The Ball is Back on our Field: Football Games Return to Samo

By Jewel Aston (Staff Writer)

This year Samo will no longer hold football games at Santa Monica College (SMC). It has become far too expensive to continue hosting at SMC and playing at Samo is not only free, but also allows for one less sport to have to pay bus fees to transport teams to a location and back. The move has prompted an increase in attendance at Samo football games. Could this be the revival of Samo spirit?

It was established this summer that Samo football players will no longer be playing on the SMC football field. Varsity football player Ivan Levant (’24), reflects on the move from SMC and its effects on the team. 

“Samo football will finally be held on its own field, possibly resulting in epic wins being held at its own viking territory.” Levant said.    

The move has brought along a new sense of community, with more students and parents being able to come to the games. It’s encouraging for players when they have a crowd cheering them on as they play.  Varsity cheerleader Hayley Kaufman (’23) is excited by the new connection between the crowd and the players.

 “When the games were being held at SMC it was harder to connect with the audience due to COVID-19 arrangements that separated the audience from the players,” Kaufman said. Kaufman has been on the cheer team since freshman year, but this year is her first full year cheering on the Samo campus. Kaufman expresses her thoughts on the dynamic of the crowd and field.

“It's something special to be cheering on your own field, a lot of energy comes from the crowd, without the crowd, who would we be cheering for?,” Kaufman said. 

Hundreds of students attend each game adorned in blue and neon face paint and clothes demonstrating Samo’s increase in school spirit following the years of distance learning. Samo student Rickell Lewis (’24) believes that holding football games at Samo is a great way for entertainment after school.

“It's so crowded at high school games, it's way more convenient for students and faculty to go to an on-campus game. All they have to do is stay after school until it starts,” Lewis said.  

 The positive impacts of the move were clear in the first football game of the season that was held at Samo on Aug. 28. Hundreds of students attended in support of the team, earning Samo their first win of the season. In the upcoming home games, parents, students, players and faculty are hoping to create more energetic and memorable experiences like this.  

Along with the convenience of having games nearby, the energy of having a larger crowd also affects the game play. Griffin Seals (’24), a wide receiver on Samo Varsity football shares strong feelings towards how the recent increase in audience members altered the way the team performs.

“Although they make you nervous at first it gives you something to play for and because the football team has tried to popularize the essence of playing on Samo ground, it brings an extra level of focus you need to obtain and nervousness you naturally have to play,” Seals said. 

 The positive impacts of the move were clear in the first football game of the season that was held at Samo on Aug. 28. Hundreds of students attended in support of the team, earning Samo their first win of the season. In the upcoming home games, parents, students, players and faculty are hoping to create more energetic and memorable experiences like this.