We’re more than halfway through the fall semester, which means that we’re more than halfway through football season. This might be an unpopular opinion, but watching guys tackle each other is only entertaining for so long. Good news for those of us who aren’t huge fans of football — there’s so many things to see and do at California Memorial Stadium that you can still go with your friends but not have to watch the game! Here, we have compiled a list of everything you can do at a football game besides watching the game itself.

Watch the cheerleaders and dance team

Their sparkly uniforms make them hard to miss. The cheerleaders and dance team perform stunts and dances between plays, quarters and at halftime, which practically covers the entirety of the game! 

Participate in the card stunts

At each game, members of the UC Rally Committee coordinate card stunts in the student section. Each seat is provided with a stack of colorful cards, and when all are held up at the same time during halftime, they create a pattern or shape. The card stunts were pioneered during the Big Game of 1914 and have since become increasingly more elaborate. This unique UC Berkeley tradition is fun to either take part in or observe.

Watch the marching band

In addition to playing in between plays, the University of California Marching Band puts on an amazing halftime show every game. The music and formations of each show are centered around a different theme, such as sunshine, Shakira or the ‘80s. So the next time you want to leave at halftime, make sure you stick it out through the halftime show — you’re sure to be impressed!

Spend an entire quarter looking for the best food in the stadium

Memorial Stadium boasts some amazing food options, with everything from Asian chicken wraps to pulled pork and cheesesteak sandwiches. Some of these food options may be pretty far from your seat, and everything moves 10 times slower within a stadium like this, so going to find food will take up an entire quarter of the game.

Talk to all the people around you

There’s no simpler way to not watch the football game than by talking to all the people around you. Whether it’s your friends that you came with, new friends that you make in the moment or total strangers who you hope to never talk to again, some good conversation is sure to make your time at the stadium more enjoyable. Bonus points if you do this by turning around entirely in your seat, so your back is to the field.

Participate in the cheers

Just because you aren’t actually paying attention to the game doesn’t mean you can’t still cheer the team on! Members of the Rally Committee lead the student section in many different cheers and claps throughout the course of the game. Nothing beats screaming at the top of your lungs when you have absolutely no idea what you’re screaming for.

We at the Clog hope these tips will make your next football game slightly more enjoyable!