My favorite time of year has finally arrived.

No, I’m not talking about hurricane season. It’s time to spend Saturdays  — preferably nights — in Tiger Stadium cheering on my favorite football team.

When last Saturday’s game against Washington finally arrived, I was more than ready. It had been a long wait since quarterback and local product Jordan Jefferson won his way into the LSU starting lineup and helped the Tigers dismantle Georgia Tech, 38-3, in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The national champion baseball team, of course, played into the summer and helped pass the time, but the month that followed before the Tiger football team reported for fall camp was a bit too long.

Radio talk show hosts and callers have dissected last week’s game over and over this week, but bottom line is LSU is 1-0. In the grand scheme of things, that is what will be remembered.

I had hoped last week we’d see the “Wild Tiger” formation with freshman Russell Shepard taking some snaps and driving the opposing defense crazy, but that didn’t happen. Maybe he’ll get his chance this week.

I was hoping the defense would totally dominate the line of scrimmage, and maybe they’ve made necessary adjustments and will be up to expectations tonight.

Regardless, I’m ready.

I don’t remember my first trip to Tiger Stadium. I was a small child and probably wanted to spend most of my time climbing the steps and going to the concession stand and the bathroom. And while I can’t remember my first game, I also can’t remember a year that my family didn’t go to Baton Rouge.

We were a south end zone family when I was young. About 25 years ago we became a north end zone family. And by family, I’m talking about section 238. If not all of it, then for sure rows six through 11.

We’ve been there together for years. Some new faces come and go, but really, few tickets in the area have changed hands. We’ve seen children grow up, go to college, get married. And now they have children who are “in the family.”

Heck, I grew up, got married and had a child. And these days my 9-year-old daughter wouldn’t miss a game. If she does, everyone “in the family” notices.

Tonight’s game may be a hot one, even a wet one. But we’ll be there early, nonetheless, visiting with friends, catching the Tiger Athletic Foundation pregame pep rally, watching the parade (as daughter Cassidy calls it) and getting together with our Tiger Stadium family once again.

I can’t wait!

Sandy Cunningham is publisher of L’Observateur. She can be reached at sandy.cunningham@wickcommunications.com.