I am a 2009 graduate of E.E. Smith High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina and one of the best times of the first semester was football season. The first pep rallies of the season from 2005 till 2008 were personally my favorite as each grade was welcomed by the magnificent marching machine — the marching band with similar marching styles to Jackson State — and the school was first introduced to the Golden Bull football team and cheerleaders

Football season in general was awesome, as it gave students something to look forward to during the week. Actually, the first article I ever wrote was a season preview and my first game story was the homecoming game. I was beyond scared talking to the head coach because he was intimidating, at least to 14-year-old Alex.

Now, my alma mater could have been a carbon copy of Morgan Freeman’s “Lean On Me,” and the games might not have been the safest environments. I remember during our rival game my sophomore year at least five altercations occurred, with three happening in front of me.

Vicksburg is less than a month away from kicking off the 2015 football season. This will be the first time I’ve been to a regular season football game since my alma mater’s homecoming game in 2010.

My first day on the job I went to Warren Central’s spring game. After attending it, watching a few of the summer workouts and covering them for the football magazine I am anxious to see things I’ve studied for three months play out.

However, I am equally excited to watch Porters Chapel, St. Aloysius and Vicksburg compete this season.

The game I’m particularly looking forward to is Vicksburg vs. Warren Central, for the atmosphere on the field and excitement the students will have in their eyes. I know some players are looking forward to the game and the level of intensity that night might rival the Egg Bowl’s.

I know coaching staffs and players at all four schools have worked hard to put a winning product on the field. I’ve watched all the players work hard in the heat and they all deserve equal recognition for their dedication to the sport.

In the south, parents and alumni — for better or worse — can take high school football too seriously. I want to personally wish Porters Chapel, St. Aloysius, Vicksburg and Warren Central good luck on their season and let the best team win.

I’m ready for some football!

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Alex Swatson is a reporter. He can be reached at 601-636-4545, Ext. 178, or via email at alex.swatson@vicksburgpost.com