I was giddy.
That’s how I was feeling as I walked down Andrew Young International Boulevard from my hotel in downtown Atlanta to the College Football Hall of Fame. The unusual 32-degree weather had the locals bundled up, and the looks I got as I walked down the street were priceless. While they were shivering in large coats, I was walking with a purpose, smiling in my thin grey hoodie and beanie.
For as long as I can remember, I have been a major college football fan. There has always been something about the passion and the history of the college game that has drawn me to it.
I was in awe of the first thing I saw once I walked through the doors of the Hall of Fame and stood before a three-story wall of helmets. Some were easily recognizable, but there were some that I had never seen before. I set up my profile for a personal experience and set out to explore.
One of the things that I instantly appreciated was how well the Hall of Fame had incorporated the classic museum model with modern technology. Sure, there were touch-screen walls and screens in almost every corner of the building, but there were also your typical display cases with trophies and other classic items. At each display, you have the option to show your badge in front of a screen and if your favorite team was in some way associated to the item, that information is displayed.
There were family-friendly activities on the second floor. From digital face painting to describing some of the greatest plays of all-time, there are activities for people of all ages to enjoy. I took full advantage of this and once there was no one in sight, I went over to the karaoke machine that played school fight songs.
I proudly sang the Notre Dame Victory March.
I was lucky there was no one around.
For any one that loves college football, this is a must-visit. Technology has become a major part of our everyday lives and the Hall of Fame has incorporated this well while preserving the nostalgic feeling that college football fans would feel if they visited years ago.
The best part of the visit was waiting on the third floor. This was the Hall of Fame floor, where every player and coach inducted into the Hall of Fame from 1951 to 2017 can be found in one room.
From one corner of the room there are plaques with the names of each coach and player. A screen on top has their images. In the center of the room there are about 20 large rotating screens. Show your badge and then rotate the screen and you will be able to see images of every single person from your favorite school that has been elected into the Hall of Fame.
After I saw the Notre Dame players and coaches, I spent about 15 minutes in the room going through Air Force, Penn State and other schools whose Hall of Fame representatives changed the college game.
As I headed down the stairs to leave, I saw ESPN commentator Paul Finebaum sitting in on a telecast. Sitting opposite him was Florida Gators legend Tim Tebow talking passionately about Jake Fromm, the freshman quarterback of the Georgia Bulldogs.
It wasn’t a bad way to spend a quiet day before the teams arrive and the weekend heats up. One day, a first-time visitor will come to see the images of players and coaches I’ll cover Monday night.
By Joe Spears | @joe_spears7
