By By Brian Giles Publisher
You can feel it in the air.
The anticipation and the excitement are building up to the start of something big.
If you don't get goose bumps and a big smile on your face when you hear Hank Williams Jr. sing, "Are You Ready for Some Football?," chances are you may need resuscitation.
It is one of the most fun times of the year, and we are only a couple of weeks away from the kickoff of the regular season. Teams began their preparation way back in the spring and now it is time to see what they've got. Whether you follow NFL, college or high school football there will be some football for everyone.
The state of Alabama has a very rich football tradition. Alabama and Auburn football are talked about 365 days a year. The rivalry is so severe that it has caused fights, split up marriages and spawned hundred of jokes that start off something like this; There was an Alabama fan, a Auburn fan and a Florida fan that decided to go hunting together. You have probably heard a thousand of them!
Whether you back the crimson and white or the orange and blue, you can bet that the season would not be near as much fun without either. The best part about college football is the rivalry and the pageantry. Sitting in Bryant-Denny or Jordan-Hare Stadium as thousands roar in unison is pure electricity; you can feel the hair stand up on the back of your neck when you hear Rrrrrooooooolllllllll Tide or Waaaaaaaarrrrrrr Eagle. Those types of traditional rivalries have created a football culture in this part of the country.
Alabama and Auburn generate lots of excitement, but the majority of the mania in this area will be generated by our local high schools. There is much anticipation about the coming season and our hometown guys. Escambia County High School, Escambia Academy and Northview High all have home games that will surely give every football fan that desired shot of adrenaline.
Many of the players on the high school level will never play college football or much less in the NFL. The chance of being the hometown hero and beating the rival high school will be the Super Bowl for most of these guys. The chance to run onto the field as the band plays the school fight song will be a memory that they remember forever. There will be blood, sweat and tears left right here on the fields of our community. Watching the drama play out on the field will definitely be worth the price of admission. Make plans to support your favorite local team. It will be the best entertainment you can find on a Friday night.
Good luck to the Blue Devils, Cougars and Chiefs on the upcoming season. Play hard, practice good sportsmanship and enjoy every minute of what promises to be an exciting season.
Brian Giles is publisher of the Atmore Advance, a rabid Alabama football fan and may be reached at 368-2123 or email at brian.giles@atmoreadvance.com