It's that time of the year. For sports fans it's the start of 2 of the best seasons in sports: the NFL and NCAA Football. It's the perfect way to spend a weekend. Thursday through Sunday there is something to watch. Even for those who are still invested in baseball season, the playoff race is beginning to get tighter.
I grew up in a family that completely immerses itself into sports. Saying that we like football would be a complete understatement. We grew up in Wisconsin therefore of course making us Green Bay Packer fans. Not just fans, diehards but that's for another post. In addition to being Packer fans my family grew up watching the Big Ten Wisconsin Badgers. My family loves this team so much that my aunt when she turned 60 got the Bucky Badger tattooed on her ankle. Now that's dedication.
This week is one of the most highly anticipated weeks of the sports year. Each team, whether they're a conference powerhouse or they are just a small division III school, this is the start of a new season, a new chance to win. Every year is a clean slate, anything that happened since the previous season is behind them, if you dwell on bad games, it's going to effect the way you approach the upcoming season. Even schools like Lane Kiffan's USC team this year who is under probation from illegal recruiting in the past have a chance to prove to the sports world that they have what it takes to win. We look at some of the programs who get the constant media attention: Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, USC, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas and the likes, yes they are powerhouses who dominate season after season and they make for great football but some of the truest players and teams are found in the smaller programs.
We start this season with Alabama and Ohio State atop the AP polls, but then the Broncos from Boise State sneak into the AP poll and #3. A lot of sports fans alike have already put their money on Boise State to win the BCS championship. For years the Broncos have been rising amongst the top dawgs of college football. Building a program like they have has finally shown the critics that not every year is going to belong to the standard SEC or Big XII powerhouse. Boise State stands apart from many other teams. First they play on a blue field, something that you can't ignore. Other teams watch Boise State play and when it's their turn to play on that turf, it's almost surreal to them, and it's as if they forget how to play the game. But when traveling to the blue turf that's the least of their worries. This team, who by the way for those who don't know went undefeated last year and STILL didn't make it to the BCS championship game, wants to win more than almost any other team out there. They aren't a flashy team, they don't recruit players who showboat their talents. They want players who simply want to go out there play the best football they can and win.
Those who are most excited about the season to start aren't just the college football fans, but the students themselves. Now I can say that I'm a college football fan because I am, I love all parts of the game. But when you're a current student and whatever college you're attending, nothing is better than spending a Saturday at the football stadium. Some school's have such history with their football programs that without the students it wouldn't be the same. I went to a basketball school (UConn) where everything revolves around basketball season but since the early 2000's UConn has started to develop themselves into more of a football school. While our traditions may not be as timely as schools like Ohio State or Notre Dame, we're creating our own traditions that we can call our own. Each school has something that they are known for. Ohio State's marching band has their infamous "dotting of the I" in Ohio as well as the O-H-I-O cheer. Wisconsin at the end of the 3rd quarter will play "House of Pain-Jump Around" where the entire student section will jump causing nearly the entire stadium to shake. It's because of the fans that some teams shake with fear when entering the domain of teams like Texas, Ohio State and Michigan.
My Alma Mater is traveling to Ann Arbor this weekend for what might be the biggest game of their season. Last year UConn beat Notre Dame in amazing fashion after tragedy struck the team when a friend and teammate Jasper Howard was killed. For our still developing program that was a huge win. This Saturday has a chance to top that. If we're able to overcome the intensity that the Michigan stadium brings and pull out a win there, we can win anywhere. Every team goes into a game no matter who they are up against with the mindset that they can win. And when they walk off that field all they need to know is that they played their hearts out and left it on the field.
This season is already shaping up to be pretty amazing and I look forward to sitting in front of a tv on consecutive Saturdays to watch more football games than one can count. Expect more posts during the season. I'm already planning one about rival schools. College football season is here, I hope you're ready.
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