Finally! Fall has come back to Mississippi!

I took this line from “The Rock,” the professional “rassler” — not Dwayne Johnson the well-known actor.

Back in the day, “The Rock” would enter the wrestling ring and announce to the crowd that he is finally back in whatever city they happen to be in that night.

It appears that Fall has finally announced its return this week to the Magnolia State. I for one could not be happier for the much cooler temperatures that have arrived.

It seemed as though Fall would never arrive. In fact, I was driving into work one morning on Porters Chapel Road and noticed piles of fresh raked leaves, but the temperature soared into the 90s and the humidity, of course, was just as high as the heat.

I guess that’s what we have to put up with living in the Deep South, but it sure is nice when the humidity lets up.

The two seasons that I really enjoy in Mississippi are the early days when Fall and Spring make their return. And it’s not so much because of the weather, but it seems folks are just nicer to one another during those early periods in the change of seasons.

People seem a little more chipper for some reason. Maybe it’s because they’re not constantly sweating from the oppressive heat.

I have always envied the folks who live north of Mississippi and the Fall foliage they enjoy each year. Not to say we don’t get some of the changing leaves, but it seems our northern neighbors have it a lot better with bright orange leaves.

Fall, to me, means high school and college football is really here. Football should be played when the temperatures are in the 70s during the day — not 90-plus like we have to deal with in Mississippi.

One of my favorite sports movies is “Rudy,” the true-life story of a college football player who overcame the odds to play in a game for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

One of the best scenes in the movie shows folks enjoying the pre-game at South Bend with leaves on the ground and people wrapped in jackets and sweaters. That whole scene just speaks Fall football to me.

One of my bucket list items is taking a road trip from Natchez up The Trace during the Fall and then head up into Appalachia country to enjoy the changing of the leaves. It may seem odd to some, but in my “older” age the simpler things like seeing the Fall foliage have become more important to me.

I heard that Vicksburg might have a pumpkin patch downtown this month. It sure would be nice if we could have frost on those pumpkins.

Rob Sigler is editor of The Vicksburg Post. You may reach him at rob.sigler@vicksburgpost.com.