KIRKSVILLE, Mo. -- Arriving at a site two hours before game time gives sports writers too much time to think. And when they do that, it's likely to produce an offbeat blog or column, which is what you're reading right now.

Nevertheless, it's a lovely afternoon in Kirksville, where I'm making the best of a bad situation. Of course, that's exactly what Truman State has been doing all along. For all the gnashing of teeth that has taken place over the new artificial surface that was completed just in time for last week's game here, I have to say the new turf looks nice.

As far as what it is like to run and make cuts on, at my age I don't do either of those things on a football field. When I run, it's usually in the middle of the night to the bathroom, and when I make cuts, it's either on my face or my fuzzy bald pate while shaving.

But Truman State has survived the ordeal that began back in July, when the athletic administration here was told the field would probably not be ready in time for the football opener. That happened just a few days before Mother Nature dumped an overabundance of rain on Kirksville and the Truman campus, causing massive flooding in the dank, dark basement of a fieldhouse they call Pershing Arena.

That act of God damaged the 1-year-old floor beyond repair, moving the highly successful volleyball team from its home court and into a high school complex for its first three home matches.

But things are looking up. The floor has been painted and the final finish is to be applied Monday and Tuesday, and the football field looks nice, even though the press box lacks some of the amenities of nearly every other MIAA institution. For instance, it nearly took an act of Congress to get Internet access just to file this blog, as soggy pizza sits like a rock in my belly.

But that really doesn't matter. It's a beautiful, sunny afternoon, with green grass (or a reasonable plastic facimile) and two football teams going through pregame warmups before me. That wouldn't have even been possible here two weeks ago. So, let's play some football.