Tonight is the night.

It's a day this community has been waiting for since the team stepped off the football field at the conclusion of last season.

The players have been prepping for this night, for this season the same amount of time. It started months ago well before the sun began to bake the landscape. It started in homes and gyms around town. It started on the streets around town early in the morning.

In the last month, the intensity of preparation has been ratcheted up in organized practices. And that's where the bonds of team began to form. It's that cohesiveness and your strength as one unit that has allowed each player to endure the two-a-day practices on 100-plus degree days.

But for what?

This isn't about fame. This isn't about fortune.

This is about the guy next to you. The guy who you know has put in as much time and effort as you — blood, sweat, but no tears. This is the guy who you know, no matter what happens on that field, has your back on every snap of the ball.

This is about making your parents proud, making your community proud.

This is about love of the game we've all grown up watching since we were little kids.

This is your time to shine. Get out there and show the opponent your strengths. You have no weaknesses.

After you've given it your all for four quarters and the final seconds tick off the clock, always remember, no matter what the end result, you shake the opponent's hand and congratulate them. They've worked hard as well. They've earned your respect as you have theirs.

Go out there tonight and make Burnet proud! We're behind you all the way in 2010!

2011 Dodge Durango debuts...sort of

Chrysler has finally given a clue as to what the new Dodge Durango is going to look like, if albeit through a few photos and a carefully crafted 3o-second video on YouTube.

While it's hard to get a full grasp on the appearance of the 2011 version of Durango, it's hard not to be impressed by the sleek lines of the vehicle, not to mention the grille and the black crosshair body surrounded by chrome.

Word has it that this new Durango will be built on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee platform, which has received rave reviews by the media and customers alike since its mid-summer introduction.

Here are a few photos and the link to the YouTube video.

The Ram Outdoorsman

The 21st Century’s first truck made by sportsmen and women, for sportsmen and women, is here: The Ram Outdoorsman.

If you hunt, fish, trek or just plain roam the outdoors, then the Outdoorsman is for you.

“We asked Ram Truck customers -- boaters, campers, fishing enthusiasts and hunters -- what features would they like to see in a truck,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “They answered ‘more capability, more room for my gear and ready to hit the trail. And make it affordable.'”

Ram Outdoorsman is available in 1500 (half-ton), 2500 HD (3/4-ton) and 3500 HD single rear wheel (1 ton), Regular Cab; Quad Cab, Crew Cab and Mega Cab; four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive; and short- and long-wheelbase models. Outdoorsman will replace the TRX4 trim level in the 2011 Ram Truck lineup. It will join the other Ram trim levels, which include: ST, SLT, Big Horn / Lone Star, Sport (1500 only) Laramie and Power Wagon (2500 only).

Prices for Ram Outdoorsman models start at $28,350, including destination charge. The Ram Outdoorsman models will go on sale third quarter 2010 (just in time for hunting season).

Appearance

• Two-tone paint with mineral gray lower
• Scratch-resistant steel bumpers
• Black door handles minimize glare
• Wheel lip moldings

Mopar RamBox Holster

Ram officials also unveiled a new factory-designed fishing rod and gun rack option for RamBox-equipped Ram 1500 trucks. The Mopar RamBox Holster is designed to fit within the Ram’s two unique locked, lighted and sealed exterior storage bins. The Mopar RamBox Holster gently, yet securely cradles two rifles or shotguns, or can be rotated 90 degrees to hold up to six fishing rods.

Towing

• Standard Class IV receiver hitch properly equips Outdoorsman for towing campers, boats, ATVs and other trailers rated to vehicle’s max
• Available integrated trailer brake controller with driver adjustability and easy-to-see instrument panel readout
• Trailer brake controller is standard on 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duties
• Standard lighted four- and seven-pin harness plugs -- a Ram exclusive -- offer multi-trailer adaptability and clean, above-the-bumper covered access any time of the day or night
  

Capability

Standard 17-inch wheels and "LT" tires: light-truck-rated tires handle bigger loads and offer stronger sidewalls to resist punctures when driving over sharp, rocky terrain; on/off-road tread pattern provides traction on all highway and trail surfaces (LT275/70R17C OWL on Ram 1500 models; LT265/70R17E on Ram HD models)

New commercials for 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

You've heard all about it since the beginning of the year. Now, we're finally seeing commercials hit the airwaves on the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Because we know are fans are active and out and about regularly and likely won't see all of these commercials during their run time on TV, we thought we'd round up a few of the latest commercials for you in our Blog, just so you can see how great the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee looks in action.

---

Official Launch Commercial - Things We Make, Make Us

---

In the Water

---

Stronger

Thanks again Captain Jason Holbrook! RIP

Yesterday on our Facebook page we posted a "thank you" comment and a link to the story on Captain Jason Ellis Holbrook, a 2000 graduate of Burnet High School, who lost his life in Afghanistan last week. The response was amazing.

In the six months we've been running our Facebook page, never have we received so many likes and comments combined on one post.

It really shouldn't come as a surprise when you consider how loving and supportive our tight-knit community is, especially in times when a neighbor needs a hand, or needs a shoulder to lean on.

While the Facebook post will slowly creep its way down the page and eventually be long gone, we wanted to also post it here in this space so it can be found easier later down the road.

Here is our original post and a link to the story.

"Cecil in Burnet would like to say thank you to Capt. Jason Ellis Holbrook, a 2000 graduate of Burnet High School, who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom. In honor of Capt. Holbrook and all our fallen soldiers, we are flying our flag at half mast. Click Like to show your support and tell your friends about this true American hero."

It received 21 likes and 3 comments in less than 24 hours.

Link to the story.

Jeep to undergo overhaul and redesign of vehicles

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee isn't the only Jeep to go under the knife as Chrysler revamps the lineup--the iconic Wrangler will get a redesign of its own later this year. And that's not all--the Compass and Patriot will get minor styling updates that will hold those models over until they are replaced by one model in 2013 or thereabouts.

The 280 horsepower V-6 which made its debut in the Grand Cherokee will be available in the next Wrangler, along with body-colored hardtops.

Another product in Jeep's future is a compact crossover that should debut in 2013 and possibly be based on the Fiat Panda Cross. The Liberty will get a minor redesign for this year and be replaced by a Fiat-based crossover, likely in 2012.