Paul E. Anna: High Points

Beginning last night (anybody catch a Hawaii-University of Spoiled Children score?), football season has officially commenced. From here on out if someone says “Hike!”, they may not be talking about lacing up the shoes for a long walk. They may be getting ready to play the game.

I say “the game” because, let’s face it, in America football is the game. We can talk all we want about baseball being the national pastime or say that we like hoops or hockey best. But the reality is that the sport that gets people together, gets them to open a few beers and gets them to lay their money down is football.

Though I would like to bring you some results from last night’s openers, this column is put to bed long before the opening kickoff of the opening game. So if you want to know whether the Bulldogs beat the Gamecocks, or the Utes downed the Panthers, or the Thundering Herd upset the Buckeyes, I would suggest checking out Sport Center for the highlights. That is if you didn’t tune in live.

Tonight’s college football viewing options are a little spare unless you can get excited about Villanova traveling across town to take on Temple in Philadelphia’s version of the backyard brawl (you sick gambler you!).

But that means that you can see some pigskin action in person out at Aspen High School. That’s right – tonight at 7 p.m. under the twilight the Skiers open their season taking on mighty Moffat County. The Skiers were spectacular last season and there may be no better way to show your school spirit than to take in a high school football game. Fall is the air, so grab a sweater and show your support.

And besides, the real action on the tube doesn’t kick in until Saturday. But what a Saturday it is. For Colorado residents, the big game is CU vs. CSU at Invesco Field at noon. Bragging rights for the state are on the line and it will be interesting to see how many tackles that Goldberg kid can make. The day’s most compelling game, especially if you are from Shreveport or Baton Rouge, may be LSU taking on North Carolina in the Georgia Dome. You can catch that one on ABC in primetime.

As this is a holiday weekend, there are college games on both Sunday and Monday nights as well. And if you don’t have tickets to the Labor Day music you can catch a big game on ESPN on Monday when Boise State takes on Virginia Tech in the Washington Redskins’ stadium, Fed Ex Field.

Of course the big boys of the NFL don’t begin their season until Thursday night. The New Orleans Saints open their title defense against the Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre in a rematch of one of the great playoff games ever. I would suggest bellying up below the big screen at Belly Up for that one on NBC.

Yes, it’s cooled off some. The leaves are beginning to turn. The streets are emptying out. And football season is here.

Can ski season be far behind?