It's Almost Here . . . !

I love football. I know that I love it, and I know many may call it an unnatural love, but as August ends each year I still surprise myself with just how giddy I get. Take this weekend, for instance. I went a high school football game on Friday night, got up and watched the ESPN Gameday preview Saturday morning, and spent most of my Sunday afternoon watching classic Clemson games from the Woody Dantzler era on Turner Sports Network (only in Atlanta would "classic" and "Clemson" be used in the same sentence without a twinge of irony).

So, as we are now about to get into the season, I just want to share why I love Saturdays in the fall.

1. College Gameday: I know I just mentioned it, but I love this show. The dynamic that Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, and Kirk Herbstreit has is fantastic and their insights are also always spot on. They are also one of the few football groups that does not fall in love with a single conference, most notably the SEC, so they always provide a balanced look at the sport each week. Hangovers couldn't keep me away from this show when I was in college, so you know it is a big deal.

2. Tailgates: There is simply nothing better than firing up the grill, throwing some brats and burgers on, and cracking open at beer at 10:30 am, and lounging in the sun before a game. Tailgating is so pure, it really doesn't matter where you go to school. I have seen great tailgates at a basketball school (Indiana) and a school not necessarily known for having fun (Georgia Tech: where fun goes to die), so it really is an awesome tradition no matter where you are.

3. Student Sections: I am no longer a student, but I can still pass for a borderline-creepy grad student that allows me the ability to blend in around students, and there is nothing more fun for me than sitting in the student section of a game. You have people that are trashed, loud, and often profane. You get the usual cheers like "Bullshit" after a bad call, but also the truly unique like "Beat your defender like he's your girlfriend!" The alcohol also makes it tough to remember what's going on in a game, so student sections develop great traditions so they can function on muscle memory even while blacked out. Dangling keys, chants, elaborate arm movements, or going nuts after a touchdown with a group of 20,000 of your closest friends truly separates college football from any other sport.

4. Striking Up the Band: I do not get marching bands at all and actually think their uniforms are absolutely ridiculous and indefensible, but having a band at a football game always makes the experience more unique and enjoyable. There is nothing quite like sitting in a stadium, hearing the band start the fight song after a touchdown, and singing at the top of your lungs with 100,000 other people. But no marching. God help you if there's marching.

5. Apparel: I don't what it is about colleges, but they always come up with the best stuff for students, alums and fans to wear. I look forward to putting on my shirts and hats, depending on the weather and what clothes have become "lucky" this season. One of the great parts about living in Atlanta is that it is a big city that still thinks it's a college town. People in their early to mid 20s move to the city every year from all around the country, and when you walk around the city on fall Saturday's you will see shirts from almost every school in the country. You always feel an instant connection with anyone wearing the same shirt as you and it causes more random conversations with complete strangers than anything other than a quest for a 1 night stand.

What about you? What do you look forward to and love about college football?