It’s game day folks.

The long-awaited opening of the football season has finally arrived as ADM faces off against Norwalk tonight at 7 p.m.

Yes, it’s just an exhibition game, but don’t tell that to ADM Defensive Coordinator Bric Nelson.

Nelson says how the teams might perform is weighing on everybody’s mind tonight.  Both coaching staffs are eager to see how much their teams have developed through the first two weeks of fall camp.

For a guy who is a player turned coach, Nelson says there is nothing better than the start of the football season and he adds that the first two weeks of practice have flown by.

Nelson garnered first-team all-state defensive back honors during the 1997-98 season, but now holds a play card instead of a helmet, and enters his second season as the Tigers defensive coordinator under Head Coach Mike Whisner.

Nelson says he’s been encouraged thus far by the effort and excitement he’s seen on his side of the ball as he tries to instill this mindset in his players: go as hard as you can, for as long as you can,  on every play.

Next week we’ll recap how ADM’s defense and the team in general fared against Norwalk and take a look ahead to the regular season opener next Friday against rival Dallas Center-Grimes.