Sunday, August 24, 2008
With the installation of my Direct TV NFL package yesterday, I officially announce the beginning of football season.
I chose to go this route because I’m a life-long Cincinnati Bengals fan, and for the first fall in my life, I am not in Ohio to root with my fellow Who Deys.
Despite my attachment to Cincinnati, I’m also looking forward to cheering for a new home team — the Tennessee Titans.
It’s nice to be in an area where the local favorite has, more or less, a recent winning tradition as opposed to one winning season in the last 17 years.
With the ticket prices at NFL games, going to watch the Bengals wasn’t exactly a wise financial move unless your idea of fun was spending $60, wearing a Ki-Jana Cater jersey and sporting a brown paper bag over your head just to watch your team get slaughtered.
Therefore, I can admit I’ve only seen about four NFL games in my life, but this season I can’t wait to make the drive down to Nashville and watch some highly competitive action.
NFL isn’t the only football season ready to kickoff that has me excited – I’m talking about the college teams.
I won’t make many friends being a Buckeyes or Irish fan, but being just north of the border in Cincinnati, I’ve watched the rise of the Kentucky football program the past few years as well.
The Wildcats may have been among the nation’s best the past couple seasons, but I would still like to take the time to point out my Ohio Bobcats beat them back in 2004. As a Bobcat alum, we have to take our small victories wherever we can because there’s not much success.
Growing up in Big 10 country, I wasn’t able to watch as much SEC football as I would have liked. Now, with my new TV package, I can stay in-tune with the teams up north as well as dive into the fast-paced action of the SEC.
The upcoming season could be a litmus test of sorts for the Big Blue. With back-to-back Music City Bowl wins, UK’s program has a lot to build upon for this season and beyond. Hopefully, this season proves to be another step forward and not a step back.
UK’s recent success also reminds me of one of my favorite collegiate programs, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, who have experienced a recent surge also.
UC shocked the Big East with a 10-3 record last season, including a bowl win, led by coach Brian Kelly in his first full year.
Due to the Bengals’ losing history, the Bearcats have been my unofficial hometown football team, and now they are in Big East, so I can share a similar dislike for the University of Louisville with local UK fans.
That dislike for the Cardinals may turn to like or at least indifference come the 2010 season though. Despite Louisville’s rivalry with UC, three players from my former high school, Cincinnati St. Xavier, chose to sign with the Cardinals this past year.
Highly touted running back Darius Ashley leads the trio. Ashley was recruited by numerous other D-I schools including Virginia before
opting to join Louisville. Ashley expects to redshirt his first-season, but by 2010 I hope to see him competing for quality minutes.
Speaking of high school players, I can’t wait to experience my first local football game next weekend, and what better way to start than with a doubleheader.
The Maroons and Storm have been preparing most of the summer, sweating profusely at two-a-days, enduring practices with the heat index at 100 or higher, and now they get to put their hard work to the test.
No more red jerseys on the quarterback, no hitting dummies, no sleds, no intrasquad practice, the real deal is soon upon us.
With less than a week remaining, if I’m this excited as a sportswriter and fan, the anticipation must be boiling over for area coaches and players.
Here’s to another exciting and successful season for each of Hopkins County’s football players and fans.
Nick Brockman is a sports reporter for The Messenger. Want to talk Bengals or local football? You can can send him an e-mail at nbrockman@the-messenger.com
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