Normally, I try to keep philosophy, sociology, or anything else this might be considered, out of the blog. The blog is for talking football, not discussing how important, interesting, or relevant things are in life. But driving back to New Jersey after having dropped by sister off at a summer camp in some town in Up-State New York that seemed far enough away to be in Manitoba, I had this thought about Rutgers players reporting to training camp: Covering and talking about college sports is a coping mechanism for the reality that I'm entering my second school year as a former college student and a current citizen of the real world. 

Almost every sports fan I know is the same way -- if you can't be in college, you might as well re-live vicariously through athletes who still are and the students who flock the stadiums, gyms and arenas to watch them. I know people in their 80s who are the same way, and were he still with us, my grandfather -- a gangly backup center on a couple of Rutgers basketball teams in the mid-30s -- would marvel at the relevance of his alma matter. That's a feeling I'm sure countless RU grads have. It's a feeling to which alumns of schools throughout the country can relate, and -- here's the key line in my thesis -- it's one that can't be replicated by professional sports. 

That's why I'm so excited for football season, and that's why on SOME level, I feel like I'm wrapping up a long, fun, but relatively boring summer and going back to school, where things are busy and exciting. And that's why, with all due respect to the Trenton Thunder, I feel like I'm about to completely wake up from a long summer sports nap. 

Finally, school (or at least some aspect of it) is back in session. We can, barring developments that I frankly don't expect to happen, forget about contract lingo and start focusing on who's going to start at strong-side linebacker, how Rutgers matches up with Fresno State (less than a month away!) and whether or not it's possible Syracuse will actually win a game in the Big East. (Last year I made a bet with a co-worker who I thought was an insane 'Cuse grad that the Orange wouldn't, and lost the bet when Louisville laid an egg in late September.) 

We can put Manny being Manny (hope he doesn't fall asleep at the beach and miss a game in September against the D-Backs) behind us, throw some dogs and burgers on the grill and tailgate.  Because college sports junkies throughout the country are most certainly ready for some football.