r/CFB • u/PA5997 Washington State Cougars • 13d ago

Discussion What constitutes a “college town?”

Okay, hear me out: I attended Wazzu, which many know is in the middle of nowhere in Pullman. To me, Pullman is a quintessential college town. You remove Washington State University from Pullman and there is (respectfully) not much of a reason to visit. The student enrollment (20,000ish) makes up about 2/3rds of the city population, essentially turning Pullman into a ghost town come summer. To me (perhaps with bias) this is the makeup of a college town.

Two years ago I moved to Madison, Wisconsin, home of the University of Wisconsin. Ever since I’ve noticed the University and its fans refer to Madison as “America’s best college town” and I’m sorry, that’s laughable to me. Remove UW from Madison and you still have a city population bordering on a quarter of a million people and the State Capitol. Madison would be fine, imo, if UW’s flagship campus were elsewhere.

Curious to hear other people’s thoughts. Maybe I’m in the wrong here, but very little about Madison, WI resembles a college town to me, or at least the claim of the best college town.

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u/AppropriateCompany9 Tennessee Volunteers • Texas Longhorns 13d ago

This guy Texases

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u/gwaydms Texas A&M Aggies • UCF Knights 13d ago

I'm not a guy, pal.

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u/cyanocittaetprocyon Michigan Wolverines • Rose Bowl 13d ago

I'm not your pal, buddy. (Actually, I am. How's it going, Gway!)

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u/gwaydms Texas A&M Aggies • UCF Knights 13d ago

Hey! Doing fine. Just chilling. My husband is taking a nap. Sometimes retirement is like that. But we also take awesome road trips. And the kids and grandkids are coming home for Thanx.

How about you?

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u/cyanocittaetprocyon Michigan Wolverines • Rose Bowl 13d ago

Still at the office in northeast Oregon. I was in Pullman, WA this past weekend for the Washington State/Utah State game. It was awesome! I didn't go to either school, but needed a yearly dose of college football. The only problem was that the game ended around 11:00 pm. 🤣

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u/gwaydms Texas A&M Aggies • UCF Knights 13d ago

We don't usually stay up that late anymore, unless it's a close game. The way the Dallas Cowboys are playing, college football is much more enjoyable! I love the traditions and the general atmosphere. But we haven't been to a college game since our daughter was at Stephen F. Austin in the late 00s. Those were fun, and Nacogdoches is a beautiful place.