Tonight the University of Utah football team will begin its season at home against the Utah State Aggies. For die-hard U football fans young and old, this has been a much-anticipated event. There are many reasons for the fans to be excited about tonight’s game, although one need not be a die hard fan to be participate in the excitement.

As many people know, the U will be led by a new head coach, Urban Meyer. Meyer brings with him many qualities that are sure to produce a winning tradition.

Meyer has brought a new sense of discipline to the football program, as well as a highly touted new offensive scheme. Many have also been impressed by the fact that Meyer has been refreshingly frank in discussing his hopes and aspirations for the program. The new program seems legit.

The bottom line is that fans and spectators alike can expect to watch a high-quality football program emerge from the U. Yes, one can expect to find more points on the U side of the scoreboard, as a cutting-edge offensive scheme replaces the archaic offense run last year. But the legitimacy of the program does not end with coach Meyer or his offensive strategy.

Beginning this year, there will be a tailgating party before every home game (with the exception of the game versus California, when the party will be after the game). This week’s party begins at 4 p.m. and will be held downtown at the Gallivan Center. The party will include music from local bands, food, giveaways for tickets and T shirts, and a whole lot of fun. There will also be additional TRAX trains running from downtown to the stadium in order to help alleviate the headache of parking.

Those who attend the game will also notice the new $1.6 million video wall installed at the south end of the stadium. The new video wall completes the renovations that have transformed Rice-Eccles Stadium into one of the premier football stadiums in the nation.

Of course all of the hoopla and rhetoric will come to a screeching halt if it turns out that the football team is not very good. But as all of these positive elements come together, as it seems they will, U football could be on the verge of greatness. In the final analysis, it is important for the fans to know that they play an integral part of the team’s success. We can either assume the role of judge and jury and wait for a winning product-or we can be the final element in the start of a winning football tradition. Hopefully, we will choose the latter.

All in all it seems that many will have the opportunity to be part of a real college football experience. There have been substantial changes to the football program, and they all seem to be for the better.

The point of all this is not to add The Chronicle’s voice to the chorus of ad campaigns for the football team. The point is that there is a new feel surrounding U football. The program has a new sense of legitimacy and tradition. It is a program that the community can feel like it is part of, a program where at the end of games the players and student body join in singing the fight song, a program that will bring a sense of pride and unity to both students and members of the greater community. To put it simply…a college football program.