28 great things about College Football

[PonySoprano]

32 days until the season opener and the players report this week - time to get ready for football season. Admittedly, I have paraphrased this list from a column I saw a few years ago, and I have "localized" it a bit. Feel free to add on:

1. The hopes and dreams in every stadium in America (including Ford) just before the opening kickoff of the season.

2. The beers you drank on the Boulevard to fuel those sadly desperate dreams that will likely be quashed by the end of the first half.

3. Great stadiums like Ford Stadium, the Rose Bowl, Notre Dame Stadium, Michigan Stadium, the Yale Bowl

4. Marching Bands from Michigan, Ohio State, USC, and the Hub of SMU Spirit

5. The roar of Northwestern's fans when, before the coin-flip at the 1996 Rose Bowl, the referee explained the coin saying, "On one side is the logo of Northwestern University..." At that moment, 48 years of frustration was released from the north end zone that rocked the San Gabriel Mountains. Hopefully, as SMU fans we will get to experience something similar in the near future.

6. Peruna, Ralphie the Buffalo and other live mascosts that lead the team on the field.

7. Rivalries: SMU/TCU, The Iron Bowl (Alabama/Auburn), the Crosstown Rivalry (UCLA/USC), Bedlam (OU/OSU), the Egg Bowl (Ole Miss/Miss. State), Army/Navy, etc.

8. The Rivalry Trophies: The Iron Skillet, The Little Brown Jug, The Old Oaken Bucket

9. "Fuuuuuummmmble!!"

10. "Hail to the Victors," Michigan's Helmets, and the "Go Blue" banner at midfield.

11. Schools that share a fight song, but act like they're two different songs.

12. Cheerleaders and Song Girls. At USC, they know there's a big difference between those two groups.

13. Cheerleaders and Pom-Pom Girls. At SMU, we know there's a difference between these two groups.

14. The Heisman pose.

15. Orange and white (or other color combination) checkerboard end zones

16. Weekeneder road trips for a conference road game (ah, the greatness of the old SWC)

17. Hospitable fans when you reach your distination. On a road trip, there are few things better than weekend-long drinking buddies who can get past the fact that you are rooting for the opposition. Especially if they're girls.

18. That giant paper-mache looking head on the Nebraska mascot.

19. Touchdown Jesus

20. Whatever the hell that "U" logo represents on the side of Miami's helmets.

21. LSU's white jerseys at night in Baton Rouge

22. Those state troopers that surround coaches in the South

23. The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party (Georgia vs. Florida)

24. Keith Jackson saying, "Live from Tuscaloosa" or "Live from Pasadena" or saying "Live" from just about anywhere.

25. The fact that changing the facial expression on a team's animal logo can cause consternation and controversy among the school's most vociferous alumni.

26. "War Eagle!"

27. Texas vs. Oklahoma at the State Fair in Dallas

28. Those dudes with the homemade "Roll Tide" contraptions

[NavyCrimson]

get rid of the bcs-bs & college football will return to its greatness & truly rival the pros...until that - it'll continue its slide!!!

[Big Easy Pony]

GREAT list, PonySoprano!

However, if I may offer a couple of alterations:

14. Heisman Trophy, not the "look how great I am" Heisman pose

21. Even better than the LSU jerseys at night are (A) the eye of the Tigers at midfield, (B) the four-day bender the professional Cajun tailgaters enjoy before home games, and (C) oh my, the girls of LSU. Unreal. Right up there with the amazing ladies of SMU.

24. Keith Jackson. He doesn't have to be announcing where he's from. Just hearing his voice means college football officially has started. Too bad he's being squirrelled away in the PAC 10.

One other thing: way too much Notre Dame reference in your list. They've been worshipped long enough. Now they're another good-but-not-great team.

Other than the ND stuff, though, that list is terrific!

[MrMustang1965]

What I reallyliked about the list is there was no reference to the Aggies and only one reference to the Teasips! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[ponyNOLE]

hey Big Easy, the bayou trash at LSU can't be compared to the girls at SMU...the only equal reference would be to Ole' Miss, Georgia, or South Carolina. Also the midfield logo and end zones at Death Valley are among the worst EVER. The only cool thing about the stadium is seeing it when you come over the bridge on I-10 going into town from the Texas side.

[jtstang]

Man you're nuts. Cajun girls are hot like August on Bayou Lafourche.