The 2008 college football season is about to kickoff and all of us that love the college game are very excited to get it underway.  I have spent the last two weeks visiting two college programs that are coached by two of my former coaches and very good friends.  John Wristen is the new head coach at Colorado State University at Pueblo. 

This is a new start up program and John will play a full schedule with 70% of his team being new freshmen.  I had the opportunity to talk with the team for two nights and spend three days with the Thunderhawks.  It was very exciting to be on the field with these young men and coaches that are starting off on a very unique and exciting journey as they get ready to play and coach college football in 2008.

I also had the opportunity to spend three days with the Bowling Green State University Falcons coached by Gregg Brandon.  I had the pleasure of coaching Gregg in high school and encouraged him to go into coaching.  He worked with me for 9 years and I was really honored to be able to go Bowling Green and watch practice, consult with his staff and speak to his team as they prepared for their opening game with Pitt.

It is hard to express just what getting the season underway is like.  It is full of hope and awareness of the difficulty that everyone is about to embark upon.  Getting everyone inspired and sharing goals during an extremely is the challenge that all football coaches crave and love.  Now, we are days away from starting and anyone who has ever coached is so excited to see all of their work and planning get tested against others who have the same dreams and aspirations.  Let the season begin and let’s all watch and see how these teams hold together and take on the adversity and challenges of a very long and challenging season.

I can’t wait.

I am currently involved with Sports USA radio doing color for 14 of the biggest games of the year.  I am looking forward to our first game with the National Champions at LSU coached by another one of my favorite former colleagues, Coach Miles.  I also will do two shows a week on FSN that focus on the BCS poll and the teams in the hunt for BCS bowl games.  The show airs on Friday night previewing the big games of the weekend and then on Sunday as we release the new poll and interview coaches who just played big games on the national scene.

Let the games begin.