Football season begins in earnest on Saturday.

I, for one, am ready. Cooler weather, a big pot of soup simmering on the stove and college football on television from morning through night is my idea of the perfect day. Ah, the good life.

It is, indeed, the most wonderful time of the year.

Last year’s college football season was one of the worst I can remember. My beloved Fighting Irish went four and eight in a year we were supposed to have a team that could contend for the national title.

It’s no secret I blame the Notre Dame coach, Brian Kelly. I’ve never been a fan, but I truly hope he proves me wrong this year and leads the Irish to a winning season. If not, I will be leading the “He Must Go!” chants. We were not chosen for a spot in the preseason top 25, which doesn’t bode well.

One of the joys of the upcoming season is its early start with interesting games. Instead of favorite Alabama, who is ranked number one in the AP preseason rankings, opening its season against someone like Natchez High School, as it typically does, its first game is Sept. 2 against preseason number three Florida State.

Notre Dame should be able to handling opening opponent Temple on Sept. 2, but our game on Sept. 9 against AP preseason ranked number 15 Georgia will give us an early indication of what kind of season it will be for the Irish.

This season should be an interesting one, too, for Ole Miss and State fans.

Vicksburg’s Donna Halford, an Ole Miss alum who can be found in the Grove on every Ole Miss football Saturday, was in our office recently for a photo shoot for our magazine, Vicksburg Living, on tailgating — or Groving, as she and other Ole Miss folks call it. Even after this summer’s controversy for Ole Miss fans, the faithful will be in the Grove come Sept. 2 for its game against South Alabama. One thing is certain, win or lose, you’ll find a party in Oxford.

Mississippi State faces Charleston Southern at home on Sept. 2, travels to Louisiana Tech on Sept. 9, then gets down to business when it hosts AP preseason ranked number 13 LSU on Sept. 16. The Bulldogs follow up against two strong SEC opponents — Georgia and AP preseason ranked number 12 Auburn  — in away games.

Things are looking up for LSU Tiger fans at the start of this season. Not only have most fully embraced head coach Ed Orgeron, the school debuted its newest “Mike the Tiger” — Mike VII, to be exact — on the first day of classes. He’s an 11-month-old Siberian and Bengal tiger mix named Harvey, adopted from a rescue in Florida.

Mike VII will stay put in his multi-million dollar habitat across the street from Tiger Stadium, as he should, while LSU faithful cheer on their Tigers inside.

And, of course, we’re all hoping Vicksburg’s Jay Hopson and his USM Golden Eagles soar straight To The Top this season. Hopson’s Eagles open up the season Sept. 2 versus Kentucky at Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg.

The Alcorn State University Braves open the season at home in Lorman against Grambling State. The Braves will play six home games during the 2017 season, good news for the strong contingent of diehard Alcorn State fans here.

While we’ll have to wait awhile for the chilly weather, football season is upon us. Let the battles begin!
Jan Griffey is general manager of The Vicksburg Post. You may reach her at jan.griffey@vicksburgpost.com. Readers are invited to submit their opinions for publication.