Regardless of opponent, season openers are worth savoring

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

After an always arduous offseason, Texas A&M football is officially just one day away now, as the Aggies gear up to face Missouri State at 6 p.m. on Saturday night at Kyle Field. And no, the Bears not striking fear into the hearts of many Aggie fans. They are in just their second season as an FBS program, they’re playing their first game under a new coach, they’re 128th nationally in returning production, they have never beaten a P4 opponent, and the Aggies are favored by 40.5 points, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

By any measure, this is not a game Texas A&M stands to lose. The result is written before the game has even begun. Based on that, it would be easy to write this game off as not all that important, and look ahead to what lies head on the calendar. But on that point, you would be wrong. Let me count the way.

• There are still things to be gleaned. Even against inferior teams, strengths and weaknesses can become apparent. Is Marcel Reed’s passing crisp? Did the receivers look dynamic? Was the defensive line stuffing the run and creating consistent pressure? Did we win the turnover battle? Even if the win/loss result is a foregone conclusion, there are often aspects of a team (both good and bad) that immediately jump off the screen in game one.
• Enjoy all the other trappings of a college football gameday. If you are in College Station, that may mean Midnight Yell or a tailgate (refer to our guide to Texas A&M football gameday in College Station for more details there). If you’re at home, maybe it’s College Gameday and prepping your favorite gameday cuisine. Either way, well all have our rituals associated with college football that extend far beyond just the game itself. Getting to do those for the first time in quite a while is a reward unto itself.
• An Aggie football is good Aggie football. Ultimately we’re only guaranteed 12 of these things each year, and this is the first one we’ve gotten in nearly nine months. No matter who the opponent, football simply being back is enough. Even the worst day spent watching Texas A&M play football is better than the best day not watching it (I reserve the right to retract this statement when we suffer our first loss). Cherish it.

I leave you with an opening weekend haiku:

The Ags are playing.
That alone should be enough.
Let’s go 1-0.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos