The Best Weekend of the Year
This is my favorite weekend of the year, and it might just be the best sports weekend of the year as well. I’ve always had a special relationship with Labor Day weekend. First, it signifies the beginning of the college football season and I’ve always had a passion for football, in particular with college football. Secondly, it’s a three-day weekend. Third it usually is a reminder that summer is over and the temperatures here in north Texas are about to drop below 90 (I say usually because that is obviously not the case this year with the highs going back to the low 100’s starting next week). And fourth, my birthday is always around Labor Day weekend.
Like I said, I love football and I will watch as much of it as I can. That is why this weekend is my favorite weekend of the year. There’s games on Thursday night, Friday night, a whole slate of games on Saturday, Sunday, and even a game on Monday as Duke hosts Clemson. Five straight days of college football, what’s better than that? Last night was a great opener to the season. Utah hosted Florida and just bullied them for 4 straight quarters, could be a long season for the Gators. Nebraska found another way to lose a game under a different head coach as they lead by a touchdown late but allowed Minnesota to score 10 points in the last 3 minutes of the game and win on a last second 47 yard field goal. UCF was dominating in their first game as a member of the Big XII. Gus Malzahn is now on my hate list after running the hurry up offense with 4 minutes to go, up 49-6 and scored a meaningless touchdown with 55 seconds left to beat the Kent State 56-6 and to cost myself the under of 56 in my first Gridiron Grind bet of the season.
Tonight’s games appear to be lackluster on their face but that’s the beauty of college football, you never know what is going to happen. Saturday is my birthday and after attending my daughter’s volleyball game that morning, I’m going to Whataburger for lunch and then home to sit on the couch and watch a plethora of football games. My longhorns host Rice at 2:30p, which should include close to 130 degree temperatures on the field turf during the game (Fox apparently only cares about money and not safety because why else is this game not at night). Should be a relatively easy win and allow myself to enjoy the day without getting all worked up. I guess I should just be thankful that it is atleast on tv and not on pay-per view. I remember when I was a kid one year, Texas played I think North Texas on my birthday but it was on Fox Sports Southwest Plus which was pay-per view. I pleaded with my dad to buy it for me and that could be my birthday present. He denied all of my constant requests because “I’m not paying $100 to watch them beat the snot out of North Texas, it’s a waste of money, we can watch them next week.”
The game I’m looking forward to the most is without a doubt #5 LSU v. #8 Florida State. The Seminoles come in on a 6 game winning streak from last year. LSU had a tremendous season last year beating Alabama and winning the SEC west. Both of these teams return their starting quarterbacks and have aspirations of making the college football playoffs. This should be the game of the weekend.
Cheers to a great Labor Day weekend. Some of you go to the lake for one last time, others go dove hunting as its the opening weekend, but for me its football and nothing else. - Creta