By DREW GRANTHUM / Sports Writer

For the kid in all of us, this time of year might be the most bittersweet on the calendar. Summer is ending —or for some, has already ended— and thus begins another school year. Gone are the days of freedom and lack of structure, and here are the days of set schedules and homework.

I don’t think we ever quite get over being a part of the school schedule routine. Every year around this time, I feel a faint tugging to start getting supplies together and look at buying books for the upcoming year. Obviously, I don’t act on it, but I’ve been so used to that schedule for so long, it’s almost second nature.

While it might seem annoying, it actually pays off well for what I do now, as most of my work is dictated by the school year.

So, like kids getting excited to see classmates or college students excited about getting to sleep in because of no morning classes, I too am excited about the upcoming school year.

Right off the bat — no pun intended, I promise — summer transitions into football season in Shelby County, with some teams opening up their season this weekend, others next weekend and still some the week after. I’m really looking forward to getting to cover all our teams this season. As I’ve said before, I feel there are quite a few storylines with each team, and I can’t wait to see them play out.

Around the same time, volleyball will begin as well, and I know how strong several of the programs are in the county. I really feel there are a couple of squads who could make a strong run toward a state title.

Following those two sports will be basketball, and if I’ve learned anything about sports in Shelby County, it’s that there are some rivalries in basketball that mirror their football counterparts. Passion comes to the forefront during basketball season.

Wrestling will begin in there as well, and before you know it, we’ll be staring at the holiday breaks before spring sports pick up.

It’s crazy to think how fast time really flies when you’re having fun. I guess being on a school schedule so long did pay off.