For Emporia resident Ron Carlson, today is a little different from most other days.
He can already smell the grills being fired up, see the flags flying high and hear the pop of the pads.
It’s football season.
“A fall Friday or Saturday and football, it doesn’t get much better. It is the real deal,” Carlson said. “I’m fired up for the season.”
Carlson has been attending both Emporia High and Emporia State football games since he moved to Emporia in 1980.
Since then, he has taken full advantage of living in a town that has high school and college football so readily available each fall.
“The feel of high school is that you kind of know the kids. They might be the kids down the street from you,” Carlson said. “The college kids you don’t know as well, but it’s a higher level of football, so that makes it enjoyable.”
The season gets underway tonight when Emporia High takes on Blue Valley West at Welch Stadium in each school’s season opener.
The Spartans, coming off a 1-8 season a year ago, hope to make a statement in tonight’s game.
“(A win) gets us off on the right step. We haven’t had a home win in about two years,” Emporia High safety Robert Keisler said. “I think if we win (tonight), it’ll be a big mental boost.”
For another Emporia resident, John Harding, the start of football season is a little bittersweet this year.
Harding is a professed lover of all things football and has been going to the games in Emporia for nearly 40 years, but recent surgery will prevent Harding from getting out to the games as much this year.
“I’m always happy about the start of football, but this fall, I don’t know how much football I’m going to be able to see because I just had hip surgery a couple weeks ago,” Harding said. “and I don’t know that I’ll be able to make very many of the games.
“I’m still on crutches and I don’t want to get over there around the crowd and all the people until I can walk a little better.”
On the college side, unless fans are willing to make the seven-hour drive to Goodwell, Okla., they’ll have to wait a week to see what the season holds for Emporia State.
The Hornets begin their season on the road at Oklahoma Panhandle State with hopes of improving off last year’s 4-6 record.
For the fans who can’t make it to the games, the Emporia High game tonight will be on the radio on KVOE 1400AM. Emporia State’s game on Saturday will be on KFFX 104.9FM.
“I think both teams are going to be much-improved,” Carlson said. “I enjoy both Emporia High and Emporia State equally, and I’m excited to see both play.”