Cool, caressing autumn winds embrace the grassy plain.
August heat's oppressiveness awaits the soothing rain.
Midday's cloudless vista now is splashed a cott'ny white.
Shadows grow e'en longer now in cities' short'ning light.

"Rise I say! Arise again!" so clarion the call.
Campuses will beckon to their faithful in the fall.
Student, friend, reviled foe, alumni far and near,
Join together with resounding, awe-inducing cheers.

See the fracas! Hear the ruckus! Turn your eyes to view,
Defeat for some while others sing of victory anew.
Under ken of multitudes, the stories will unfold,
Yet unseen on fields of green, are tales to be retold.

Let your thoughts go wand'ring now to frightful, gloried days.
Eyes of minds look forward to envision future fray:
Cougars rove through Buckeye groves to search the Gopher out.
Fearsome Huskies hunt the woods with bloodstained, gnashing snouts.

Conflict 'twixt the Ute and Aztec sets the night aglow.
Ram stands proud on mountain heights as Lions roar below.
Knight will clash with Vandal like a Rebel Cavalier.
Seminole holds high aloft his fearsome, flaming spear.

Commodore will duel Cadet with sabres' Golden Flash.
Spartan meets the Trojan in a thund'rous, clanging crash.
Bruins, Bears, and Badgers Bulldogs threaten with a growl.
Volunteer jeers Mountaineer with Deacon's Demon scowl.

Aggies argue Sooner claims on land stained Card'nal red.
Falcons, Eagles, Owls and Hawks all wheel 'round overhead.
Buffaloes and Longhorn Bulls build mighty Thund'ring Herds.
Lobo Wolf Packs follow hard in dust and din a-stirred.

Irish challenge Cajuns with a pugilistic stance.
Panthers wrestle Tigers in a writhing, mortal dance.
Yellow Jacket, Or-angeman and Green Wave all collide.
Where Midshipmen battle Pirates on a roi-ling, Crimson Tide.

Wolverine seeks Proserpine in Pluto's fi'ry lair.
Devils seek to rend his soul and hide from out his hair.
Gamecock scraps with Jayhawk, a Cyclonic spinning brawl.
Mustang Zips across the land, an equine fi-reball.

Bronco strains against the Cowboy and his choking reins.
Husker cleanses threshing floors with strength of Hurricanes.
Wildcat, Bearcat, Bobcat set to press home the attack.
Upon the Gator's toothy jaws and spiny, Razor Back.

Miners, Tarheels, Cardinals, the Terrapin and Raider.
Boilermaker, Duck and Rocket, Horn-ed Frog and Blazer.
Hoosiers, Hokies, Hawkeyes and Illini true believers.
Rainbow Warriors, Indians, the Chippewa and Beavers.

Springtime's fecund aspects are much fertile with delights.
Summer warmly welcomes all with nature's verdant sights.
Winter's pillowed blanket leads a man to inward thought.
But for me those seasons hold so little more than naught.

Give to me the turning leaves in arching hue-ed bowers,
Decorating air and earth with arboreal showers.
Give to me the time when birds will take their southern flight,
Spurred on by an atmosphere emitting grayer light.

Lips elicit fighting songs and colors blazon chests.
Heroes come to permeate the dreams of nightly rest.
Let the heart pound strongly with its spirit new revived.
Wake the 'morrow cheerful, for the Season has arrived!