With apologies to Santa Claus and the classic Christmas crooner Andy Williams, but this is the most wonderful time of the year.
Football season is finally here!
Come on, everybody, sing along:
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
Put the mower away and grab a cold beer.
Frosty’s back in Orlando, so Knight fans can cheer.
Will the ‘Canes win the ACC — is this finally the year?!
And Napier’s Gators are rolling, and they have no fear.
What? Gus Malzahn’s at FSU? — Oh my dear!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”
I know, I know, the heat and humidity haven’t gone anywhere. The calendar says late August, but in Florida, that doesn’t mean fall. It means football. And in this state, that word means more than a game. It’s a promise, a ritual, an unfading faith — one that comes roaring back with the first clash of high school helmets under Friday night lights and the rivalry and revelry when the big boys take the field on Saturday and Sunday.
Yes, football season is back in Florida. And with it comes the familiar rush of hope, hype, and — yes — heartbreak.
Across our Pigskin Peninsula, fans are dusting off their Tim Tebow and Dan Marino jerseys and convincing themselves — perhaps irrationally — that THIS is the year their team returns to the glory days. It’s a Sunshine State ritual, even when recent history offers little reason for optimism.
Let’s be honest: Florida’s football royalty has seen better days. The Gators, Seminoles, Hurricanes, Knights, Dolphins, Jaguars, and Bucs have all had their share of frustrations in recent years. Seasons have ended with more “what ifs” than “we did its.” Coaches have come and gone, draft picks and recruiting classes have boomed and busted, and playoff dreams have evaporated faster than an afternoon thunderstorm on…
Source link : https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/23/gators-fsu-ucf-canes-jaguars-bucs-dolphins-mike-bianchi-commentary/
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Publish date : 2025-08-24 09:30:00
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