The football year started out with what seemed like promise, but fizzled out with what seemed more like the waning efferevesence of flat ginger ale, and that's no real fizzle at all. To that all I can say is, well, there's always next year.

Tailgates are always fun because they come before the game. Enough said.

I could be talking about the football game, though today's game against Indiana left much to be desired, and may prove to be a real harbinger of doom (especially if, as it looks, Forcier is nursing an injured throwing arm), we can actually add it as another W on our schedule.  It was a dismal reminder, though, that we are relying on the courage and convictions of a freshman quarterback or two.

It does not, however, take a winning game to enjoy a fantastic pregame party, and this was one of my favorites.  At least once a season we rock the tailgate world with a full on made to order breakfast buffet, with eggs (plain, scrambled, or omelet? And would you like green pepper, mushrooms, or onion on that?  And what kind of cheese?), pancakes (would that be blueberry, chocolate chip, or plain?), bread (feel free to use the toaster, and help yourself to butter or homemade jam), and, of course, the usual sides of fresh fruit, sausage, bacon, cheese, crackers, taco dip, and chips, not to mention mimosas, beer, and wine (those are not all breakfast foods, you say?  Not a standard breakfast, maybe, but this is a tailgate, after all).  This is by far my favorite tailgate of the season, and as I walked back from the game I pitied all the people who were cleaning up the pizza or sub boxes from their own pregame revelries.  We love our tailgating crowd!  But alas, we've been spoiled for all other tailgating experiences.

At the tailgate on Saturday Calvin decided it was time that he learned to use my good camera, and, because he's always so careful with his own things, we let him have a go at it.  The first picture came from my dad's iPhone, the rest are entirely Calvin's doing.  In other news, holy moly we're beginning the season with a 3-0 record, and that's great news!

...and Go Blue!  Both last week, then again, and especially, this week, have brought back to Michigan fans that once familiar enjoyment of watching a good football game.  There are still improvements to be made, but that just adds to the air of excitement.  We wouldn't want the season to be boring, would we?  Go blue.