COLUMN: Love for the Undercard

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — I've long been fond of opening acts in all walks of life.

I'm the type of movie-goer that has to be in his seat before the posted start time of the movie, despite knowing that's not the time the movie actually starts, because I need to see all the trailers beforehand. When I go to a concert, I often look for the best two-for-one deals I can find (the cancelled Charlotte top on the Aerosmith tour when ZZ Top was their opener was particularly tough on me).

On the sports field, I'm the guy that enjoys the Band of Blue's pregame show, the pageantry of the National Anthem that week, and everything else that gets us ready for the game each Saturday.

So of course, now that the…