Duel of the Titans

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The 2008 football season is still more than seven months away, but the first great game -- or great curiosity -- is on the schedule.

Two-time defending City champion Birmingham and 2007 Invitational champion Garfield have agreed to play a season opening game at Birmingham on Sept. 4. The schools signed the contracts for the game this week.

I don’t know if this is the first time the defending playoff champions have met in a season opener, but I’m sure it hasn’t happened often.

‘Garfield was the one team who wanted to play us that was available that week,’ Birmingham Coach Ed Croson said. ‘I remember when other schools would play us and give us a chance to step up as a program. It was time for us to do the same.

‘And they’re a good team.’

Croson added it hasn’t been determined if this is a home-and-home situation. ‘We’ll see how it goes. But I’m not adverse to a home-and-home.’

-- Mike Terry