Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010

Last week kicked off the high school football season and beginning Thursday night, the college season gets under way.

There are not too many things that are better than attending a college football game.

The atmosphere is something special. The tailgate parties in the stadium parking lots provide you with a grand array of foods and beverages.

The smell of the food cooking on the grills fills the air as you walk from your vehicle to the stadium.

Although the crispness to the air is probably still a few weeks away, as are the changing of the leaves on the trees, those two elements just add to the experience.

Fans bring the most to the table when you talk about the atmosphere of a college game.

They are dressed up in their favorite teams’ colors like mascots.

Then there are those who you just aren’t sure what they are supposed to be dressed up like.

Good-natured ribbing that goes on prior to the game is special, too.

Schools such as Notre Dame, Michigan and Michigan State have a healthy rivalry between themselves.

It is not uncommoan to see those fans tailgating beside one another before the game and sitting together in the stands during the contest.

That’s all part of the charm of a college football game.

So it’s time to break out that old jersey, helmet or whatever you like to wear to the game and get them cleaned up.

Because come Thursday night it is game on.

Fans of our local “big three” teams are looking forward to this season with great anticipation.

From a new coach at Notre Dame to a coach on the hot seat at Michigan and a Spartan football team that is filled with expectations in 2010, this is going to be another great season of college football.

If you have the opportunity to pick up some tickets to a game, don’t pass them by.

Go early and take in all the game has to offer.

It will be the best way you have ever spent an afternoon.