It's a pretty clear message on the Ball State University's athletics department Web site.
Located on the home page in the right-hand column is a box counting down every second to the Ball State football team's season opener against the University of North Texas on Sept. 3 at Schuemann Stadium.
The countdown is still a long way from reaching zero - about 59 days and change. After having the most successful season in program history last year, though, there is a reason for the university and Ball State fans to get excited about the upcoming football season being less than two months away.
The Cardinals finished the 2008 regular season undefeated and were ranked as high as No. 12 in the BCS standings - not only their highest ranking in program history, but the first season they were ever ranked in the top 25. As memorable as the regular season was, Ball State's postseason was less than memorable - being upset by the University at Buffalo in the conference championship game and having a 32-point loss to the University of Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl.
Having a perfect regular season like it did last year will be difficult for this year's team with a new coaching staff, new starting quarterback and new starters in almost every offensive position.
It's a different team from last year, but there is a reason to be optimistic.
Running back MiQuale Lewis returns after setting the single-season school record for most rushing yards and touchdowns last season. He also averaged 5.4 yards per carry - the third highest average in the nation for anyone with more than 300 carries.
Redshirt freshman Kelly Paige will most likely be the starting quarterback, replacing Nate Davis who left before his senior season to enter this year's NFL Draft. Paige, a top 15 ranked high school senior quarterback by ESPN.com in 2008, may not be able to consistently put up 30 points per game this season like Davis did in 2008, but he is the quarterback of the future for this program.
The defense also returns seven starters including freshman All-American safety Sean Baker and All-Mid-American Conference defensive end Brandon Crawford and safety Alex Knipp.
This is a team rebuilding in some areas, but it is a rebuilding team with a chance to be successful with its schedule.
Of Ball State's four non-conference games this year, New Hampshire -¡- a Football Championship Subdivision team - finished with the best record last season at 10-3. It also was No. 8 in the final FCS poll and will play Ball State Sept. 12 at Schuemann Stadium.
North Texas finished last season 1-11, and Army - which the Cardinals will play on the road Sept. 19 - lost its last four games to end the season at 4-9.
The most challenging game Ball State has in the non-conference season will be when it travels to play Auburn University on Sept. 26. With the Cardinals receiving $800,000 from the Tigers for this road game, though, it is a game well worth playing even if just for the financial reasons.
In the conference play this year, Ball State most likely will not be the favorite to win the championship. Central Michigan University and Western Michigan University have NFL caliber quarterbacks returning for this season and should be the top two teams competing for the MAC West Division title.
For Ball State, though, making its third consecutive bowl appearance is a possibility entering this season.
Regardless of what the team does this year, Ball State fans should start getting excited for the upcoming season. The expectations have been raised after last season's performance, and that applies to both Cardinal players and fans.
If the worst happens this season, some fans can return to their typical gameday norms of going tailgating and then not going into the stadium for the game. However, until that happens start preparing to give this team the support it deserves after a record-setting 2008 season.
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