Well, it finally happened. And I'm not talking about the world record that the Nebraska vs. Omaha volleyball match set for most people watching a women's sporting event (92,003 fans is something we'll get to later). Nope, that's not it. It's COVID. I have it. For the first time. And I'm missing the Ole Miss home opener for it. But don't worry, I'll save my tears for kick-off where they will be a mix of happiness that COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK and sadness that I'm not there. And don't you cry for me either (Argentina), I'll be on my way to New Orleans next week to watch what I hope is our first (and not our only) road win of the year.
Since being a season ticket holder (not counting when my dad had one for me) I have only missed 1 other home game, not counting 2020. It was Texas A&M at Ole Miss in 2013. I was 3 weeks away from my wedding and I got shingles. Pretty sure shingles is worse than the COVID symptoms I'm experiencing but nonetheless I was heartbroken. Heck, I didn't even miss a home game for the wedding (thank you football gods for shining your scheduling blessings upon me). So if you hear loud sobs on Saturday around 1 p.m. central, just know it's me crying knowing I should be there but I can't. If only I could bring back my cutout from 2020 that was in the stands for home games...
Alright back to the real reason you're all here...Episode 6: E230. Thanks to my friend Tim's wife Ann for the title for this week's episode. You see, E230 is the nail color I get on my fingernails 99% of the time. It's the perfect shade of a powder blue and goes with all things Ole Miss. Just like a football team, a fan must always be ready. When Anna asked me what color it was I answered E230. Makes perfect sense right? Well, as you've learned so far my love of Ole Miss never sends. So in honor of COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEING BACK I decided to let my fandom show with the title. *You should all thank Anna otherwise the title of the episode was going to be OMG OMG OMG OMG COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK!!! (followed by some teenage level squeals!)*
First, we talk about the most important news of the week...a record setting crowd to watch a women's sporting event on Wednesday, August 29, 2023 at Memorial Stadium. 92,003 people watched two volleyball matches between Nebraska-Kearney vs. Wayne State followed by the main attraction of Nebraska vs. Omaha. Oh and a little encore by a country music artist named Scotty McCreary. But the point is 92,003 people bought tickets and filled the stadium to watch a women's sporting event!!!!!!! I have no words for how happy this makes me. Seriously. None.
Next, I get to the most wonderful time of the year which is COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEING BACK and I ramble on about my thoughts on the dark horses and who will win the B1G, Big 12 (XII), ACC, PAC 12 (RIP after 2023), and finally the best conference in the entire world, the SEC, SEC, SEC!!!!!
As far as playoffs go, I'm not ready to go there yet. It's too early and too many factors to take into account. I prefer to hedge my bets a little bit and take it slow to see who gets injured, who's coach will do something stupid, what mother nature decides to do and where College GameDay decides to show up (Katy Perry, I think a do over in Oxford on Sept. 30th would be fun!).
You can't talk about the first week of COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEING BACK and not mention the US Open. I know right, two very different sports but Americans sure do love the US Open! And we all love seeing the celebrities who show up in Flushing Meadows to cheer on the tennis stars in the last Grand Slam tourney of the year. It's also kinda fun when you have an up-and-coming celeb like Coco Gauff hitting her stride. Does she bring this era of American Women's tennis to the forefront? I guess we'll have to wait and see...
I guess that's all I've got for this week for the written word. If you've read this and haven't listened, what are you waiting for?! This is not a drill! You know what to do....sit back, relax, grab a drink or two (in your red solo cup!) and listen to The Staredown!!!!!! Hotty Toddy y'all!
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