I sent the song to him the first chance I had.
I remember him being on ESPN doing all the college game-day interviews, and I've seen him on TV with Sean Payton, the coach of the New Orleans Saints. I knew Kenny had the same passion for football as I did. I'm surprised there hasn't been a big song about football until now. There's not a small town - or any town - in this country that doesn't get it. I always coordinate football with life anyway - leaning on each other and all that stuff you face in life. It was not so much about football as much as we were talking about life. When Dave and I started talking about football, that phrase came back to me. It was one of those times where it was in the air. Dave and I were sitting around with nothing to write. It was something about 'I miss the boys of fall.' I wrote it down and sat on it for a while. That phrase, 'the boys of fall,' is something I'd heard a while back. My dad and brothers were in football, and I have a big passion for it. If I'm not with my family or writing, I'm at home just watching football. Co-writer Casey Beathard told The Boot the story behind this song: "Football is my biggest passion other than songwriting and the family stuff I do.