I’m a sports junkie so I can watch just about anything sports related. (I do draw the line at so-called sports like poker and hot dog eating which for the life of me I will never understand ESPN airing.)
There’s something about a well-played basketball game or a baseball game where the winner is not decided until the bottom of the last inning. However, for me, college football is hard, if not impossible, to beat when it comes to spectator sports.
When fall arrives (and we aren’t that far off now) nothing beats following the action on the college gridiron. I’m one of those who can watch games all day Saturday and well into the night. I never grow tired of it. I’m one of those fans who can watch those Tuesday night games that ESPN shows.
Thursday night college football? You bet. If I’m not working and I’m at home, then the television will be tuned in. It really doesn’t matter who’s playing. If there’s a college football game being played, I can watch it. I’m not talking about catching a few minutes here and there. I’m talking about watching the entire game.
In recent years, ESPN would show games on Friday night from the Western Athletic Conference. With the difference in our time zones, I could arrive home from the high school game I was covering and usually the game would just be getting started. Despite a longer-than-normal work day, I would simply kick back in my recliner, turn the game on and enjoy. I would glance up at the clock on my den wall every so often knowing I should go to bed. The clock would reach 1 a.m. and I would tell myself, “15 more minutes.”
The next thing I knew it would be 1:30 and I would tell myself the same thing, “15 more minutes.” The next thing I knew it was close to 2 and since I had been up that long there was no need to call it a night just yet. Despite the struggle to keep my eyes open, I would be determined to make it until the final seconds had elapsed. More often than not, I did although I do recall falling asleep in my chair once only to wake up for the early Saturday morning Sports Center.
For months now I have been looking forward to the start of the 2010 season. I’ve watched replays of numerous games from the 2009 season.
I’ve even watched replays of games from seasons prior to this past fall. I’m ready for some new action, however, and I know we aren’t far off now.
College football has always been king in the South. In many ways it’s like a religion with services held in stadiums across the region and the country each Saturday afternoon.
Yes, the summer heat is just starting to beat on us and fall doesn’t exactly seem right around the corner just yet.
However, if you think about what’s really just around the corner then it won’t be long before the leaves start to turn, the coolness returns to the air and thousands upon thousands of fans get ready to cheer their favorite team to victory.
There is something about college football. It’s something that’s hard to match. In fact, I don’t think it can be.
Chris Bridges is the sports editor of the Barrow Journal. Send comments about this column to cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
