If the Lotte Giant's did not fill your need for sports, and the Daewoo Royals, just aren't enough, and the All Golf or All Padock channels can not get you going, and you can't stay up until 3:00am for the NFL on AFKN, then we may have stumbled upon the answer for you! Read on to find out more of the surprises that Pusan has to offer the unexpecting expat.
Seven Pusan-area universities have fielded teams in the fall competition under the auspice of the Pusan Kyung Nam American Football Association. The players, coaches, field umpires and referees all serve in as voluntary capacity - no one makes a Won out of either the fall or the spring seasons, according to Mr. Kang In Ho, association president and head coach of Pukyong National University's team.
Other universities in the competition include Dong A, Dong Eui, Hae Yang, Kyung Sung, Pusan, and Ursan. [On the schedule it is spelled Ulsan, but I've heard Ursan.] I have watched two games and part of a third since arriving in Pusan at the beginning of September, and I recommend the games to anyone who enjoys gridiron. Some teams have fewer than 20 players, but that doesn't affect their enthusiasm.
The teams are also their own cheer squads. They fire themselves up and keep the spirit going after the manner of Maori warriors, with a lot of posturing, grunting, yelling, and pointing index fingers to the sky. Extra excitement follows some touchdowns via a rule that I believe is borrowed from Canadian football. If the kick is blocked, the defenders can pick up the ball and run for their own goal, with the kicking team hell-bent on preventing their running the distance.
Sportsmanship is also important, and you will often see a player helped to his feet by the opponent who just flattened him. And, at match's end, players not only shake hands, but also line up and bow to each other, the coaches and officials, and the fans.
The fall competition began September 7 and finishes on October 5, but you Expat readers might still catch the games on October 1 and 5. All three October 1 games are scheduled to be played at Pukyong University.
The three October 5 games will be played at Kyung Sung University. Starting times are 10am, 1pm, and 3pm.
October 1: 10am Pukyong vs Pusan
1pm Ursan vs Hae Yang
3pm Kyung Sung vs Dong A
October 5: 10am Dong Eui vs Dong A
1pm Ursan vs Pusan
3pm Kyung Sung vs Pukyong