283 days.

That’s how long it’s been since Kansas played a home football game at Memorial Stadium, a 39-20 victory against Kansas State. Let me be the first to say, Kansas football, welcome back.

There is something special about game days at Memorial Stadium. And that’s saying something, considering the quality of the product on the field during the past decade.

Did you know that Kansas hasn’t shown up in the AP Top 25 rankings since Sept. 28, 1996? Kansas was ranked 20th, then lost to Utah 45-42, and hasn’t been back since. The program’s record since that Utah game? 48-76.

But wait. Don’t think this is some kind of Bruce Bowen-esque cheap shot at the Kansas football program. The point is that throughout all the on-field struggles, Memorial Stadium has remained a special place.

Maybe it’s the campus, rising majestically over that glorious golden valley. Maybe it’s the cozy charm of the surrounding neighborhoods, giving game days the feel of a backyard barbecue. Or quite possibly it’s the loyalty of the student body, a student body that would never waste an opportunity to throw a party.

Whatever it is, let’s enjoy it. Whether you are a freshman experiencing game day for the first time or a super senior taking a victory lap, take a minute this Saturday to soak in some August evening sun, crack open a frosty beverage and immerse yourself in the atmosphere.

Still not sure? Well, here’s a list of three activities that are guaranteed to make your game day memorable.

Crash a tailgate party

Too lazy to throw your own tailgate party? Join the club. But wait, tailgate-crashing is complicated stuff. Don’t just jump into it thinking that you can get by on charisma alone. You need a game plan.

— Rule No. 1: Make sure there are at least 20 people there. If there aren’t 20 people there, it’s a gathering, not a party, and at gatherings, people know each other.

— Rule No. 2: Do your homework. Yes, you need to be able to have a conversation about the team, but more importantly, you need to know a vast collection of information about the suburbs of Kansas City, Chicago, St. Louis, Denver and Dallas. You’d be surprised how quickly you can go from tailgate party crasher to guest of honor just by faking where you’re from.

“You’re from Naperville? Wow, what a coincidence. I have family there!”

— Rule No. 3: Have an excuse and an escape route planned out. Something like, “Oh, you mean to tell me this isn’t 1232 Ohio? Boy, do I feel like an idiot,” will never fail.

Go in early

College football games are long. I’ve seen people read entire Harry Potter books in the time it takes to play a Kansas football game. But remember, you’ll get a good seat, you can always leave early and you’ll have time to grab a roster of the other team and think of clever ways to taunt them.

Here are a couple of ready-made taunts for Central Michigan. For sophomore star-quarterback Dan LeFevour: “Hey Dan, I got a LeFevour, and the only prescription is for you to throw an interception.” And for sophomore offensive lineman Allen Ollenburger: “Hey Allen, it looks like you’ve maybe had one too many ‘Ollenburgers’ there, buddy.”

And for junior defensive lineman Chris Wohlgamuth: “Hey Wohlgamuth, I love you in the epic Beowulf.” Let the record show that this activity is generally only fun if you do it after you crash a tailgate party.

Watch the game

The past few years, the actual game has played a secondary role to the “social events” of the day. Here’s to hoping that changes this season. Mark Twain said that an optimist is just a daydreamer more elegantly spelled, so let’s spend the next four days dreaming a little.

ESPN’s Todd McShay picked the Jayhawks to win the Big 12 North, and you know what? Why can’t they? We’ll find out more about this team and what they can accomplish on Saturday, but for now, there is no reason not to have hope.

So watch the game on Saturday evening, and do it with a bit of old-fashioned optimism.

— Watch new offensive coordinator Ed Warinner’s play calling. Kansas fans have been promised a more open, aggressive attack. Will it come to fruition?

— Watch freshman cornerback Chris Harris as he starts opposite junior Aqib Talib, All-America candidate. Will Harris play well enough to help a secondary that surrendered nearly 270 yards per game last season?

— Watch junior right tackle Anthony Collins’ feet while protecting quarterback Todd Reesing. Collins makes playing offensive line an art form.

— Watch Todd Reesing the first time he rolls right out of the pocket. Reesing said he felt right at home rolling to his to right. C’mon Todd, let’s see what you got.

— Watch sophomore running back Jake Sharp in the fourth quarter. Sharp’s ability to handle the full load at tailback has been questioned. Will Sharp’s 5-foot-9, 190 pound frame handle the pounding of a 20-carry game?

— Lastly, watch part of the game from the friendly confines of the hill. It’s the most gorgeous view in college football, and who knows, maybe you’ll find a tailgate party.

— Edited by Tara Smith