By Stephen Howard, Aug 7, 2011 - 12:56 p.m.

For folks new to the Mean Green Nation it might be tough to describe the feeling I had walking into a lit up Mean Green Stadium for the start of Dan McCarney’s fall camp on Friday night, but I’ll tell you what I saw and heard.

I am by no means an “old timer” around these parts, but I’ve hauled my fair share of paper, drinks and game programs up and down the steps of Fouts Field over the last seven years. I also spent four years at NT as a student, so few among us could be happier to move across I-35E into this palace.

The sounds of the coaches barking orders reverberated off the press box as I walked into the endzone under the soft glow of the lights. The pellets in the turf gave the air a hot rubber smell. McCarney was in rare form, seeming to float with excitement.

It quickly becomes evident to everyone on the sidelines that this place is going to be loud. We had wondered for months what the acoustics would be like, but now, with 105 players and a few dozen coaches and support staff the sound is reverberating like a cave. Everyone in attendance has the look that says, “wow, wait till we get 30 thousand plus in here.”

On Sept. 10 against Houston we will know, and that’s what makes everyone so giddy. The excitement has been building ever since they started moving dirt over a year ago, and now that we are on the eve it’s become a dream turned reality.

From the press box to the suites and club level, everything about this place was done first class. If you haven’t come down for a tour yet, I think you’ll have the same feeling I did on Friday night.