End over end the ball will tumble into the arms of a young man. He moves swifter and in directions I cannot fathom but with his movements marks the beginning of the collegiate season. Eight months of your team on a near weekly basis has returned (c’mon, hoops counts). I think there’s a word for it: AWESOME. Conjecture and projections are a thing of yester-broadcast (yeah right).
Mark Helfrich now has to be the lead man. Kevin Hogan has to play a full season. Someone has to carry the ball in Johnathan Franklin’s stead. Will Sutton’s gotta pop somebody. RichRod has to start someone. Kiff, too. Mike MacIntyre has to re-instill a fear of Ralphie. Sark has to…well I think Sark’s gotta win more? Kiff, too. The OSU secondary has to pick somebody off. Il Pirata and his Cougs must try again to outrush Ka’Deem Carey. Brian Johnson (Utah OC) has to coach up Travis Wilson to do something no QB has done in SLC since…Brian Johnson (lead the Utes in passing in back-to-back years). Sonny’s Air Raid has got to get bearish.
Johnny Manziel must play 21.5 halves of football.
It’s game time, game day and yet to bid your Saturdays adieu is inappropriate.
Hello. Shalom. ¡Hola! 你好. Hallo. привет. Hujambo. העלא. Bonjour. Sup? This is the beginning you’ve eagerly awaited since the last buzzer sounded in a hoops arena and you emerged to a steroids ridden baseball season.
And at this point you’ve received the alumni Facebook invite to join your fellow [insert mascot here] at [insert opportunistic bar with drink specials for anyone adorning that school’s attire but in reality it’s just one dollar off a bucket of still overpriced C-minuses]. You’ll experience the highs and lows of the season inside that bar and that T-shirt the student section passed out when you were a touch younger. Arrived is the familiarity of fandom and the unknown promise of a season ahead. Your squad might pull the big Thursday night upset. You might hook up with a recent grad. Your 2014 could start Rosy.
So much promise awaits.
End over end the ball will tumble into the arms of a young man. He could go left. He could go right. But he’ll be going.
Get up.