A Western professor’s book is on shelves now, spreading its message about the similarities between religious worship and football fandom.

Eric Bain-Selbo the philosophy and religion department head, had a book signing in the University Bookstore on Saturday for his book, “Game Days and God.”

The cover of his book calls the story one of football, faith and politics in the American South.

“It isn’t necessarily about religion,” he said. “The approach I took is actually looking at a religious dimension of sports.”

His comparison of football with religion includes exploring religious aspects, such as myth, symbol and ritual, and their place in college football, Bain-Selbo said. For example, mascots can be viewed as religious symbols for sports teams as the cross is a symbol for Christianity.

Louisville senior Zach Redman said he sees several similarities between football and religion.

“Football is a really trying sport with many questions and controversies, just like religion,” Redman said. “Football involves a lot of faith, just like religion —faith in your teammates, faith in your coaches and as a fan, faith in your team as a whole.”

Lilli Schoer, a senior from Billings, Mont., said she sees similarities in church hymns and game-day cheers.

“Everyone wants to have their faith restored whether it’s in a team or in God,” she said.

Bain-Selbo’s book discusses the feelings inspired by football games and religious participation.

“Religious experiences can bring on ecstasy and so can a football game,” he said.

The book addresses the limitations of religion and college football, too.

“Football can blind us,” Bain-Selbo said. “Just because a school has a blended football team, it doesn’t mean the school is actually very diverse, and religion can blind us to social issues.”

His book doesn’t aim to belittle religion or anger anyone, he said.

“I’m not saying religion is silly,” Bain-Selbo said. “I’m showing how religion is pervasive.

“You can go to a rock concert and see religion — it’s not attendance at church only,” he said.

Bain-Selbo traveled throughout the southern U.S. to test his prediction that southern college football relates to religion.

He interviewed football fans from Athens, Ga. to Baton Rouge, La. for the book.

The project started in 2005, and the book came out this September.

Bain-Selbo will kick off another book signing in November at the Bowling Green Barnes & Noble Booksellers.

He said he won’t know how many books he’s sold until January.