In addition to the Fourth of July being Independence Day, it signifies something else to me — it is the beginning of football season.

No really. July 4th is traditionally the first day that I will crack open one of the many pre-season college football magazines and find out what the “experts” are saying about the up-coming season.

If you live in Baldwin County, you know that the past two seasons have been fairly fruitful for football fans. Tide followers enjoyed Alabama’s BCS national championship in 2009, followed up by the Auburn faithful pulling the Tiger’s through to their title this past fall. As for our high school teams, Daphne defeated the mighty Hoover Bucs 7-6 in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Class 6A championship back in December, while Spanish Fort shutout Briarwood 14-0 to bring home the Class 5A trophy.

While we all like to talk about the past and our team’s accomplishments, in football, all that really matters is the present.

That being the case, what will happen this season? That is $100,000 question (unless you are an Auburn fan, then it is the $180,000 question).

Can St. Nick reload from a somewhat disappointing 2010 campaign, find some new offensive weapons and compete for yet another national championship?

What about Auburn?

With Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, along with Nick Fairley, Josh Bynes, Zac Etheridge and others missing, will the Tigers be able to make it past anybody other than the fans at Tiger walk?

At the high school level, obviously fans of the Toros and Trojans will be hoping for a repeat. Foley and Fairhope will, undoubtedly be strong as always. Robertsdale hopes to continue to improve, Bayside wants to prove that their success last season wasn’t a fluke, and Baldwin County just hopes to win a game.

New Gulf Shores football coach Ben Blackmon inherits a good group of seniors from last year’s squad, including quarterback Brandon Silvers, definitely a kid you want to keep your eye on.

Speaking of the Dolphins, you might want to mark Sept. 2 on your calendar. That is the day the Dolphins travel to Spanish Fort to face their former coach, Mark Freeman, who left Gulf Shores after only two seasons with the Dolphins to take over their rival’s program. There should be some fireworks in that game.

Obviously, we have many questions to answer, and that is what makes the next six weeks of summer so much fun.

Are YOU ready to talk some football?

Hit ‘em straight!

Dale Jones is the editor of The Foley Onlooker and is a member of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Reach him at djones@gulfcoastnewspapers.com