College Football 2011: 50 Reasons to Be Jacked Up for the Season

The countdown continues as college football fans anxiously await the kickoff of the 2011 season.

No matter what team you are a fan of, as July turns into August and summer camps begin, fans come alive as they realize that the season is about to start.

With under two months remaining before teams run onto the field for Week 1, here are 50 reasons to get fired up for college football.

Cheerleaders

No matter what game you are attending, when you head to a college football game you are always in store for an outstanding performance from your school's cheerleaders. They have been distracting men in between plays for years.

Beer

While beer is certainly a year long beverage for many people around the world, it sells in record numbers once the ball is teed up and is ready to be kicked.

No Lockout Possibility

One thing you can always count on is that their will be college football as scheduled. As the NFL continues to try and work out a deal, college football fans do not lose one night of sleep wondering if there will be a season.

College Bands

Along with cheerleaders, one thing that is synonymous with Saturdays in the fall are college bands. Bands are a huge part of the pageantry and atmosphere of college football.

Tailgates

A part of the college football experience that does not get overlooked is tailgating. Fans across the nation wake up at various times of the morning, drive to the stadium and get started early cooking and preparing a party for fans to enjoy before kickoff.

Mascots

Who can forget about the mascots? Around the nation, these characters help get the crowd going and provide entertainment for young and old fans alike.

College Gameday

For most fans, a part of your early Saturday morning routine includes sitting down or attending ESPN's College Gameday. Gameday has become one of the most watched shows on ESPN and continue to grow every year.

Thursday Night Football

The only thing better then a Saturday filled with college football is a premier game being played on Thursday night. While most nights in the fall have football from Saturday through Monday, Thursday night helps get fans geared up for another weekend of football.

Another Sport Other Then Baseball

Nothing against baseball, but one of the reasons that the summer drags for football fans is the only option you have is baseball. While it is considered America's pastime, football is clearly the nation's most popular sport.

Student Sections

Something that separates the pros from college football is the student section. While a home field advantage is certainly important, a strong and loud student section can become a huge advantage.

Teams on the Move

In 2011, the college football will experience some changes in the major conferences. Nebraska finds itself on the move, going from the Big 12 to the Big 10. Out West, Utah and Colorado now are part of the newly formed Pac-12.

Texas Longhorns Network

Like it or love it, the partnership between the University of Texas and ESPN should be interesting. With the creation of the Longhorn Television Network, Texas has just gained another huge recruiting advantage.

Whiteout at Penn State

One of the best sights in college football is when Penn State does a whiteout. While other schools attempt to do such events with their school's colors, no program does a better job then Penn State.

Les Miles

One thing that is always interesting to do is follow the coaching decisions made by LSU's Les Miles. For the past few years, Miles has been leaving the college football world scratching their heads, but for the most part, his calls have come out smelling like roses.

Pac-12 Championship Game

Fans may end up being split on the idea but now the Pac-12 will have a championship game, which should help level the field when looking at BCS games.

The conference has ditched the schedule that saw all teams play each other in favor for adding two new schools and creating two separate divisions.

Erin Andrews

While many enjoy College Gameday, a lot of fans tune in to see the lovely Erin Andrews. Not only is Andrews easy on the eyes, but she is also able to contribute intelligently to the pregame show.

Night Game at Death Valley

Another outstanding sight in college football is the scene down at LSU. Many believe that the best home field advantage belongs to LSU when they are able to host a night game.

Lee Corso

As Lee Corso continues to age, fans should begin to appreciate what he has done for college football more and more. One of the highlights of the College Gameday show is the final minute when Corso selects the final game.

LSU vs Oregon

Right out of the gate, college football fans are going to be treated to an outstanding game. In Week 1, LSU is going to go up against Oregon in the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.

This game will showcase two teams in the top 10 and will give the winner an inside track at the BCS title game.

Big Hits

Nothing turns head like the sound of a huge hit being put on an opponent during a game. A big hit can help change the momentum of a game and sometimes a season.

Female College Football Fans

When attending a college football game, you can be assured that the talent does not stop on field. Female college football fans flock to the stadium on Saturdays looking to take in the action.

Lou Holtz

Love him or hate him, Lou Holtz has given his heart and soul to college football and may be nearing the end of his career on camera. While his delivery may be a bit off, Holtz has a brilliant football mind.

Impact Freshmen

Last year, college football saw some sensational true freshmen step on the field and make a huge impact. In 2011, fans across the nation will be looking for that one player who can help elevate their program.

Rivalries

Not many things can beat a Saturday schedule that is full of college football rivalry games. Rivalry week may be one of the most exciting weeks on campus.

Boise State at Georgia

For the past few seasons, Boise State has scheduled a major opponent for their opening week game, and this year they head down to take on Georgia. Like most years, the nation will have their eyes on Boise State to see how they perform against a major opponent.

Service Academies

Another thrill during the college football season is watching the nation's service academies go through their football schedule. Win, lose or draw, these teams represent us both on and off the field.

New Head Man at Ohio State

After everything that has gone on at Ohio State during the offseason, Luke Fickell is taking over for the Buckeyes as their new head man.

While it is still unclear on what the final sanctions will be against OSU, it will be interesting to see how they do under Fickell.

Touchdown Jesus

Fans around the world are familiar with the sight of Touchdown Jesus at Notre Dame. On Saturdays, fans who pack the stadium are all witness to one of the most recognizable sights in college football.

Ducks Mascot Doing Pushups

With the amount of points that Oregon put up last year, the nation was introduced to the practice of the Oregon Duck matching point for pushups. This story become big enough that ESPN did a piece on it and will inevitably be brought up throughout 2011.

Iron Bowl

Last year was a tale of two halves as Alabama jumped out to a big lead in the first half only to see Cam Newton erase it in the second.

Despite the loss of players on both sides of the ball, the 2011 Iron Bowl figures to be another outstanding game.

Nike Pro Combat Jerseys

For the past few years now, Nike has been rolling out new gear and uniforms for its partner schools. This year will be no different as Nike will again put new uniforms on display for various programs in the nation.

12th Man

Texas A&M has been home to the 12th man, and it was one of the best sights in football.

Everyone Has a Shot

The best part about the start to the college football season is the fact that programs around the nation enter summer camp and Week 1 with the understanding that they are still in the national title hunt.

Andrew Luck

Many believed that Andrew Luck would end his career at Stanford and go on to be the first overall pick in the NFL draft. While he still may do that, that vision was put on hold as Luck returned for another year.

After last year's 12-1 record, Luck and Stanford have their eyes set on the conference title and a national championship run.

The Hot Seat Gets Hotter

Keep your eyes open early on in the 2011 season as a few coaches enter the year knowing that their job is on the line. A bad start for Mark Richt, Dennis Erickson or Rick Neuheisel could have them looking for a new program.

Charlie Weis at Florida

The Florida offense has now been turned over to Charlie Weis, and it will be interesting to see how Weis does returning to college football. His first test will be turning around John Brantley at quarterback.

Ohio State vs Michigan

At the end of the season, you can throw away the record as Ohio State and Michigan go to battle. This season will be unique as both programs will be led into the game under a new coach.

The Optimism of Notre Dame Fans

No matter what year it is, Notre Dame fans always enter the season believing that this is the year that the Irish return to greatness. This year will be no different in South Bend, but Notre Dame may have the talent to back it up.

Another Year of Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno enters another year as head coach of Penn State, and it is something that should continue to be enjoyed and appreciated by college football fans. Fans need to understand that they are watching a living legend in action and embrace it.

Case Keenum Returns

Last year, Case Keenum had his season cut short when he was injured during a game against UCLA. Keenum has been granted another year of eligibility and will be putting up huge numbers all year long.

Battle for the Big East

This is said tongue-in-cheek as the Big East will allow fans to continue to hate some of the BCS rules, which includes the automatic bid given to the Big East Champion. If the Big East performs the way that they did last year, the outcry will be even louder in 2011.

Boise State vs TCU

With both teams in the Mountain West Conference, we will not have to deal with the storyline of both teams trying to break into the BCS Championship Game. When the two of them go up against each other, one team's hopes will end.

Heisman Race

Besides for the race to the national championship, one of the most interesting aspects of the college football season is the battle for the Heisman Trophy. With players like Andrew Luck, LaMichael James, Landry Jones and Kellen Moore, the race will not be short on talent.

Upsets

Every year, there are huge upsets in the college football season, it is just a matter of time before it happens. By now, high profile programs have enough examples to look back on to realize they need to stay razor sharp during every game.

College Football Entrances

Another unique aspect of college football are the different entrances that teams make. From slapping a sign, to touching a rock or other good luck charm or running through a cloud of smoke, college football has some of the most unique ways of introducing the home team.

College Football in ESPN 3D

For the past few years, watching college football in high definition has become a joy as the picture is crystal clear. With the introduction of 3D broadcasts last year, college football has been taking your viewing pleasures to a new level.

SEC Conference Games

While the argument will rage on about which conference is home to the best teams, the conference games played in the SEC are something to see. With teams like Florida, LSU, Alabama, Auburn and South Carolina, fans of college football are always in store for an outstanding game.

Chip Kelly's Offense

Since coming to Oregon in 2007, Chip Kelly has elevated the Oregon offense to a high powered machine. Last year, the Ducks put up points at will during the regular season, and it will be interesting to see what new wrinkles he implements for the 2011 season.

Did I Mention Cheerleaders?

Any questions?

C'mon, It's Football

No matter what reason you look for to get excited about the return of college football, the biggest reason is it's football. No explanation needed other then it is almost time to have programs across the nation kickoff the 2011 season.

What has you jacked up for the 2011 season?