It’s here, you guys.
Okay, almost here. You’re going to have to wait a tad longer until South Carolina and Vanderbilt kickoff at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. But congratulations on being patient. It’s been a long eight months and I don’t know how many days since Alabama hoisted the Coaches’ Trophy in New Orleans, signifying not only the Crimson Tide’s second BCS championship in three years, but the end of the 2011-12 college football season.
What’s happened between then and now hasn’t been easy for anybody.
Oh, who are we kidding? It’s sucked.
It used to be that summer was meant for player arrests (which it still is), and more recently, conference realignment rumors (which there still are). Instead, the Jerry Sandusky trial, Freeh report and subsequent NCAA action against Penn State dominated sports talk.
We know many of you didn’t look forward to hearing about the Penn State mess on a daily basis, but it was without a doubt the biggest sports-related story of the year. One without winners, without a good ending.
The arrival of Hurricane Isaac is also rude evidence that there are things in this world bigger than football. As we all enjoy an exciting college football weekend, maybe take a moment or two to keep those in the Gulf States in your thoughts. They’re dealing with far greater problems than a fan whose team is trailing in the fourth quarter.
Sandusky, Isaac… in their own ways, they serve as reminders that football is just a game.
But it is a game we love, and today is a day for celebrating. It’s a time for sitting in your favorite chair (or your favorite bar) with a cold one and enjoying what we hope brings you to this site often.
For one night — one of many to come — we can just watch football.
Or, perhaps you’re not interested in any games tonight because you’re waiting for your favorite team to play this weekend. That’s groovy too. Wherever you watch, whenever you watch, however you watch, why you watch – we don’t care. We’re just glad you chose to spend time with us.
Enjoy the games, everyone. We’ll talk with you soon.