Ties that bind

But what makes college football so appealing?

Todd Heustess, a free-lance writer based in Miami, travels the country writing stories from various sports venues.

This season, he plans to write about the college football pageantry at Colorado, Texas, Florida and Washington.

"What I have found is college football games are like giant family reunions," Heustess said. "The tailgates and meeting other people is almost as important as the game. You have a connection with all the other alumni around the country that is shared and manifests itself infootball more than anything else."

Mike Cray, who moved to Canton from Cleveland two years ago, won't let go of his love for Ohio State.

"College football has a stranglehold on this country," Cray said. "There is just something about football. The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is so strong in football it makes it more important."

So important that Nitz's wife, Tracy, and 17-month-old son, Gunnar, leave him alone every Saturday during the fall -- all for the love of his team.

Nitz spends all day in the basement on his "comfy couch" in front of his big-screen television. The day begins with a visit to the past, thanks to "ESPN Classic," and ends with a Pac-10 game that goes into the wee hours of Sunday morning.

"I never talk to (my wife) about it," Nitz said. "It is nonnegotiable."