The countdown is slowly winding down for coach Terry Hessbrook and his two-time defending champion Ithaca Yellowjackets to start the 2012 season.
Summer will be ending soon, and Hessbrook and the Yellowjackets will begin the three-week process of getting ready for the season.
The season begins on the road August 23 at Williamston, a tough nonleague opponent.
Then the Jackets open at home August 30 against Michigan Lutheran Seminary. The next two games are on the road, September 7 at Valley Lutheran and September 14 at Merrill.
Ithaca will return key players like quarterback Travis Smith. But they’ll also be without graduated standouts such as running back and linebacker Garrett Miniard.