From Emotions to Essentials: What to Really Look For on a Game Day Visit
- Football Mom
- Sep 22
- 2 min read
This past weekend, my younger son had his first fame day visit—and wow, it brought back all the feels from when I went through this with my oldest. The excitement, the nerves, the pride....it all cam rushing back. But this time around, I'm not just older—I'm wiser.
On the tour, I caught myself thinking, "I really love the position coach. "And then my wiser self stepped in with a reality check. "That's great, but a coach can be here your son's freshman year and gone by his sophomore year. So what really matters?"
Here's where experience has shifted my perspective. Beyond the coaches and the game-day hype, here are the essentials I've learned to look for when evaluating a school.
1.) Team connection — Does the football team look out for each other like a family? Do they hangout off the field?
2.) The campus — Does it feel like home for your son? He'll spend just as mush time here as on the field.
3.) Academic fit — Does the school offer his major or an academic path that inspires him?
4.) Support systems — Is there a mandatory study hall? Dedicated academic advisors for the team? Access to tutors? These resources matter when balancing football and coursework
5.) Living situation —. What are the dorms like, and how close are they to the football facilities and classrooms?
6.) Campus layout — Is everything walkable, or will your son be sprinting from one end of campus to the other between classes and practice?
7.) The surrounding town — What's the community like beyond campus? Safe, supportive, and somewhere he'd enjoy living?
These are the things that last beyond a coaching staff change. They're the foundation of your son's college experience—on and off the field.
So, while my heart still swells with pride at the thought of my boys chasing their football dreams, my head now knows what questions to ask and what to pay attention to. Because at the end of the day, this journey is about more than
football—it's about setting up for success in life.