This Is North Carolina’s Fan-Favorite Football Food
As football fans prepare to watch all of the games this weekend, one common question will be asked in every household. What are we going to eat? The Food Network compiled a list of the fan-favorite food for each NFL team. In other words, what food most perfectly pairs with football games?
In this feature, many local elements were considered when selecting the football food for each market across the country. Food (and beverage) is a universal must-have that can unite fans of various teams, even when they square off against each other. For example, a large tray of overloaded nachos would be served for all gathered around the TV to share, regardless of which team they are rooting for. Perhaps you were at the bar or get-together for the Panthers game. Was the platter of chicken wings served to fans of only your team (though that’s not a bad idea)?
The food choice enhances your gameday experience. It adds to the excitement and anticipation of those weekly hours when you sit and watch the big game.
Here, the Food Network recognized that. They also took into account the local flavors of your home state. When you put that together, the result is a fan-favorite football food with a hometown flavor. It’s as unique to your market as the logo on your team’s helmet.
What is the fan-favorite football food in North Carolina?
Barbeque Sliders
“North Carolina is all about barbecue, and Panthers fans are all about barbecue-centric tailgates,” Food Network states. Therefore, barbeque sliders are the choice.
Of course, you have options for how you will dig into your BBQ bites while watching the Panthers game. In addition to making your own or grabbing your favorite takeout, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte has your fan-favorite football food covered as well.
There are seven spots within the stadium where you can find Carolina Barbeque. There is JR’s BBQ shack. Finally, numerous stands simply sell barbeque sandwiches.
Who Are The 4 NFL Quarterbacks Kids Like Best?
This past weekend, I spent many hours with youth football players that range from age 10 – 12 years old. My son is a youth player, and I noticed at least six different NFL jerseys being worn by him and his teammates. This led me to wonder, who are kids’ favorite NFL quarterbacks today?
I was reminiscing about which athletes kids looked up to when I was 10 years-old. It was simple. Your favorite player was typically one of the stars on your favorite (usually hometown) team. Occasionally, a universal big name like Joe Montana would jump into the mix. However, many of the big Montana fans I knew growing up in New Jersey were then San Francisco 49ers fans. This was usually due to their admiration of Montana. I don’t see that to frequently be the case today.
It is not uncommon for kids to gravitate more towards specific players now as opposed to an overall team. There are two main reasons why I find this to be the modern way of fandom for youth today.
First is fantasy football. In fantasy football, you cheer for individual players. The team winning or losing doesn’t matter, the player on your team putting up big numbers does. It’s great for the NFL to have kids intently invested with so many games per week.
Second, players are digitally accessible. Meaning, you can engage differently with a player much more in our social media universe. Players share a glimpse into their lives and who they are off the field. The NFL as a league leaned into this a partnered with TikTok back in 2019 to give fans even more content.
Why Do Kids Select A Favorite Player?
It’s a question with many answers. 30 years ago I would have said, “I love Phil Simms because he is the New York Giants’ fearless leader.” I asked 30 local youth athletes this as a follow-up question upon them naming their favorite NFL quarterback. Often the answer was related to the Quarterback’s persona. Their style of play, their personality, and even their jersey number was mentioned.
So tallying up the 30 youth football players I asked, here are the kids’ favorite NFL quarterbacks that are active today.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
