’s logo, put on your favorite hat, and chant that old fight song!