It’s hard to believe that college football will be here in just over a month.

Not that I’m complaining.

I live for college football. The reason I got into the newspaper business is because of Sports and in particular football.

But it seems like the college football season just ended a few weeks ago. And now here we are, staring the first weekend in September in the face and a nationally televised Labor Day game for Ole Miss.

And the expectations for the Rebels couldn’t be much higher entering the season. But how do you top a year that included a second straight win over Alabama, another Egg Bowl triumph over Mississippi State and culminated in a Sugar Bowl victory?

It won’t be easy and granted there are plenty of star players from a year ago who must be replaced, but head coach Hugh Freeze has proven during his tenure in Oxford that he can find the players to keep the football program headed in the right direction.

The Rebels have experienced success the likes of which has not been seen since the days of Archie Manning, but it has not come without some bumps in the road.

I guess when climbing the mountain, there will be times when you slip, stumble or others try to knock you off.

Allegations of NCAA rule violations during the unprecedented success have surfaced during Freeze’s tenure, but I for one believe in the head coach who has been ridiculed by many in the national media and rivals for his faith and his ability to recruit young men to come to Oxford. The believe in his message and I do also.

Freeze’s positive message resonates with a lot of people, including young men who play football.

I felt it too a year ago.

The 2015 football season was my first in Oxford and experiencing all that is “Rebel Nation” was incredible. The atmosphere in the Grove on game day was unbelievable and seeing the players pass through the Walk of Champions was amazing.

And after watching the Rebels roll over Oklahoma State in the Superdome, I was pumped for the 2016 season to get underway.

The Rebels will look much different than they did in 2015, but with a gunslinger like Chad Kelly calling the signals, anything can happen and likely will.

It all begins with the primetime season opener on Labor Day against Florida State in Orlando, Florida.

Are. You. Ready?

Rob Sigler is managing editor of The Oxford EAGLE. Contact him at rob.sigler@oxfordeagle.com.