So What Now? (Casey)

So now that the Super Bowl has come and gone and of course College Football ended the first of January we as football fans are left with this question, WHAT NOW? Well lets not worry our heads, these days football is never really over. In fact it seems like with the NFL Network and all that you can get, your football fix can always be met. There is also a few events that keep Football alive, they are the chips and salsa before the meal, or the rolls that satisfy the small hunger before you dive into the steak, or the previews before the movie starts.

1. First to keep your Football Hunger alive for college football you get the NLI or National Signing day the first Wednesday of Febrary. This is were high school atheletes sign there commitment to the University that they want to go to school and play football for for the next 4 or 5 years. Now days with websites like Rivals.com and Scout.com and ESPN.com it is pretty easy for fans to check out who is comming to play for your school.
2. Next for the NFL after the Super Bowl you get the NFL Combine which will be taking place on February 22-28 in Indianapolis. This is where some of the top College atheletes who are trying to go pro are invited to show there strength, speed, and knowledge of the game.
3. Following the Combine is the begining of Spring Ball for College Football. Spring Ball usually starts sometime the first of March and is the first time the players and coaches can get on the Football field together and begin to form there teams.
4. Next up for the NFL is the NFL Draft which takes place on April 26-28. There is not much to say about this but I do admit I watch the draft and I write down all the picks and where they are from, for at least the 1st two rounds.
5. Following the draft is where things get a little slow for a while but fear not because Its summer and there is plenty of things you can do during the summer to fill this void.
6. Then when you think all is lost College and Pro football fall camps begin in July/August as well as the NFL Hall of Fame Game and Pre-Season on August 4th. Now I know its the Pre-season and all but in my book its football and one thing that I enjoy doing in the Pre-season is I look up team rosters and write down the players names, numbers, and positions they play of all the local talent from the state and follow them and see how they preform.

Now College Football usually begins its season right after that and here in state is no different. Here are the local teams first games and dates:

• BYU begins its 2012 season against Washington St at Lavell Edwards Stadium on Sept 1st
• Utah begins its 2012 season against Northern Colorado at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Aug 30th
• Utah State begins its 2012 season against Southern Utah at Romney Stadium on Sept 1st
• Weber State begins its 2012 season against Fresno State at Bulldog Stadium on Sept 1st

So fear not football fans before you know it we will have our beloved sport back and we can plant ourselves on our couches again and bask in the glory that is football. But until then let us all wet our palets with all the little things that go on till then. Enjoy the offseason!