9:30 AM. I walk out into my residence hall lounge — silence. Friday was, as you’d expect on a college campus, a wild night for most of my floormates, so no one is awake. I turn on College Gameday and get ready for what should be a somewhat relaxing day of football.
As time passes, friends start to fill the lounge, as they want to keep me company during the game, which I appreciate greatly. This is the first home opener I’ve missed since 2006, so having friends around to fill the void made it a bit easier.