Fall Is Here ... Maybe

TigerBlog used to know what day was the first day of fall, winter, spring and summer.

Then, over time, all that faded away.

Is it the 20th? 21st? 22nd?

Actually, TB heard on the radio that fall starts tomorrow, which is the 22nd, at 10:46 am. He actually was surprised to hear that.

There's a part of "The Great Gatsby" where one of the characters is talking about how she always looks forward to the longest day of the year and then forgets about it when it actually happens. TB is pretty sure the scene is meant to show how devoid of any sort of depth that particular woman is.

The longest day of the year around here (actually, all days are the same length; she was referring to the day it stays lightest out the longest) has sunlight til after 9 pm. Sunset today is at 6:56.

TB loves discussions of what is somebody's favorite season. TB doesn't really have a favorite per se, as each season has its very strong points.

He does know that he loves this time of year, the late summer/early fall and on through Halloween and Thanksgiving, the two greatest holidays of them all.

Spring is supposed to be the time of rebirth and rejuvenation, after the long winter. TB sees it the other way.

TB's world goes something like this: Spring is for lacrosse, and June and July are for summer lacrosse. August and early September are for baking in 90-100 degree heat and humidity.

By the time mid-September rolls around, the weather starts to cool and the humidity starts to drop, and the result is this current two-week stretch of weather that has featured one rainy day and 13 of the most perfect weather days of all time.

That's as rejuvenating as going from the cold winter into the rising temperatures of spring, at least to TigerBlog.

The beneficiaries of this weather are the people who are planning to come to Princeton tonight.

The Princeton Invitational men's soccer event begins this evening, as Penn takes on FDU (5:00) and Princeton then hosts Rider (7:30). It'll be Penn-Rider (noon) and Princeton-FDU Sunday (2:30).

Admission is free.

Men's soccer coach Jim Barlow was here earlier this morning, and TB pointed out that if the game tonight comes down to which coach is better at imitating people, then Princeton has no chance. Rider coach Charlie Inverso - who had a great three-decade career at Mercer County Community College - is as good an impersonator as TB has ever heard, maybe short of Rich Little and Andrew Dice Clay.

Unfortunately, the football game was moved to Friday night for ESPNU, which means it goes on at the same time as the men's soccer event, something TB never likes to see here.

Princeton hosts Georgetown at 7 in the first meeting between the schools since 1925.

The Tigers are 0-1 after a close 17-14 loss to Lehigh last week. Georgetown is 2-1, its loss a 24-21 decision to Yale last Saturday as well.

Princeton is looking for improvement from Week 1 to Week 2, but more than that, the Tigers are looking for a win. Beating Georgetown would be a big step for many reasons, including:
* showing measurable improvement
* evening the record
* having a win to build on heading into the league season
* getting a win over a quality opponent

TB is interested in what happens on the field obviously. He was also interested in what the weather would be.

Last year's home football schedule was five games. It rained for three and snowed for one.

Tonight will be perfect weather, temperature in the mid-60s at kickoff.

After last year, that's already a win.