Well ladies and gentlemen it’s that time of year again. It is the time of year for people to armchair Quarterback and coach. It is time of year for people to rejoice in upsets and agonize over narrow losses. It is the time of year for people to ditch social norms, at least for a day. But mostly it is the time for college football fans to rejoice because college football is back.

Fans will watch as new head coaches break in their schemes, as some coaches initiate total program rebuilds, as some coaches find immediate success with the players left behind by their predecessor. Some fans will watch as their team’s head coach (and his staff) gets canned and others will see their head coach earn a contract extension. 

Outside of the holiday season this is probably the most exciting time of year for college sports fans. As we get ready for the first kickoff of the 2012 (which South Carolina at Vanderbilt, 4:00 pm PST) the anticipation will grow and productivity [attention spans] will drop. Productivity will especially drop on the Palouse, especially in Pullman, especially with this author. 

I have eagerly been awaiting the kickoff of the Cougars at Cougars game ever sense the final whistle in the 2011 Apple Cup. Little did I know at that time that the upset over Arizona State had not saved Paul Wulff’s job; in fact I thought it had and as I watched the Cougs punt on 4^thand 17, with 3:17 left in the game, down 17 I was fuming at the very thought that Wulff was going to retain his job. Low and behold I was wrong and now I get to watch one of the most entertaining offenses with one of the most entertaining coaches in college football. 

But my Cougs aren’t the only ones breaking in a new coach this season. Four Pac-12 schools are also bringing in new coaches; Rich Rodriguez at Arizona, Jim Mora Jr. at UCLA, Todd Graham at Arizona State and Mike Leach at Washington State. These four coaches are four of 28 new coaches that joined the FBS ranks (the most in D1a history). 

There will be a lot of optimism this season and a lot of heartbreak. But by goodness the 2012 college football season is finally here and I am ready for it to get under way.

Oh by the way one more thing, Go Cougs, Beat BYU.