Gallons of sweat, a bit of blood, hours of pain, a few buckets of tears and tons of emotion have already been expended. But, it begins tonight.
For some of us old-timers, when the young men and women of "The Pride of Wildcat Land" brush the sweat from their eyes, straighten their tired spines, ignore the sunburns that have settled in over the past week and proudly enter Aggieville as the 2014 edition of the Big 12's best band to entertain hundreds of Wildcats, the new football season will begin. It's a right of passage, a benchmark if you will, that reveals the increasing, amped-up excitement of the Wildcat Nation and the approach of a gridiron season filled with limitless potential.
At K-State, we're rich in traditions, some popular and more than a few known only to the faithful. Tonight's gift from the KSUMB is one of the lesser-known. Later this week, Purple Power Play in the Park returns to Manhattan's City Park for a fan and community celebration that few other university communities can equal. Next Saturday, the lots will fill around the stadium and, as evening rolls over our heads, the cheers will rise as the 2014 kick-off goes into the books.
See, I love college football. In particular, I have long loved K-State even through the agonies in the pre-Snyder era. These two weeks, beginning tonight, hold a special place in my heart. The KSUMB blasting out our fight songs. Hundreds of old friends and acquaintances reuniting. A trip or two over the days ahead for some Call Hall ice cream. The rivalries. The chance to enjoy a beer or two with other old-timers. The gathering of the crowds. The roar in the stadium. The joy of competition - and victories.
It's my annual escape, and I hope you find joy and friendship and pride in these days, too. Enjoy, friends!
So it begins...
