I don’t know about you, but I’m definitely excited about the start of the college football season.

There is something truly special about college football and high-school football in the South. While the game is certainly played in the other regions of the country, there is no doubt that we Southerners take the game a little extra seriously. That’s probably why the SEC has won the last seven national championships and looks poised to pick up its eighth straight this season.

While college football is exciting, I almost enjoy “Friday Night Lights” even more. To this day, I remember very little about any physics class or algebra test that I had at Westbrook Christian School in Rainbow City, Ala. However, I can vividly recall my freshman year when we beat perennial powerhouse Addison on the road in the Class 1A playoffs on a last-second touchdown run. Crimson Tide fans might recognize the name of the freshman quarterback who engineered that drive — Brodie Croyle.

Yet even the not-so-memorable games were still exciting and fun. Whether it was painting our chests with “GO WARRIORS” or making a homecoming float, or just standing up and cheering as a collective student body, high school football was definitely a great time. I hope that our kids realize the great opportunities that they have for these four years of their lives, and make the most of them. You can play with your iPhone anytime; right now, your classmates and friends need your cheering support.

As far as college football goes, I am in a rather unique position. You see, I went to a Catholic college in northern Indiana that believes it also has a pretty strong football tradition. However, a certain crimson-and-white-colored team showed my Irish that they still have a long way to go to get back to the promised land of national championships. (You’re welcome for that gift-wrapped title, by the way, Alabama fans!)

Even so, I still enjoyed the ride in that 2013 season. It was unexpected and exciting to watch unfold, especially in light of the awful Irish teams in the late 2000s. I remember that it wasn’t too long ago that the national media said that Alabama and Notre Dame were old news and would never again contest for national championships. The fact that both teams have engineered turnarounds so quickly is a testament to their loyal fan bases and the power of historical tradition.

And it won’t shock me one bit to see Nick Saban and his Tide raise their third straight crystal ball into the air at the end of the season.

Is it time for kickoff yet?

Justin Schuver is the publisher of The Atmore Advance. You can email him at justin.schuver@atmoreadvance.com.