Get out the 'ol college jersey and strike up the band because its Christmas time...in September. While most "traditionalists" wait until December, I am celebrating three-months early with a full slate of college games. It is time to find out if Notre Dame can rebuild, LSU can reload, Ohio State can recover and if Florida will repeat.

The first weekend in September means its time to begin unwrapping 8-months of anticipation, highlighted by the nightcap of Tennessee-Cal. It also means My TIVO is no longer setto record the Little League World Series and I can forgo my bizarre curiosity with the Giants-Nationals pivotal match-up.

My Christmas is not just one day, its months! Games and story lines born in the sunlight of summer, played against the backdrop of fall, with resolution matching the excitement of a new year.

The next fourteen weeks showcase competitive sports most intense regular season with each team understanding that it's win or go home. The only thing that is clear is which games deliver the inside track to the BCS Championship Game on January 7th in New Orleans.

October 6th could serve as the National Semifinals when #4 Texas and #8 Oklahoma renew their grudge match in Dallas and #3 Florida travels to Baton Rouge to play #2 LSU.

Thursday, November 8th means get home early from work to see if #6 West Virginia's high power offense can hold onto the ball and extract its revenge against #11 Louisville when they host the Cardinals in Morgantown.

Top-ranked USC's biggest game will take place each time the Trojans take the field over the next three-and-a-half months.

But always hiding behind the Christmas tree is a team we have completely overlooked. Whether their pre-season ranking is too much to overcome (2004 Auburn) or they are "David" in a world of "Goliaths" (2006 Boise State), I can guarantee there will be something that does not go according to plan.

The current system remains flawed and I am not sure my emotions can handle another case of the BCS "Gone Bad." My only hope is that 2007 brings us the gift of a championship match-up that is decided on the field and not at the polls. For now, I am going to look past this pessimistic reality because if Santa Clause can show up for me each year on the last weekend of summer, then anything can happen.

Say goodnight baseball and NASCAR; you are memories like a Club Med love-affair. I embrace the new season with open arms and passion even if it means waking up early to watch Colorado renew their rivalry with Colorado State. Or something like that...