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It has been 233 days since we last saw a live college football game—and I, for one, think those seven-plus months went far too slowly...

A Happy College Football Opening Day to One and All

by Kristofer Green (Senior Writer)

50

701 reads

Opinion

August 27, 2008


It has been 233 days since we last saw a live college football game—and I, for one, think those seven-plus months went far too slowly.

For months we’ve speculated about what would happen in the upcoming season, we’ve argued about which conference is the best, we’ve talked about who is overrated, and in the last week or so we’ve predicted the outcome of the opening week of games.

Today we can finally start to answer those questions.  While we may not agree on everything, there are a few things we can agree on.

We are all passionate, loyal, unyielding, and die-hard fans. We are all fierce competitors and filled with pride.

We all get nervous before the big game, get giddy for the big play, and pump our fists when our team performs at their best.

We all have our silly superstitions, our perfect tailgating spots, and our favorite game day traditions.

We all have that one game on our team’s schedule that keeps us up at night, and we’ve all told ourselves, “This is going to be our year.”

We may be entering the season with high expectations, like the fans of USC, Florida, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Georgia.

We may be entering the season with hope that things will turn around, like fans of Notre Dame, South Carolina, Washington, and Louisville.

We may be uncertain about what the future holds, like fans of UCLA, Kansas, Michigan, and Virginia Tech.

We may be hoping this is the year we finally get over the hump, like fans of Missouri, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Michigan State, and Clemson.

But one thing is for sure: We all love college football.

We are all the same.

Today is the day we can sit down and watch a college football game.  No matter who is playing, we will watch.  No matter who is playing, we will smile and cheer and know that it is just the beginning.

Today, we all become one united group.  We aren’t known as Gators or Trojans, Buckeyes or Sooners, Bulldogs or Tigers.  Instead, we are just college football fans.

I propose for one day and one day only, we set our differences aside and come together for the love of the game.

We let the SEC love his brother in the Pac-10, the Big 12 love his brother in the Big Ten, and let the Big East love his brother in the ACC.  We let the MAC love the WAC, and the Sun Belt love the Mountain West.

We let the Trojans love the Spartans, the Tigers love the Bears, the Hurricanes love the Tide, the Seminoles love the Illini, the Buckeyes love the Wolverines—well, that may be too much to ask.  But you get the point.

Let us all come together, for today is Opening Day—the best day of the year.

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50 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Brian Hood 10 months ago

    Now that's capturing the spirit! Nice article man

    The only bad thing about college football: It has one of the longest off-seasons in sport.

    We wait no more.

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  2. Inaki Angulo 10 months ago

    Yeah,

    College football is here¡ What a feeling¡

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  3. David Nethers 10 months ago

    Very spirited story, nicely written. Little too much love for me....maybe respect the other team...cant see Michigan people showing Ohio State any Love. Same for Florida and Georgia, Alabama and Auburn...And thats what keeps us writing. Its the passion for our team which means little or nothing if we dont have passion about our opponents.

    233 days...golly...isnt that about the same amount of time between Ohio State's final regular season game and the national championship?

    5 stars

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  4. Mitch at sportschatplace.com 10 months ago

    Great one and I'm so ready to go. Not sure I can love the Gators but I'll refrain from the trash talk until at least noon..maybe ;)

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  5. Brian Scott 10 months ago

    Great job Kristofer! This is why it's "the most wonderful time of the year!"

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  6. Nic Gulas 10 months ago

    I've got a full day of classes to get through before I can relax and enjoy football, but after 233 days, its completely worth it. Great Article.

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  7. Shawn Withrow 10 months ago

    I doubt we will see Georgia and Florida fans, or Ohio State and Michigan fans putting aside their differences as a result of the article, but I enjoyed it. I am more excited about the return of the best game in the world than I am capable of sharing in words!

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  8. Timothy Croley 10 months ago

    Thanks for directing me here with the link, it was well worth it. Five stars, two thumbs up, and here we go for the start of college football 2008!

    *I'm with many others though on this whole love everybody thing. Auburn and Alabama getting along? That's like asking pit bull to share his supper. That's like asking a rattlesnake not to bite when you just stepped on his tail. That's like asking Lou Holtz to make an intellegent comment before he dies. That's like...well I think you get my point. Either way, I'll watch teams I hate just because it's football. Can't wait for that opening kickoff!

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  9. Kevin Nelson 10 months ago

    awesome article, you are right it has been a long 7 months and i need some pure football which is what this season is lookin like its sure to deliver!

    Roll Tide!

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  10. L.J. Burgess 10 months ago

    Nice piece KG.

    "I propose for one day and one day only, we set our differences aside and come together for the love of the game."

    Good luck with that and let me know how it turns out...I'll be in the bomb shelter. Come get me after the first game...if you survive.

    5 Starz.

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  11. Justin Hokanson 10 months ago

    Yep, finally here. It will be gone before you know it so enjoy it. WDE

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  12. Dan Boss 10 months ago

    Opening day of college football should be a national holiday!! It would be the only holiday that has nothing to do with religion, race, or any other political matter. Just a day for all college football fans to finally sit back, eat a burger or some wings, drink a beer, and watch their beloved football team take the field for the first time. It's way better than Christmas!! Great article, it made me appreciate college football even more.

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  13. Ryan Staab 10 months ago

    And so it begins: The 2008 College Football Season

    Can't wait!

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  14. Pete Dymeck 10 months ago

    This is a great peice.

    It describes how I feel about CFB season kicking off tonight!

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  15. Michael Felder 10 months ago

    Solid article man, this is without a doubt the week I look forward to the most. Today is great but Saturday is going to be the highlight of the event. Then the Monday games are just icing on the cake.

    And ditto what Dan said, it is way better than Christmas. I get to start drinking at seven thirty in the moring and enjoy feast without buying people gifts or pretending I care about the scarf their 900 year old Aunt Sue knitted them.

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  1. Justin Goar 10 months ago

    "I just want to say good luck.........we're all counting on you."

    but seriously, i love everyone.

    i will say however, it's easier to love everyone when you are the defending national champions.

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  2. Chris Copeland 10 months ago

    Awesome article Kristofer, but you forgot one thing. It's a time we can all cheer for Youngstown State!

    But seriously, POTD.

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  3. Kevin Paul 10 months ago

    Solid read Kristofer... so now I'm even more pumped up. When do we go tailgate? No really, when?

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  4. Cody Blubaugh 10 months ago

    Great article Kris, and I'm pumped beyond belief! Bring on the college football season!

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  5. Lew Wright 10 months ago

    Hey Kristofer,

    Well done my friend. You captured a kindred spirit of all who consider themselves a fan of college football.

    Here I thought I was on an adrenaline high before reading your prose. Now the overload has my hands twitching over the keyboard.

    Less than eight hours!

    Let the games begin.

    Lew

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  6. Jeremy Bliss 10 months ago

    Great read. I would love to see the brotherhood of one. Never gonna happen though. I live in Pensacola and I would put my paycheck on it that if I went to the mall in my Buckeyes gear, I wouldn't make it to the food court without hearing an SEC comment from under someones breath. It's brutal living behind SEC lines. Gotta love it though. They are just as passionate about their football as we are.

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  7. Jeff Contizano 10 months ago

    I believe Kristofer is an OSU fan.. and as a UM fan I respect him! But that will change soon haha! A great article.. I cannot wait for the season to get underway tonight.

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  8. Rob Reyes 10 months ago

    Happy Football Day!

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  9. BabyTate 10 months ago

    Another article that will be talked about all day. Excellent content.

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  10. BabyTate 10 months ago

    Another article that will be talked about all day. Excellent content.

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  11. Doug Kraus 10 months ago

    Yes, today if filled with total joy. I have spent the day "working from home". So far I have been to the vet, the "world's largest liquor store", walked my new puppy, watched two episodes of College Football Live on the DVR and even found time to answer a few work-related emails. This is my Christmas morning. I once again wished the summer away for this day and I am going to enjoy every minute of it.

    I only wish the UTEP vs. Buffalo game was on ABC or ESPN tonight. I really think this is the breakout year for Buffalo. Mark my words, by week 11 they will no longer be on the ESPN Bottom 10 list anymore!

    Oh, and for those stats lovers.... 2 month, 25 days until OSU-MI, and it has been 1,741 days since MI last beat OSU. Nice.

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  12. Colin Flosi 10 months ago

    It's a shame that Baylor has to start their losing so early, tsk tsk.

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  13. Alex Ferguson 10 months ago

    Damned shame I'll be watching the game tomorrow from the UK - I have to go to sleep now. Oh well, the great thing about TiVo is that I can fast forward through the actual breaks and stoppages....Yaaaaay!!

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  14. Mitch Rowe 10 months ago

    Wow South Carolina looks great.. The almighty SEC is off to a great start once again against a powerful OOC opponent

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  15. Colin Flosi 10 months ago

    Baylor looks absolutely terrible.
    Good thing I predicted a 1-11 season. Wake Forest's QB, Skinner 12-13, easy passes, and it is just tearing apart Baylor.

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