FOOTBALL WEEKEND - Lets Get It Started!!!

The Tar Heels are playing Va Tech in the background. UNC doesn't have much of a chance...

Tomorrow afternoon I'll drive up to Tallahassee. My Crestview Bulldogs (yes I graduated in the 70s) play Tallahassee Leon. I'm there and then over to Roger's to crash in anticipation of the Florida State vs NC State game at Noon on Saturday. I helped another guy in our LifeGroup mow the Hopkins yard this afternoon, since Captain Hopkins is away from home for a while. When I got home, I got a call from Mr Baysinger offering me FOUR tickets to the FSU game. I'm going anyway so "of course" I accepted the tix. Put a call into Crestview to see if any of the kin folk were interested :)

If all goes well, I'll get to see my old high school team, hang out with Roger, hang out with my son Josh, and now maybe some of my cousins too. After the game I'll slide on down I 10 and I 75, while I LISTEN to the world's largest outdoor cocktail party! Going to the FLORIDA - GEORGIA game is BLAST, but not to be for me this year.

Here is a safe bet for Saturday: Jimmy Clausen will throw ~ SEVEN touchdown passes as Notre Dame demolishes hapless Washington State in San Antonio. By Saturday night, the Jimmy Clausen HYPESMAN trophy campaign will be in peddle to the mettle mode. I'm not fond of the kid, but he is a good QB.

If I time it right, I should be home in time to catch most of the big night games. Southern Cal @ Oregon will essentially decide the PAC 10. Call me crazy, but I like the Ducks in this one. Texas goes to Stillwater to butt heads with the Cowboys. Very hostile environment, but Colt and company prevail. Florida over Georgia. FSU NC St? Who knows? Tennessee plays South Carolina in an interesting game. The Vols are better every week. Ole Miss and Auburn might be a good one.

It is ALL GOOD!

Outlaw

Monday evening quarterback

I did a long post Saturday night, all excited by the fantastic finishes in the 3:30 games. Somehow the stupid thing got hung up and did not post. So, I was torqued off a bit and ignored the blog since then.

Iowa moved up to #4 in the BCS, and is #1 in the computer models. I am happy for Iowa to be off to their best start ever, but I really don't think they are one of the best 15 teams in the country.

Alabama blocked the Tennessee FG on the last play of the game to preserve their victory. The Tide looked almost as sluggish as Florida, but first a comment regarding the Vols. Their DEFENSE is top notch and it is understandable with Monte Kiffin calling the shots. Me thinks that UT is a program on the rise the next couple of years...OK, Florida beat Mississippi State with their defense. The game would not have even been close had Tebow not thrown TWO pick sixes. AND add to that the bonehead play by Dustin Doe as he pranced into the end zone. The bulldog defender stripped the ball and the refs should have ruled a touchback. Instead, we have another week where most of the country has good reason to scream that the Refs are helping the Gators stay unbeaten.

It is borderline insanity to say/write this, but personally, UF would be well served to start getting John Brantley some reps. The QB position is much like a point guard, where distribution of the ball is job 1. T2 runs the ball more than he distributes it and that is hurting the Gator offense. Urban and Adazzio need to fix that.

Mark Ingram and C J Spiller are the best football players at this point in the season. Christian Ponder is the best QB on a weak team.

Clemson's win at Miami was just what Georgia Tech ordered. The Jackets are in the driver's seat to win the ACC Coastal, while Boston College controls their destiny in the Atlantic. Now there is a championship game waiting to have a bunch of empty seats...

Cousin Tyler gave me 2 tickets to the FSU vs NC St game this Saturday. SO, I'm gonna drive up and watch the Crestview vs Leon game Friday night and then father in law Frank is gonna go to the Florida State game with me. The timing is good, as FSU plays at Noon and should finish in time for me to watch the Florida / Georgia (cocktail party) game at 3:30 :)

A couple of other monster games this Saturday has USC @ Oregon and Texas @ Ok State, both are in the 8:00 ABC slot.

Countdown to the South Bend trip is on...Notre Dame will still win 9 or 10 games too, as will Penn State :( I AM NOT A HATER THOUGH :)

OUT.

A GOOD NIGHT afterall

Well, first off the Yankees came back from a 4-0 deficit to take the lead. However, the Angels did win the game and held off the clinching for another game. It is inevitable that the Yankees will be in the World Series. But really, who cares too much about baseball now?

I was open and honest with my critical assessment of FSU's play in the 1st half. Well, the Noles made some top notch adjustments at the half and stormed back in Chapel Hill. They even had a "pick six" taken away by a bad call and REVIEW, but still managed a 30 - 27 win. :) Yipee.

Christian Ponder is a terrific quarterback, but FSU still has a porous defense and will have to fight every week, just to get to a bad bowl game. BUT I will be cheering for them all along the way (maybe with the exception of "AT FLORIDA", if the Gators are undefeated).

Good night football fans.

Painful

The painful part of watching a team you like play poorly, is that you know they have talented football players. FSU may not get ALL the 5 Star players they did in the 90s, but they have great athletes. They problem is that as I watch, I expect a penalty on every other play. Really stupid stuff, poor clock management, SLOPPY and UNDISCLIPLINED FOOTBALL. So, it comes down to either these talented players are not very smart, or this is a poorly coached team...NINE penalties in the first half. It is sad on so many levels.

Somewhat related is my disdain for the little mini celebrations players make when they make a tackle, a 6 yard run or a short catch. ACT LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN THERE BEFORE people! This trend is not limited to FSU, but they do teach clinics on it...

North Alabama, and it's roster of BCS transfers is routing Valdosta State 34-6 at the half. Terry Bowden looks like he ate the Kansas coach since I last saw him on TV. I am suddenly motivated to work out more and eat less...

:)

FSU @ North Carolina Thursday night

Well, the game just started and the Tarheels are driving down the field. The Noles defense just called time out to get their crap together. That has not worked much this season. My brother is at the game tonight, as he lives in Durham, almost walking distance to Chapel Hill. For some unexplainable reason I think FSU has a good chance of winning the game. With a 2-4 record, it is not smart to expect much...

On another channel (CBSCollegeSports), they feature a D2 game every Thursday night. Tonight's game is North Alabama @ Valdosta State. North Alabama is coached by Terry Bowden, and they have something like 9 players who were at big schools last year. QB Harrison Beck played at Nebraska and NC St before winding up at UNA. Two NFL prospects from Florida State, Preston Parker and Marcus Simms, play for the younger coach Bowden now...With Abilene's loss to West Texas A&M last week, North Alabama is now ranked #1 in D2. ACU fell to #9. WTAM always seems to mess up Homecoming for the Wildcats.

My young pal Dirk will go to the Apopka vs East Ridge game with me tomorrow night. So, while the poor performance by FSU has dampened my football season, I look forward to a good 6A battle just north of Zellwood :)

More in a bit...

Halftime, Mid Term, etc.

Well, it is sad in a way that the season is half way through. But in a "half full" view, we have the 2nd half to go, and the bowls :)

So, here is my "I blew that one" and "saw it coming all along" takes:

I really thought Vanderbilt would be good, and build upon the success they had last year. WRONG.

I picked Florida State to win their side of the ACC, and that was pathetic. That said, NOT A SINGLE TEAM on that side deserves to be in a championship game of any kind. Much like the Big 12 North. All the good teams are on the other side (Miami, Ga Tech, Va Tech) or (Texas, Ok Stat, Texas Tech). The SEC is a little bit more balanced. I predicted Georgia Tech to win the ACC. Well, they were spanked by Miami, but in turn, beat the Hokies, to create one of those 3-way round robin ties.

I did not expect Iowa to be undefeated at this point, but I am not drinking the Hawkeye cool aid, and expect them to choke before the end of November. With all their defense to replace, I was skeptical about Cincinnati, but they are the beast team in the big East, and their coach will be able to pick his job at the next big opening.

I was more impressed with Notre Dame this weekend, in their loss to USC, than I was in the wins over MSU, Washington or Purdue. Ohio State is off this year, as their Purdue debacle shows, but Penn State will still win a lot of games and get ranked too high.

My pick for the HYPESMAN award at this point would go to Mark Ingram of Alabama, or Eric Berry of Tennessee. I would like to see Colt McCoy to win, but he has been good, not great. Tebow has been good not great. The obsession with him is wearing me out, and I am a Gator fan!

Preps: The teams that have kids that I an connected too, have not fared well. Lake Nona, Rocky Bayou Christian, Baker and MDB were all winless as of last Thursday. Apopka is undefeated. Last week Lake Nona got their first win. This week, Mt Dora Bible actually has a chance, as they face Leesburg First Academy. Baker still might pull one out, but RBC is just out manned.

TIRED, so more later.

Big Game Saturday

Well, Texas prevailed in a hard fought Red River Rivalry game, dominated by defenses. Florida ESCAPED Arkansas, thanks to their stellar defense and a couple very favorable penalty flags. Tebow again was average at best, but in spite of Brandon Spike's injury, the D was relentless (save 2 big pass plays).

Notre Dame played much better against USC than I expected, so maybe it is time for me to cut them a little slack...nah :)

Texas Tech spanked Nebraska and I CALLED that outcome Georgia Tech is leading Virginia Tech in a key ACC game, and Miami is here in Orlando playing UCF. At least FSU is not gonna lose a close one tonight :)

My Crestview Bulldogs surprised me and everyone else as the beat undefeated Milton last night, and as hoped, the Lake Nona Lions beat the snot out of Celebration, for their first ever win!

I'll work on my "Mid Season Grade and Comments" tomorrow.

FL Outlaw

Fleetwood/Hatchet

It is kind of a "dead zone" for prep football, as the big inter state match ups are behind us, and the key district games are a week or two away. SO, here a a post about music:

I picked my daughter up from volleyball practice the other day and a Fleetwood Mac song came on the radio. I started singing along. Autumn looks at me with a puzzled expression "you know this song" she asked. I said of course, but in my mind I was thinking, I've KNOWN this song for 30 years! "I have it on my iPod" she says and she still can't reconcile that her dad knows a song that she likes. That is kind of funny... I recall when music was a much bigger part of my life, so I understand how teenagers and 20 somethings LOVE their music. I am rarely "inspired" by music like I used to be, but this afternoon was one of those exceptions. I'm driving home on a Friday afternoon and happen to click over to the classic rock station. An old Deep Purple tune "Highway Star" starts rippin and I crank the volume to levels that threaten healthy hearing later in life. I was transported back to 8th grade...and I rocked and sang and really enjoyed myself for the 4 or 5 minutes of the track.

flip side of the 45:

One day this week I received an email from my friend Dale. Dale, much like bud Roger, is a BIKER guy. Well, ole Dale rides over to Sanford to their "bikefest" and the headline band is Molly Hatchet. Dale goes on to explain in the email that they had a drawing for a major prize - an autographed guitar! Well guess who the "major prize winner" was? Dale! We will soon schedule a male bonding session, where Dale shows off the guitar, and I break out a scrap book from long ago, when I spent "my summer vacation" with Molly Hatchet. :)

Football returns to center stage tomorrow.

Roctober Football weekend :)

So, the University of South Florida Bulls (not really "south") are playing the Cincinnati Bearcats to kickoff our college weekend. I witnessed with my own eyes how impressive the USF defense is. They D line is NFL caliber. That said, Cinci is superbly coached and Tony Pike and sling the ball around. Gonna be a good one.

You know I love the Gators, but PLEASE people, Tebow should in no way be leading the Heisman race this season. He is a tremendous leader, but has not played "great" this season, at all.

I like Florida over Arkansas on Saturday, but do not expect them to cover the 24 points. They better open up the offensive throttle, because Mallet and the Hogs can play catch. I like Texas over Oklahoma, and I'd like to see Colt McCoy win the Heisman this time. Southern Cal big over Notre Dame. A good game under the radar will be Texas Tech @ Nebraska. Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech is big too.

Abilene Christian is ranked #1 in the nation in D2. Very cool...

http://vodpod.com/watch/1359892-wheres-huddles

If the link above works, it will provide the answer to my trivia question...

Only 10 episodes, but I loved it. You have to remember that I was 9 years old in 1970, and we had THREE channels, black and white probably, and no remote controls or cable...

"Hi, My Name is Outlaw" or Intervention May Be Required

I am an acknowledged addict to college football, and probably over do it with high school football too. As if that is not vice enough, last night I got completely caught up in the Monday Night Football game - Jets @ Dolphins. I watched the entire game and it was a great one! I've never hated pro football, I just have to draw a line somewhere. On Saturdays I can easily watch football from Noon until midnight. I make some "breaks" so it does not look like complete obsession, I do some errands and fold and iron clothes while I watch, and I usually jog 2 or 3 miles during halftime of the 3:30 games. So, I attempt to avoid football on Sundays and Mondays. This is close to out of control...must keep away from N F L ...

Tonight a college game is on; Arkansas State versus Louisiana Monroe. I do not plan to watch the game (resisting the addiction), but do have a connection to both teams. Cousins played for each, and those cousins are brothers. Cousin Steve (Aunt Darlene's son from a previous marriage) was very good at Crestview High and then played tight end and punter @ Ark State. In fact, he led the nation in punting in the mid/late 80s. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys and made it to the last August cut, 2 years in a row...His younger brother Larry, Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Darlene's youngest son, was another star for Crestview High and then was an outstanding linebacker for North East Louisiana, which is now "Louisiana Monroe". Larry had 10 tackles at Auburn one Saturday afternoon. I could "wax on" about games I watched the cousins play in, but I'll spare you, for now.

I'll close this post with a trivia question. Who remembers Where's Huddles? Anyone?

Monday Night Football (and baseball)

Living in the Eastern time zone, I never make it to the end of MNF. I am only that dedicated to college. However, the game tonight - Jets @ Dolphins is a good one. The NFL is doing a Hispanic Heritage celebration/honor and it is cool. I went to Landshark stadium a few years ago with pal Duane and watched the Fins play the Redskins and their coach Spurrier.

Over on TBS, the baseball playoffs are in COLD Colorado, where the Rockies are trying to tie the series with the Phillies. When my oldest son was 12, he went with me to Boulder on a business trip, and we did a Rockies game at Coors Field one night. Good times and at that time I think we both appreciated baseball more than we do now.

The Rockies are choking. Had a 4-2 lead in the 9th and the Phils just took the lead back. This is my "during commercial" baseball coverage :)

My pal Duane read my posts about what I loved about playing football. He suggests that i was faster and more athletic than I am giving myself credit for. Duane is obviously sucking up for some reason. I reminded him of a JV football game when we were playing at Walton. I intercepted a pass out to the flats and had 30 yards of uninterrupted grass in front of me to the end zone. Instead of diving in like the cool show offs do these days, I got "picked up" at the 4 yard line from behind and we had 1st & Goal at the 2. So embarrassing! We did score and come back and win the game, but I'm really glad that "run down" was not captured on film...

I participate in the NW Fl Daily News "Pick em" contest and over the last couple of years have "won" a week and the prize "Anglers seafood certificate on Okaloosa Island) that goes with the victory. My cousin Mark picks too, and he should have won the SEASON last year, but they screwed it up. This year he is kicking some major butt again and has a 5 game lead on me already...His only weakness is his loyalty to FSU and Crestview, which will get him! :)

Outlaw

Dust Settling Sunday night

The Gators made LSU look better than they really are. Tebow threw better passes when he was a sophomore and a junior, but UF's defense is NASTY. Georgia laid another egg, but give Tennessee credit, QB Crompton played like he had some confidence. Florida State played one of their best offensive games in recent history (save BYU), but the defense must have gotten locked in the locker room, as Georgia Tech scored on ONE PLAY about 7 times. The Bowden love fest was pathetic. Am I a bit bitter? YEP.

Duke won a conference game over NC State. David Cutcliffe can coach! Georgia Southern played respectably in Chapel Hill. Alabama beat Ole Miss worse than the score showed. The Tide looks better every week. Texas and Oklahoma do the Red River Rivalry this weekend in Dallas, Notre Dame and Southern Cal renew their rivalry, and the Gators will have to wake up their offense as Ryan Mallet and Arkansas bring their pro style scoring machine to the SWAMP.

Rocky Bayou lost again, as did Lake Nona. However, Lake Nona came oh so close, and this Friday night they will get their first W against Celebration. Baker played better, but still looking for their first win. Crestview fumbled away a great opportunity to beat Fort Walton Beach, and lost in OT. Lowndes County embarrassed Valdosta on national TV, and Berrien County played well but came up short. Apopka and Ryan Moran continued their undefeated roll, and will do so until the playoffs.

Going to bed early, after that FSU game finished at 12:48 this morning...

What do/did you love about playing football?

I'd like to say I know what if feels like to have the ball in my hands and run so fast that no one can catch me. That would be a lie. I have ran with the ball, but just not very fast. When I was really young and played Small Fry football for the Chargers in Fort Walton Beach, I was stuck on the line. I was not put there because I was big and strong, I wasn't, they just needed to find somewhere to put me. As young as I was 9 or 10?, it was a great learning experience. I remember the first time me and Byron Barkley executed a cross block against two bigger defenders. They didn't know what happened. It is amazing how a simple geometrical principal ANGLE can provide so much leverage when blocking. When you can push the rusher even partly in the direction he is already going, you can really move a much larger and stronger opponent. Angle of attack is critical.

Similarly, as an undersized wide receiver in high school, I had the pleasure of executing a "crack back" block on a much stronger and more athletic linebacker. When the man you are blocking is "flowing" with the direction of the play and he does not see you coming, even a 145 pound runt can light up said linebacker. That same savy wide receiver might be well advised to avoid said linebacker for the next few plays :)

Play calling: Another thing I LOVE about football is how you use offensive plays to "set up" other offensive plays. A classic example is a down and out pass. If you can complete a few short (5 or 10 yard) down and out passes, you can set up the thing of beauty known as the down, out and up. What looks like the same down and out pass, has the QB pump as the receiver turns up the field and looks for the long pass while the defender "bites" on the out. The masters of play calling understand this and can create a cadence that is unreal. Spurrier was the the big dog for a long time. Miami's new O Coordinator (Whipple?) is making a huge difference for the Canes. This is where an out manned team can have a chance, if they have the right guy calling the plays of the audibles.

When I was 6 years old ( I swear this is true), I read a little booklet at the grocery store (laundry soap of some kind) by Bart Star of the Green Bay Packers. Bart said two things that stuck with me. First he said that every offensive play is designed to go for a touchdown (not necessarily true, but made a good point). The other thing that made a bigger impression was that on every play the Packers had some sort of deception or fake involved. Again, there are even exceptions to this, but I started becoming a student of the game of football.

How many of you when you were 11 or 12, didn't sit there at school, dreaming up plays for the football game at PE/recess? Yes you did!

Another thing I love about playing football, is making a good throw to the spot where your receiver will be, as opposed to where he is. And how much fun is a diving catch?

A less tangible element of playing football that was so rewarding was when the TEAM pulled together to accomplish what seemed almost impossible. The bond that grows when you work you tails off as a defensive unit is hard to describe. You find that you are willing to give more of yourself than you thought possible, to contribute to the "whole" of the unit.

Who am I kidding? I loved everything about football. The smells, the sounds, the sights, the excitement building up to the game...It is late and the stupid Yankees won in the 12th.

I'll give this topic some more consideration.

Oh, and my Crestview Bulldogs just lost in OT, to my wife's FWB Vikings...:(

But Hey, TOMORROW IS A COLLEGE FOOTBALL SATURDAY!

Fair in sports?

How do you define "fair" in sports? If the Twins can get 3 outs, the NY Yankees will lose a playoff game. The Yankees spend about 14 fold what most teams do on their payroll (only a SLIGHT exaggeration). They field an allstar team to play an assortment of other "mercenary" teams and small market clubs who do not have the funds to really compete year in and year out. For me, this is not a fair playing field. It is certainly "legal" and within the bounds of the MLB "system", so if you are a Yankees fan, you love it. In college football the closest comparison is Notre Dame, as they are independent, have a sweet deal with the BCS, and have their own television network (NBC) to show their games every week. I cannot pull for the Yankees, and cannot pull for the Irish. The Notre Dame "advantage" is not nearly as profound as NY in baseball.

The real imbalance in football is at the prep level. St Thomas Aquinas has a deep and talented football team and well they should. They are a private school in Fort Lauderdale, so they are able to "attract" players from all over talent rich Broward and even Dade County. The south Florida counties are sick, with the speedy players they produce every year. STA (THE YANKEES JUST HIT A 2 RUN HOMER TO TIE THE GAME - no outs in the bottom of the 9th).
Back to STA. When they play a public school like the one I attended a hundred years ago, the public school will have a roster made up of players from that community - period. They can have some good years or down years based on talent and coaching. A private school powerhouse, has kids lining up to jump on board. STA had a kid transfer in from CALIFORNIA this season, to be the BACKUP quarterback. Do you blame the kid? His scholarship chances are probably vastly improved.

In Tallahassee, little North Florida Christian has built a dynasty. Most seasons they can go toe to toe with the likes of state powers Lincoln and Godby, who are much bigger schools. Of course most seasons the NFC roster is sprinkled with kids who may have played at Lincoln, Godby, Leon or Chiles the year before. So, when NFC rolls over to a Port St Joe or a Marianna, which roster is most likely to have 6 or 7 D1 prospects? The little private school. Again, are STA or NFC or Bolles (the Jax version) doing anything illegal? No, they are completely within the bounds of the FHSAA rules. Is it a level playing field? Not in any way, shape, form or fashion.

Across the country, you still have some traditional public school power programs (Lowndes GA, Jenks and Union in OK, Prattville AL, Lakeland FL, Byrnes SC, etc, that maintain competitive excellence every year, but the big rising programs are the small private schools. Oaks Christian has now joined fellow California private school power De LaSalle in the elite. Private schools in Texas now are starting to dominate the top 10, while some of the very best teams in the country are in the private schools in Cincinnati and Cleveland. So, STA has some company around the nation, even in Tennessee, the best team this year may be Memphis University school, as they have already beaten two top teams from Mississippi (South Panola and Olive Branch). Don Bosco Prep is a private school in New Jersey that is another example. It is not quite the same level as the prep basketball factories (Findley in Vegas, Montverde, etc.), but moving in that direction...

Another Thursday night in October

Nebraska and Mizzu are about to tangle, while Miami Central and Miami Northwestern are playing a very sloppy game on ESPN2. HOWEVER, my daughter and my wife want to watch THE OFFICE tonight, since it is the big Wedding episode. I acknowledge that I am in the minority, but it is the most annoying show EVER!

Back to football. I have a lot of respect for Nebraska and their fans are some of the classiest in the country. I still like them to lose, so Go Mizzu.

The Bowden thing is pathetic as the national media are all singing "leave Bobby alone" and that he has earned his own exit time line. He is very selfish by staying on as a figure head and disrupting the program. I support the BLACKOUT this weekend against Ga Tech, where the students will wear black to voice their displeasure with BB.

Tim Tebow is quite a young man and a football player. As much as I enjoy the way he plays and competes, even I am tired of the overload of hype surrounding "will he play or not". Florida is better than LSU with our without TT. John Brantley is a better passer than Tebow, and the Gator's passing game has been less than stellar so far. Now nobody runs for short yardage like Tebow, but with more speed in the backfield than the Olympic 4 X 100 relay team, UF is better served by handing the ball off, instead of the QB keeping it. Florida may in fact play better against LSU if Tim is held out. Florida 41 LSU 16.

Alabama @ Ole Miss is one that we have been waiting for since the summer. Ole Miss has not played very well, compared to the hype, and lost @ South Carolina. Alabama looks like they may be the most complete team in the country. So, the experts say rout by the Tide, but I expect Ole Miss to really give them a battle.

Auburn @ Arkansas should be a good shootout. Hard to say if War Beagles luck holds out. Georgia @ Tennessee should also be entertaining and I'm ready to pile on the Vols, just to poke Kiffin.

Ohio State will get the best of Wisconsin.

I'm afraid that Georgia Tech will run all over the Noles.

The battle for Winnersville is tomorrow night, as Valdosta and Lowndes do the cross town battle dance.

The UFL starts this weekend...yawn.

Outlaw

Bowden vs FSU will get ugly

Bobby Bowden is one of the great coaches of all time. Well perhaps I should say he WAS one of the greats. He is not now. He should have retired 5 or 6 years ago, but he refused. Now he thinks he is bigger than the University and that is sad and it will get ugly...

I'm watching the Byrnes vs St Thomas Aquinas game. STA won, but Byrnes could have easily been victorious had they not fumbled 3 times. # 2 Brynes lost. # 3 Elder lost to cross town rival Cincy St X, and # 4 Lowndes County lost 10-7 to Warner Robins Northside. Oh yeah, and Miami Northwestern lost to BT Washington. So now Miami Central moves up to # 2 in time for the Thursday night TV showdown with Northwestern.


Over the weekend, Virginia beat North Carolina. That is just wrong, and now Georgia Southern goes to Chapel Hill this week. UTEP beat Houston. Hello weird.

Good teams but lets keep it in perspective for now: Auburn and Notre Dame. Auburn is 5-0 and have good wins over West Virginia and Tennessee. IF they beat Arkansas this week and get to say 8-0, I"ll jump on the band wagon. Notre Dame has played ZERO great teams, and eaked out 3 wins. Now they should be in the BCS and Clausen should win the Heisman? Stop it! Coming into the season we knew their schedule wsa soft. Beat Southern Cal in two weeks, and I'll squeeze onto the band wagon. One more thing, it sure looked to me like the Washington RB got INTO the endzone...

Time to check on the Farve vs the Packers game...

ESPN Zone - Times Square

Yesterday was cool. I stood in the rain in Times Square for almost an hour, to buy discount tickets to Phantom of the Opera. It worked. My wife and daughter shopped in the afternoon for FOUR HOURS, and I did not. Classic "win - win". I watched FSU lay yet another egg, the Georgia Bulldogs GIVE a game to LSU, and Notre Dame beat a Washington team that did not win a single game last season, in Overtime. Notre Dame has edged Mich State, Purdue and Washington, all teams with poor records, but the media is ready to put them in the BCS and give Jimmy Clauson the Heisman! Good Grief!

I don't know what to say about Florida State. I have enjoyed watching their football games since I was a teenager and like most Noles, have been very spoiled. Now that they have talented players, but are NOT a good TEAM, it is painful to watch. I keep watching however, and keep hoping. FSU COULD beat about any team in the nation, and obviously could lose to about any team.

After going 0-3 in the afternoon session, it was time for the Phantom. I walked my girls to the Majestic Theater by Times Square, and squeezed myself into a bar seat in the overly crowded ESPN Zone. Auburn and Tennessee were on monitor #1, Oklahoma & Miami on #2, and USC and Cal on #3. Life was good. I never have liked Auburn very much, but with Kiffin taking over at Tennessee, it was easy to pull for the War Beagles. I have hated Miami over the last 20 years as they have broken my garnet and gold heart some many times. That said, I am trying not to be a hater, and I wanted the Canes to beat OU. I was wearing Gator gear, so had several conversations with SEC fans, including an Auburn man from Luverne, Al. He didn't think I would know where Luverne is, but I have road up and down Hwwy 331 many, many times and I told him it was a suburb of Brantley!

Special thanks to my old Pal Duane for the updates on the Byrnes @!St Thomas Aquinas game on Friday night. I was on a very cold double decker bus, touring NY and Brooklyn, wondering how the big game was going. Texting is a worth while application in times like that. The Florida team prevailed over the South Carolina bunch. I have it recorded and will watch it this week.

It is going to be another great week of football, starting with Nebraska and Mizzu on Thursday night and with FLORIDA @ LSU being the 5 star game. I think Florida wins convincingly. Alabama will also handle Ole Miss, maybe even more convincingly, but I'll pull for the Rebs.

While I am not a NFL guy, a couple of observations: Denver is 4-0 and that is illogical. The Saints ARE that good. Jerry Jones will melt down soon, as the Cowboys slipped to 2-2. I'll be pulling for the Packers tomorrow night, and I hope the Bears, Bengals and 49ers have great season, since my buds at work live and die with them every weekend (like I do the Noles and the Gators).

Oct 1, 1982

27 years ago tonight I was married. What does that have to do with football? Well, here is the football tangent :) We were married in a church building in downtown Montgomery, a couple of blocks from the Crampton Bowl. The Crampton was home to the Blue/Gray game for years and years, and that Friday night there was a huge high school show down and the traffic and the crowd was more than evident as we gathered for the wedding. I had the urge to slip over there and check out the game...That first night we made it to Birmingham, to start our honeymoon. Then on Saturday morning, we got back on the road headed for Gatlinburg, Tennessee. On the drive up that day, I listened to the Florida Gators play LSU. LSU had two terrific running backs, and they were too much for the Gators, but at least on my honeymoon, I was able to catch a little football too!

Colorado is playing at West Virginia tonight. The Buffs are having a rough year, but maybe they can compete.

The Orlando Tuskers mascot looks like a character from the Lion King - Pumba?

The weather the last two days has been COOL. First cool weather of the season in central Florida, and I LOVE IT!

I'm off to the Big Apple first thing in the morning, so my next posts should originate from New York City...

Don't forget the big Byrnes/St Thomas Aquinas game tomorrow night!