Summer is certainly an exciting time for college students throughout the country.
Whether students are taking vacations to exotic locations, studying abroad, getting internships or just spending lazy days with their friends back home, the summer is always a welcome relief from the stresses of the school year.
As a kid, there was no question that the summer was my favorite time of the year. While summer is still great fun, the two years spent at this University have taught me one important thing about the seasons: No other time of the year can compete with the fall in Auburn.
The dreariness of the spring semester and the sweltering summer semesters pale in comparison to the excitement and atmosphere on campus during the fall semester.
It goes without saying that football season brings a lot of energy to Auburn's campus.
But, looking past the football side of it, the atmosphere on football Saturday in Auburn is something a 500-word column just can't do justice. You have to be here to experience it.
What other time of the year does a minimum of 100,000 people descend upon this small town all for the same reason?
Have you ever experienced every sidewalk within a 2-mile radius of campus completely blocked by parked cars other than on a game day?
For those rowdy fans enjoying their pre-game tailgates, authorities are more lenient than usual to our shenanigans on game days.
I mean, when else will you have the opportunity to down a beer in front of the Student Center or enjoy a cigarette on our newly "Smoke-Free" campus?
As last year showed us, Auburn football can have its worst season in 60 years, and we'll still be voted the best tailgating school in the nation by Yahoo.
Tailgating is a major reason why fall is the best season in Auburn, but it's just a start.
Whether you're making that slightly tipsy walk to an 8 a.m., or simply enjoying lunch out on the green, the weather in Auburn is never better than during the fall.
On those days when the temperature lows are in the mid-'50s, and the highs just break into the '70s, the struggle to dress for the temperature becomes irrelevant.
You can dress however you choose and know that you'll be comfortable.
The cool weather also is an excuse to indulge in whatever hot coffee drink you prefer. Auburn's abundance of quality coffee shops makes certain that you'll never run out of new drinks to try.
For those who prefer a night in with friends, the cool weather makes bonfires, camping or hanging out on someone's front porch as a chill way to spend the night.
Then there's partying.
Not that anybody needed an excuse to party, but with Halloween, fall concerts and game days approaching, the fall festivities in Auburn are sure to be excellent as always.
As students get settled into their fall schedules and those dog days of August mercifully pass, one can't help but look ahead to the upcoming fall season with eagerness and excitement.
The best season is upon us yet again.
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