Are You Ready For Some Football?

It's here.

The season doesn't open for another three weeks, but football officially arrived at UCO Thursday, Aug. 11, with the start of practice. More than 100 players reported to campus Tuesday, with Wednesday spent on physicals, equipment check-out and meetings before Thursday morning's first workout.

The Bronchos have plenty of returning players eager to make amends for last year's 2-9 record that included a number of heart-breaking losses -- including two by one point in overtime -- and voluntary summer workouts were well attended. Also in the mix is a huge group of newcomers, which includes a freshman class the coaching staff raves about and several transfers who are expected to have an impact.

Three weeks isn't a lot of time to get ready for the first game, especially when that opener is at long-time Division II powerhouse North Alabama. A brutally long bus trip to take on a returning national playoff team with a large volume of Division I transfers in the lineup will certainly test the Bronchos right off the bat, but that's just one of many challenges UCO will face this fall.

Four straight road games to open the season also won't be much fun, with the Bronchos not making their home debut until the Oct. 1 Homecoming contest against East Central. And that home opener is followed by a long trip to California to face a tough Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) team in Cal Poly.

But all those obstacles are still a ways away. Right now, coaches and players are just excited to be back on the football field.