Let's be real now that the NBA season is over we can focus on bigger and BETTER things, meaning College Football season is just a mere 50 days out. Yes you read that right 50 DAYS! This week marks 50 days until NCAA college football officially returns to everyone's life. Hold on because the most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching and believe me I am beyond excited. These are just 50 of my favorite things about football season...
1. Waking up early each Saturday to watch these guys on ESPN's College GameDay
2. Keeping with GameDay... Lee Corso and the weekly Headgear Pic
3. The new crop of hilarious (and slightly harsh) ESPN GameDay signs.
Fun Fact: This was sign was actually in the top 5 for best signs as ranked by GameDay all of the 2015 season.
4. Praying that GameDay comes to your city...
5. And also wishing you were the guest picker on the show!
6. Pregame hype videos.
7. And the subsequent goosebumps you get from watching them.
8. One Word: tailgating
9. Plus all the free food you can find at those tailgates
10. Football Stadium Corn Dogs
Don't judge or ask, but they are good!
11. Kettle Corn... Yum!
12. Securing your sports pass for the year.
Really just football season ;)
13. Hoping your team lives up to the hype.
14. And when they do the sense of pride you have is unreal.
15. Starting the season 1-0.
16. And hoping (really praying) you end it 13-0.
17. Friday Night Pep Rallies
18. There is always an available photo op
19. Away game watch parties with your friends.
20. The Halftime Show
Don't lie, I know you love the band too. Props to Ohio State, their band is top notch!
21. Being glued to the ESPN app all of Saturday.
22. OVERTIME GAMES
Or a Quadruple overtime game. Looking at you Arkansas vs. Auburn, October 2015.
23. Trying not to fall off the bleachers in the Student Section.
24. Student Section Chants
25. Homecoming weekend in the SEC.
The POMP and circumstance almost overshadows the game but never quite does.
26. Mascot on field antics
You just never know what those crazy things are going to do these days.
27. The feeling you have walking into the stadium for the first time each season.
28. Laughing at Frat Pledges wearing suits in 100 degree heat.
29. Trying to get on the video board.
30. Rain Games
Always exciting, always muddy and always a good time.
31. Getting your BEAT t-shirt on Friday's before the game.
32. The rush of adrenaline as the student section banner passes over your head.
33. Sorority game day buttons
34. Hearing the Alma Mater play each Saturday.
And singing it upon you know you... Come on Arkansas fans have my back here
35. ANYONE (and I mean ANYONE) BEATING ALABAMA.
36. An excuse to say 'Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose' way more often than I should.
37. Enduring the weather each week to cheer on your team.
From 100 degree heat to start the year, to rain around mid season, and the freezing cold and snow towards the end of the season you know I'll be there in the stands screaming my lungs out every second.
38. The elaborate team entrances onto the field.
39. Traveling to enemy territory (cough away games cough)
40. When your team wins the rivalry game.
#battlefortheboot
41. On your toes singing the famed fight song.
42. Watching your team's Coach get the post game Gatorade bath.
Or at least in the SEC we aim well enough to give our coaches Gatorade baths.
43.Game specific Snapchat filters or even national Snapchat stories for the game.
44. Dressing up for football games.
45. The beautiful 4 weeks where College Football and Basketball overlap.
46. Selection Sunday for the Bowl Games and the Playoffs.
47. Bowl Games
Only because it gives me an extra three weeks of football season and a sweet trophy for my team to take home.
48. Ending the season with the College Football Playoffs.
49. Some of the best memories you make all year.
50. But most of all, calling the hogs every Saturday in Fayetteville.
And a bonus...
51. The beloved Spring Game
It is our one piece of college football in the spring and I thank God a million plus times that day.
So as you can see football season to me is a lot of favorite things. It is without a doubt my favorite sports season of the year. It consumes me each Saturday and it is hard to stop smiling those 24 hours each week. 50 things just isn't enough to list all my favorite things but 50 more days to wait is way to many. So until a new football season starts I'll be here reliving my past favorite football memories and looking forward to all the new ones.
