College Football Kickoff

If you know me at all, have ever come across this blog before, or even passed my car on the interstate, then you would know that I am a die hard University of Memphis Tigers fan. My love for all things blue comes from my days as a kid when I would sit around the TV with my mom and dad and watch the basketball team, as well as going to the Coliseum(I remember at least one time), and being at the Pyramid from the opening day. I am working hard to instill this love in Drew and seem to be doing pretty well based on his recognition of our Tigers. I was also lucky enough to marry a girl whose parents had the same good judgement to cheer for the blue and gray.

As I already mentioned I was mainly a Tiger basketball fan growing up, as they were much more successful and were always on TV. I don't even remember my first Tiger football game, and I'm pretty sure I went to multiple Liberty Bowl games before my first time to see the Tigers there. However, things began to swing the other way on November 9, 1996. That is the day that the Tigers beat the UT Vols 21-17 in a most shocking upset. It marked the beginning of my allegiance to Tiger football, even to the point where I enjoy the football games much more than the basketball games these days. My family has had season tickets for maybe eight years now. Since graduating college in 2004 I have probably missed fewer home games than I could count on one hand. I have even been known to bring study materials to the games if need be. Of course, it certainly didn't hurt that my new found devotion to Tiger football also happend to coincide with the rise of Deangelo Williams.

As college football kicks off this weekend I have been thinking about why I love college football, in particularly Tiger football so much. So here goes it:

1. Tailgating
2. Family-Katie, Drew, and I, my parents, sister, Katie's parents, and Brad and his parents all have tickets together
3. Pronto pups
4. Saturday's on the couch watching games
5. Cold beer
6. Fall weather
7. Anything can happen-see Michigan v. App St. or Boise St. v. Oklahoma
8. Road trips-at least one or two a year
9. Cheerleaders
10.The Fight Song
11.Bowl Season
12.Tradition-hey Memphis is working on it, more than just a tradition of going to the New Orleans Bowl too