Texas Friday Night Lights are a thing of legend. Books, TV shows, and movies have been written with their sole focus sitting firmly between the two end zones of high school football.
German exchange student junior Phillip Schaefer has discovered the allure of the game, the crowd, and the atmosphere created on those Fall Friday nights as part of the JV team.
“Standing on a football field has been the most rewarding part of my experiences here so far,” Phillip said. “We don’t have American football in Germany. I think the closest thing we have is rugby, but that is really different from what American football is and how students participate.”
Phillip has also discovered the hype leading up to the actual game with school pep rallies.
“The pep rally was my favorite thing I’ve participated in so far,” Phillip said. “Having the band kids, cheerleaders, and all the other stuff that happened was great because we don’t have that kind of thing in Germany. Sports aren’t a big thing in Germany.”
The camaraderie and unity that binds participants, fans, and communities through sports is a unique experience that Phillip is thankful he has been able to take part in during his time in Bryan.
“I like football,” Phillip said. “The team spirit on the football team is great. I like all the people, and it’s completely different than in Germany because there’s nothing that people get behind like the team spirit part of sports in America.”
Phillip’s teammates have enjoyed working with him to teach him what it means to play Texas football and experience it from a new perspective.
“There’s an intimidating, larger-than-life presence of what it means to be on the field with so many people in the stands around you,” sophomore Axel Hallerman said. “I understand why Phillip enjoys that, especially if he’s never experienced something like it before.”
Phillip has seen the unity and support on the field transition to all parts of American life each time he has met a new person.
“When I first got to Bryan, it was very overwhelming,” Phillip said. “But I’ve made a lot of friends, and it’s really nice here, so that’s made it a lot easier for me to adapt.”
Phillip said that many stereotypes surrounding German society include that the people are reserved and standoffish. Before Phillip came to America, he was not sure this was true, but as he interacted with people, he found them to be welcoming and interactive compared to what he was used to.
“The most surprising thing about America has been the people themselves,” Phillip said. “They’re all very friendly and very outgoing. They’ll just ask about your day. A cashier asked me about my day while I was checking out, which was strange because that’s not very common in Germany. Most people just mind their business and don’t greet people on the streets.”
Through his involvement in football, Phillip has made an impression on the outside linebacker coach, Christopher Collins.
“Being somewhat new to football, Phillip hasn’t gotten to play as much as some other guys,” Collins said. “But his attitude has been incredible. He’s a very supportive teammate. He wants to learn, and he wants to be friends with everybody. He’s been a good asset to our team.”
Phillip has been able to impact his teammates, and Collins hopes he and the team have reciprocated.
“Phillip is a great kid,” Collins said. “I’m just so proud of him, as well as the attitude and the energy that he brings to our program. I hope we can have a lasting impact on him too.”
