The title is dramatic, but so am I.

After months of suffering, we’ve finally endured the last football-less weekend until 2025, and I am rejoicing.

Sadly, my alma matter, The University of North Alabama, lost to Southeast Missouri State University in the FCS Kickoff during week zero. But we also got to see a thrilling victory from Georgia Tech against Florida State in Ireland of all places.

The true hype returns this Labor Day weekend, and it kicks off more than just college football. It kickstarts an entire season of JOY that includes Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmastime and New Years.

Football in the South is a way of life. The football haters (god bless you)… they don’t understand that it’s more than a sport you watch on TV.

It’s the point around which Southern culture orbits until January. Small talk that had revolved around how unbearably hot it’s been all summer (this week’s heat wave makes me want to cry) can peacefully transition to football season: How’s it going for your team? Or (better!) how badly it’s going for a team you hate!

Everything about football season makes me happy. As a kid, I always knew where my parents were on Saturdays: in the basement watching the game.

Our basement is covered in Alabama memorabilia including framed newspaper articles from notable wins which makes the former reporter in me smile.

For a long time, my parents had a ratty pillow that they duct taped back together because they thought it was lucky. (They threw it out after a bad season several years ago).

My mom will head upstairs to watch the game if Alabama plays badly, and she’ll stomp on the ground in celebration when they score. We could always hear my dad yelling from the basement, footsteps thundering on the stairs, coming up to celebrate.

That routine has remained unchanged even now that I’m hours away from home. Football makes me think of my family, and I love that about it.

But I also I love tailgating. I love beer. I love the hype on a cool, Saturday morning and knowing exactly the routine my day will entail. I love the raw, unfettered emotion on public display from 60,000 people with which I share at least one thing in common. I love the fight songs, chants and live bands. I love the Dr. Pepper Fansville commercials!

The silliness of Fansville captures the season’s spirit so well. Gleefully hating your rivals is one of the best parts of the whole college football experience.

It makes everything that much more fun. My Georgia/Tennessee/Auburn/LSU fans know how much I love them, but that I also love to watch their teams absolutely eat it. I know, I know, the feeling is mutual, but even though I hate your team: I love you! And I’m delighted that we can connect and share something we all love so passionately.

And that’s really what it’s all about, isn’t it?