Tis' the season for football

Column published in last week's Football Preview in the Madison County Journal. www.mainstreetnews.com

As football season approaches, I have begun the process of upgrading my dish service to a package that contains ESPN. You know how that works if you use a dish for television. You must upgrade to a certain package of channels, most stations that you probably don’t care about, in order to get any of the ESPN channels. I must subscribe to a more expensive channel package if I want to see college football on the tube. So Tis’ the season to be jolly and despite having to pay extra money for a dish package, I hope I’ll be one jolly person at the end of the season.

Expectations are high anytime a new football season starts no matter if it’s on the high school, college, or professional level. As for my loyalty to my home state of South Carolina, I have high expectations for my orange and purple Tigers of Clemson. Winning the Atlantic Coast Conference championship last season has moved my usual “Just be happy for a winning season” expectation to even a higher level this year. I have to be greedy now. No longer will I settle for just a winning season and any kind of bowl appearance; I want more including another ACC title. I have placed last season’s embarrassing 70-33 Orange Bowl loss to West Virginia behind me, but now I still cringe every time I hear John Denver’s “Almost Heaven-West Virginia” song.

The Georgia Bulldogs enter the season ranked number 6 and will be without Isaiah Crowell who punched his ticket out of U.G.A. this summer. My Georgia friends will probably have every reason to enter the new season with very high expectations especially with a very favorable and easy Southeastern Conference Schedule.

For Red Raider football fans who are gearing up for the start of Madison County football; it Tis’ our season to be jolly. Right around the corner is the 2012 Red Raider football campaign that will feature some new kids on the block in region 8-AAAA. The new kids on the block in region 8-AAAA consist of Lanier, Eastside, Lumpkin County, Stephens County, Monroe Area, Walnut Grove, and Chestatee. A border war match-up with non-region foe Franklin County has been added to the calendar and this time around we don’t have to worry about our friends from Athens; Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central. It was 2007 when Madison County faced and beat Franklin County 23-6 in the final meeting of the rivalry. Dating back to 2002 when Madison County and Franklin County re-started the rivalry, the Raiders have rolled off five straight wins over the Lions.

Madison County opens the 2012 season in a non-region matchup with another old rival (8-AAA) Oconee County. The Raiders and Warriors haven’t faced each other in over 10 years.

A revamped region 8-AAAA, a new Head Coach at Madison County and a stadium that should be full of excitement when the Public Address Announcer voices that old familiar saying of “And here comes the Raiders” is plenty enough to make you jolly.

New head coach Chris Smith, a 1992 graduate of Madison County High School, led the Raiders to a 7-3 record in his senior season. Smith recalls Friday nights when Raider Stadium was packed and filled with excitement during his final season. Smith and his Raiders hope to see that same type of atmosphere this season. It’s time to be loud and proud for Red Raider football. Win or lose, the players and coaches have worked hard and deserve our respect and support.

We enter the 2012 season with high expectations and excitement and we should. It’s a brand new season starting all over again with a 0-0 record and a new group of region foes in the mix. But as we enter the new season, we should also remember the old saying that “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” High expectations should include a level of patience. Patience for Smith and his staff to get things rolling with what will be a brand new game plan on both sides of the ball. Enter the 12^th man; the fans. Winning is fun and we all hate to lose, but what makes times of losing more painful to endure for the guys on the field is when they look into the stands and see empty seats. If it’s a fast start or slow start for these boys, Raider Stadium should be packed and rocking on Friday nights.

Tis’ the season, football is here, so be jolly and supportive; win or lose.