There are several "Christmases" throughout the year enjoyed by the avid college football fan. Dates, games, and events we all look forward to with near-deranged anticipation.
There's National Signing Day. There's New Year's Day -- though it has lost a bit of its sacredness in the past several years with the proliferation of the number of bowl games. And there's the national championship game, if your team is fortunate enough to be in it.
Then there's the day when the preseason college football magazines hit newsstands. *rubbing hands together* (Do they even still have newsstands? It just flowed so much better than "the day they hit the Kroger shelves," which is where I bought my two.)
That day was Friday. The first of June. At once, I had weekend plans.
As I hurried out of my friendly hometown grocery store, it was all I could do to keep from giggling. (There's no way to make that sentence sound manly, is there?) Anxious to get home and unwrap my new treasures -- the shiny, glossy covers; that "new magazine" smell; and of course, the information!
Four hundred forty-eight pages in all. Schedules, rosters, rankings, statistics, analysis, predictions. Because how would I survive without knowing how many returning starters Boise State has (it's nine, if you're curious) or who was rated the 8th best offensive guard in the nation? You're right, I wouldn't.
I'm giddy as a schoolgirl backstage at a Justin Bieber concert. And just as vulnerable, by the way.
Hopefully, this will be enough to get me through until the next "Christmas" -- the first Saturday of the college football season, which is exactly 90 days away.
It has been said that football is religion in the South. I suppose that could be debated. However, I can testify that our lower-case messiah was once greeted with a not-so-holy kiss.
Mainly, I just try and enjoy each of these special days as they happen. Because as we all know, Christmas only comes a few times a year.
"So I'm moving to New York / 'Cause I've got issues with my sleep / Looks like Christmas came early / Christmas came early for me..."
There's National Signing Day. There's New Year's Day -- though it has lost a bit of its sacredness in the past several years with the proliferation of the number of bowl games. And there's the national championship game, if your team is fortunate enough to be in it.
Then there's the day when the preseason college football magazines hit newsstands. *rubbing hands together* (Do they even still have newsstands? It just flowed so much better than "the day they hit the Kroger shelves," which is where I bought my two.)
That day was Friday. The first of June. At once, I had weekend plans.
As I hurried out of my friendly hometown grocery store, it was all I could do to keep from giggling. (There's no way to make that sentence sound manly, is there?) Anxious to get home and unwrap my new treasures -- the shiny, glossy covers; that "new magazine" smell; and of course, the information!
Four hundred forty-eight pages in all. Schedules, rosters, rankings, statistics, analysis, predictions. Because how would I survive without knowing how many returning starters Boise State has (it's nine, if you're curious) or who was rated the 8th best offensive guard in the nation? You're right, I wouldn't.
I'm giddy as a schoolgirl backstage at a Justin Bieber concert. And just as vulnerable, by the way.
Hopefully, this will be enough to get me through until the next "Christmas" -- the first Saturday of the college football season, which is exactly 90 days away.
It has been said that football is religion in the South. I suppose that could be debated. However, I can testify that our lower-case messiah was once greeted with a not-so-holy kiss.
Mainly, I just try and enjoy each of these special days as they happen. Because as we all know, Christmas only comes a few times a year.
"So I'm moving to New York / 'Cause I've got issues with my sleep / Looks like Christmas came early / Christmas came early for me..."
I'm giddy as a schoolgirl backstage at a Justin Bieber concert. And just as vulnerable, by the way.
ReplyDeleteAmazing two lines
Have you read The Art of Fielding? I think you must!
Near-deranged and vulnerable...that's a dangerous combination! lol...this was too funny. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for the well wishes on my beach vacation, Bone - it was fantastic!
I only watch the games. I don't know didly about the players.
ReplyDelete90 days till football? That makes the summer seem short..
ReplyDeleteI've spent most of this post imagining you at a Bieber concert... It's possible I missed the point O:-)
ReplyDeleteOh well. At least know you had me giggling like a school girl, too.
Pia - Thank you. I wanted to get that vulnerability out there. We can delve further into that later :)
ReplyDeleteNope, haven't heard of it, but I'll google it now.
Sherri B - Dangerous, yes. But for who, me or everyone else? :) Thank you! Glad you enjoyed your trip. I hope to be getting back there soon. Well, not there exactly, but to the beach.
MarkD - 90 days seems like an eternity to me. Of course, now it's only 89, so eternity minus one.
TC - I bet it really wasn't that hard to imagine, was it? Thanks. It helps knowing I'm not the only one giggling like a schoolgirl.
This post is a primer on an entire world with which I have no experience. You teach me much, Dear Bone.
ReplyDeleteFootball when it is hot and humid just ain't right, which is why I only lasted one year in little league football! Enjoy your reading.
ReplyDeleteI cannot express how dreadful those two magazines sound to me. A) I don't like statistics, B) I don't care all that much about sports.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I did want to point out that there's an entire genre of sports writing where religion/religious figures are used in comparison to sports. I know someone that wrote his Master's Thesis on that very subject and you contributed to it!
Football is the the best sport. and the one true religion. I know it because it say so right here in this blog comment.
ReplyDeleteRoll Tide!
ReplyDelete