Is it ever mentioned in the show? If not, Americans: is it likely that he was (would that be the norm for a jock-ish male college student in the 90s?) Thanks :)
nah, it’s never mentioned. frats were a thing but not everyone was into them. depends on the vibe of the college too. some big on greek life, some not so much. my take? he was probably doing his own thing.
I was in college in the 1990s and very few people I know where in fraternities. I had two roommates who were scholarship athletes, and neither of them were in fraternities.
I also think it depends on the college too. At some schools, the fraternities and sororities are big deals, and at others they are not. Based on my very limited experience, they a bigger deal on smaller private schools, and a smaller deal on larger public schools.
He was in the fraternity of being the punter on a team, and his fraternity brother was the kicker
Thanks so much! You don’t happen to remember which episode that was mentioned in, so you?
There are lots of different types of fraternities. There’s the classic ones that are really more partying than anything else; then there’s the types like my wife was in in college that are like social service or community service. They do outreach and encourage kids to go to college or de-trash dirty areas in the city. If Ted was in a frat that’s the type I’m thinking he’d be in.
If Ted was playing Division I or II college football (I can’t remember what college he went to), then he would not have time to be in a fraternity.
This, especially D1 at one of the larger conferences, such as the ACC, Big 12, B1G 10, Pac 12 or SEC.
why does one need “time” to be in a fraternity? serious question, i’m from europe… i thought it’s a house you live in and pretend you’re friends with everyone in there to have parties
It’s more that playing college football is basically a full time job, and in addition to practices, players’ meals and study sessions are strictly scheduled and organized. Basically no time for other obligations — and fraternities and sororities usually have their own set of events with required attendance.
He wouldn’t have been that exclusionary.
Someone’s experience with sororities and fraternities would vary WIDELY based on where they go to school, and what kind of greek letter org they’re in. There are huge national fraternities and sororities and then there are local ones, academic ones, etc. The latter are much more low key and much less based on stupid class/social standards.
In many major schools (especially in the south-ish area) national greek orgs are a HUGE deal, and throw insane parties and events. In other schools not so much. I was in a sorority at a major southern school so I have first hand knowledge. Think Bama rush tiktok if you’ve seen it, that was pretty close to my experience. These are the types of fraternities and sororities that you would see in American media.
If Ted was in a frat he was probably in one of the more low key ones that aren’t super competitive, just a bunch of bros chillin’. There’s lots of really, really toxic and gross behavior in many major frats and sororities. He would not be in one of those, or he would rush one and quit because of what he saw there (or try to change it from within).
If he was a student athlete it’d be very unlikely, unless he was a walk on (someone who just tried out like normal and got a spot rather than being recruited to the team) or at a school with a lower tier athletic program. D1 athletes who were recruited to competitive teams out of high school are very likely not going to be in fraternities, they don’t have time especially during the pledging period which can be really demanding. Athletes are sure as hell welcome at frat parties though. I went to a huge southern football school and I met a lot of football players at frat parties, including a heisman trophy winner, when I was in college. Usually male frats won’t let in random unaffiliated dudes or dudes from other fraternities, but the athletes brought clout to their parties so they’re allowed in.
Sorry for such a long-winded explanation, but greek life in US colleges is deeply weird and every non-American I’ve met has been baffled by it lmao
It totally depends on the type of school he went to which I don’t think we know? At some schools 90% of people are Greek whereas others it’s 5% if they even have fraternities at all.
Ted doesn’t seem the frat type. I think the overall percentage of college students who join fraternites is very small. I don’t know anyone who belonged to a fraternity or a sorority.
I attended two universities in the 90s. One of them had these organizations yet I was completely unaware of them. Not on my radar. The other had no fraternal organizations at all.
Really all depends on the campus he was at. Athletes don’t rush where I’m at.
I think fraternity life is really dependent on the specific college a person goes to.
It’s a bigger deal at some schools than at others.
(There are also all sorts of fraternities. They aren’t all as “bro-ish” as you see in movies and on TV. Even specific fraternities vary from school to school)
Went to a D1 school and dated a football player there. I can’t think of any football players that were in a frat. They ate together and studied together. They had curfews during the season and usually roomed together as teammates. They couldn’t have managed frat rushing or duties in top of all of that and class and practice and workouts and travel time even if they’d wanted to.