After nine long months, the day has finally come: it’s football season. Get your game face on.

Coach Paul Rhoads and the gang have invested an enormous amount of time and energy getting ready for what’s sure to be a grueling season. Guys, win or lose, we’re pulling for you, and we’re not alone.

Saying this year’s schedule is a difficult one is like saying it’s difficult to flap your arms and fly to the moon. We have four games against top 10 programs this year, and three of those are road games.

Phil Steele, sports writer for the Orlando Sentinel and member of 11 different college football awards committees, has bestowed us the honor of having the most difficult schedule, as has bleacherreport.com, and bcsevolution.com.

They aren’t kidding, and we still don’t care.

Iowa State has the smallest athletics budget in the Big 12, and Austen Arnaud has played for three different coaches during his tenure here.

Doesn’t matter.

The truth is, we can lose every game this year and Cyclone Nation won’t lose any sleep. Rhoads would, of course, but we’re still inclined to think he’s done a fantastic job with what he was handed. His team beat Nebraska, at Nebraska, and that makes him a hero in our book. We’re pretty sure he’s hiding a red-and-yellow S under his polo shirts.

We could go on and on about how fired up the players are, how well they’ve adjusted to the new offense, how anyone over 5 feet 9 inches and 225 pounds should probably take a stab at walking on at linebacker — but that’s a job for the sports section. We aren’t going to do that.

You, dear reader, should you choose not to attend Thursday’s game, are going to miss out on one hell of a party. By attend, we mean show up anywhere within a mile of Jack Trice.

What you will see, smell, and hear all throughout the parking lots surrounding Jack Trice is the sweet, sweet sound of thousands of grills sizzling with grade-A, home-grown, Iowa pork, beef, and brats. Chances are, you know someone’s parents who snagged a cushy spot to tailgate — take advantage of this. Eat until you’re about to burst. Tell your friend’s mom how awesome her potato salad is. Play catch with his or her siblings. Free food is always good food.

If you’re looking for the party, you’ll want to head over to the student tailgate lot. It’s an experience.

Imagine if the State Fair was full of college students all proudly sporting Iowa State colors, right across from Reiman Gardens and smelled just slightly better — that’s where the fun will be.

Now, for you freshmen, a word of caution: There will be plenty of babysitting on hand, so if you do anything stupid, you’re probably going to the drunk tank, and that’s all the way over in Nevada. The fine for being a minor in possession of alcohol is in the neighborhood of $350 — so stick to soda. Oh, and learn the words to the fight song.

Rest assured, bags, horseshoes, Polish horseshoes, flippy cup, ladder golf and beer pong will be everywhere, as will the police. If you’re not doing anything wrong, don’t be afraid to be friendly; they’re enjoying the game, too. We’ve even seen them join in on the aforementioned games on more than one occasion — sans alcohol, of course.

There are seven home games this year, and all but the last two should have fantastic weather.

When they say “Enjoy Your Adventure,” this is exactly what they were talking about.

Get your homework done, get your game face on and go support Cyclone football.