College Football 2010

Ok, football season has come back, finally. I'm geared up and ready to roll again. Even though I've spent the majority of my time away from the south leading up the start of football this year, that doesn't mean that I'm not ready. I will start this season once again the saying that I think the ACC is number 2, and the Big 12, Big 10, and the Pac 10 (I refused to change their names until all the realignment happens) are in some order 3-5. There is no debate or there needs to be no talk about which conference is #1, the SEC is so talent rich, they make Bill Gates look poor.

Alabama is preseason #1, everyone knows I pull for the Tide, but the schedule is tough with all those teams coming off a bye and that will cause the Tide to lose once. They still are my pick to make it to ATL but their one loss can not be to LSU, ARK, or AUB. They must hold the tie breaker over those teams. Defense wins championships and I going out on a limb and saying the SEC will be in Arizona come January and will be taking home the crystal ball once again.

I had fun last year coming up with my schedule with if I had the money and the time, where I would travel every weekend. I will use the same criteria as last year, Campus, Tailgate experience, Food, Stadium Atmosphere, Significance and beauty of Co-eds.

My top Five games of the Year in terms of importance of the Season are:

#1. Florida @ Alabama on Oct. 2nd. No explanation needed.

#2. Boise St. vs Virginia Tech in DC on Sept. 6th. Does Boise belong, we shall find out.

#3. Miami @ Ohio St on Sept. 11th. Which team is for real this year

#4. Texas vs Oklahoma on Oct. 2nd. Big 12 again at stake

#5. SEC Championship Game Dec 11. Winner will win BCS. If the team is either one loss or better. Uncertainty of teams makes it #5

Ok now for the weekly schedule:

Week 1: Boise St. vs Va Tech, someone's season is over after week 1

Week 2: Miami @ Ohio St., never been to the shoe, Miami's chance to say their back

Week 3: BYU @ FSU, Tally, Jimbo first chance to be out of Bobby B's shadow,

Week 4: Alabama @ Arkansas, Significance in the West, Mallett vs Saban's D,

Week 5: Florida @ Alabama, How good is UF with out Tebow? More NFL talent on those two teams than any other two teams combined.

Week 6: LSU @ Florida, does UF rebound and/or is LSU worth talking about? Gainesville is full of Co-eds and they love to party

I will be at Ole Miss @ Alabama for obvious reasons, but if I had to pick another game

Week 7: Iowa @ Michigan, Is this Rich Rod's last game? Never been to the Big House

Week 8: UNC @ Miami, ACC up for grabs, party in South Beach

Week 9: Florida vs Georgia in Jacksonville, Cocktail party should be enough said. End of one teams chance of getting to ATL.

Week 10: Alabama @ LSU, LSU at night, huge SEC West game, and some jumbalaya

Week 11: Penn St @ Ohio St. Hard pick that week, the winner wins the Little 10

Week 12: Ole Miss @ LSU, there are other good games again that week. But party bus trip from NOLA can't be missed.

Week 13: Auburn @ Alabama, The IRON BOWL best rivalry meets once again. A trip to ATL could be for the winner.

Week 14: UNLV @ Hawaii, I will need some sun and work on my golf game, nothing else to choose beside very cold weather sites and I don't do cold weather.

Week 15: SEC Championship Game in ATL. Once again a trip to win the BCS will be on the line between a one loss Florida and one loss Alabama

Ok thats the season, but a couple more predictions that every college football fan must make:

The Heisman Trophy will go to a QB. Look for Locker of UW or Mallett from Ark.

Bama reigns again this time beating Boise St in Tempe.

Ole Miss won't go to a bowl game

Dark Horse for BCS is Nebraska

First Pick next year in the Draft won't be a QB.

Rich Rod, Les Miles will be looking for jobs come January

ABC/ESPN will end the year saying the SEC won again but Ohio St. will be favorite again next year.

Ok so there you go college football fans and I'm on the record. If you wish, please chime in and tell me where we differ. This season looks to be very unpredictable but thats what makes college football so great. I'm looking forward to kicking things off on my Birthday and I could not ask for a better present than college football starting. Enjoy the year and may the Tide Roll and hopefully next year I will still be able to call Ole Miss the Rebels.

Ole Times are not Forgotten.

Ok I know I could get myself in trouble with this, but I have to use my freedom of speech somehow. For weeks at Ole Miss the University has asked the Students to stop saying "The South Will Rise Again" when the band plays Slow Dixie. The students did not comply. Finally the University had enough, no more playing Dixie to the point where that could be done. First thing that came to my mind, who on God's green earth came up with this idea? Are you serious? I know I know, its a racist things to say. If you look at it that way. I see as a cry for Ole Miss Athletics to rise to a level they once were at. How about rise back up to the good years of Archie, ELi and now the Landsharks and possible the future, we are just trying to get to ATL. Ole Miss is not going back to the days of the "Ole South". That is dead, it died with our ancestors. The new south can move forward with progress if you allow it to. How do allow that, simple by not making something out of nothing. Good Job Ole Miss you just took something, like the whole Colonel Reb on the field issue and brought up to the nation. The old ways of things died when those who did those did. The Old South doesn't still live today as it once was, there might be some small things that live on but not many. Ole Miss needs to attract the light onto its self in a positive way, not negative. All you have done is brought right back into the light a problem that no one sees anymore. If we are going to change something because a few see it as a problem then we will all be changing things every day. I see problems that I would like to change that offend me as a 27 year old, single white male living in the United States everyday. Do I bitch and complain about it, NO. I live through it because if I knew the real truth behind why people are the way they are, and do the things they do I would accept it. Why would I accept it, because I grew up in the NEW SOUTH. Not the old. The old will only be brought up if you continue to do so.
Oh yeah in conclusion, the University wanted to change what the students said to "Go to Hell LSU". Alright thats the answer. Great idea, instead of upsetting one ethnic background, we are now going to upset many backgrounds from many walks of life. GREAT! So today's you think you know but have know idea is "its better to upset multiple ethnic backgrounds instead of just one"! Have a wonderful day and go be what others what you to be. Forget go rebels, GO AMERICA!

SEC Best and Worst

I'm going to continue to write about College Football. I already wrote about my dream year, and I know thats not going to come true. But what the hell a guy can dream. I have told this to many people before but have decided to go ahead and write it all down so I don't forget and let you know what really is out there in the world of College Football (i.e the SEC).

I attended Ole Miss as most of you know or probably figured out from Col. Reb being my picture. I was there for Eli and P-Willie. A great year and many seasons I just wish to forget. However they were still tons of fun. I traveled all over the SEC and saw many, many games. So todays posts is about the best and worst of the SEC. Again like my last post please don't be afraid to offer your opinion.


Theses are in no particular order of importance but just a list.

• Best Tailgate: Ole Miss (The Grove). Ok this is by far the best hands down place to tailgate. The best quote about The Grove I ever heard; "This is the only place that all the sins on earth can come together and make heaven." This is reference to the food, women, swearing, drinks, location, and overall experience. There are many quotes about the Grove and they all don't do it justice.



• Best Traditions: Bama. "This Is Alabama Football"! When Coach Bryant speaks and there are all those flags representing all the National Championships and SEC championships on the field, no team anywhere can say they have what Bama has. Then when they win nothing is worse to hear than "Rammer Jammer" if your are for the losing team.



• Best Bar Scene: Athens. Please let me know if you have ever been to Athens and were able to drive home from downtown. Don't lie. Most/Best bars. The music scene is one of the best in the naiton. But there is nothing worse than a drunk obnoxious Georgia fan.



• Best Student Section: LSU. A night game in "Death Valley" has to be the hardest place to go into and play. I have stood next to someone and we were yelling at each other and could not hear ourselves. Death Valley on a Saturday night, full of drunk cajuns just is not a good combination. Unless you are one.
  


• Best Food: LSU. The Grove is a very close second. They have to eat good food there considering how much they drink. I love BBQ, southern cooking, and cajun. So when we mix all three together, that is a perfect place for food.

Ok now for the bad:

• The Place only to go once: Miss St. This one was a tough one to pick, Vandy, Auburn, UK, ARK could have been picked. Its just those damn cow bells just suck. I hate those damn things. The stadium is aweful, tailgate not so good, and atmosphere is weak.


• Worse fans: Florida. Now this one stick out for one reason. Last year when Ole Miss beat them the whole town became a ghost town. They were ranked #1 party school and a few Ole Miss fans out did the whole school, weak. I was highly disappointed. I have seen them play before and lose, but not like this. They need to take a line from Ole Miss: Win or Lose we still Booze.


• Worse Coeds: Now every school has their share of good and the ugly, but have you ever been to Arkansas. I'm sorry the terms hogs took on a new meaning to me. I could not wait to get home after that game.

I'm going to leave you with this, I know I've missed something or experience somewhere, but the common thing that all SEC school have are the most passionate, loyal fans anywhere. Everywhere I have been the opposing fans have given me nothing but southern hospitality. Well I take that back, I've been to an Iron Bowl in Auburn wearing Crimson.

College Football 2009

Well its that time of year again, College Football season is around the corner. Yes I'm extremely excited and ready for some football. Since I live in Texas now I'm forced to listen to only things about Big XII football. Rightfully so, Texas with McCoy, and Ou with Bradford deserve all the hype. But I'm tired of one thing, this notion that the Big XII has/is better than the SEC has got to stop. The SEC is the best, hands down. Who else has 4 teams in the top 10 (UF, Bama, LSU, Ole Miss)? I will be the first one to admit if you compare the SEC to Big XII offenses the Big XII wins, they do have better offenses. However, the SEC has the best Defenses in the country, PERIOD! Defense win Championships! Thats what the four letter network and other around the country need to start preaching.
Ok so I was in the car the other day and ESPN radio had the top five games they wanted to attend for the up coming season. I decided that because I'm a true fan of College football I would decided on a game that was I would want to go to per week, and the top five games. I picked the same way ESPN did, they picked based on Campus, Tailgating, Food, Stadium Atmosphere, Significance, and Co-Ed experience.
Here is ESPN's top 5 picks, I don't really disagree.
1. Oklahoma @ Texas (Biggest game if the year)
2. Florida @ LSU (Last 3 national champs, plus LSU at night)
3. Alabama @ Ole Miss (The Grove and SEC West)
4. USC @ Ohio State (top 5 teams)
5. Tennessee @ Florida (biggest beat down of the year)
Here is mine week by week if I had time and the money. I would choose the following:
Week 1: Alabama @ Va Tech (In Atlanta) Come on, is there any better game opening weekend?
Week 2: USC @ Ohio State, Never been, plus would love to see this beat down.
Week 3: Tenn. @ Florida, Gainesville+The swamp+Kiffin=Massacre. Welcome to the SEC Kiffin
Week 4: Cal @ Oregon, Yellow Uniforms, Pacific NW, 2nd place in Pac 10 up for grabs
Week 5: LSU @ Georgia, Athens, Athens, Athens.
I couldn't pick one for this week. I will be in Oxford but I couldn't call my self a fan if I didn't include UF @ LSU. Biggest game outside the Texas and OU game.
Week 6: Florida @ LSU, The last 3 national champs, night game at LSU.
Week 6: Alabama @ Ole Miss, The GROVE. Most Hyped game in Oxford.
Week 7: Oklahoma @ Texas (In Dallas), Dallas, Loser is out of the National Championship.
Week 8: Oregon State @ USC, Never been to LA, last hurdle for USC, payback game.
Week 9: Georgia @ Florida (In Jacksonville), Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
Week 10: LSU .@. Alabama, Must go to T-town once a year, Might decided the SEC West.
Week 11: Utah @ TCU, Gonna show some small school love. Dallas area again.
Week 12: LSU @ Ole Miss, Both beat Bama and watch out. I'm glad I've already got my ticket.
Week 13: Alabama @ Auburn, IRON BOWL!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEST IN SPORT, sorry Yanks vs Red Sox
Week 14: Wisconsin @ Hawaii, not much this week, why not a trip to the islands. Great Golf too.
Week 15: SEC Champ Game, ATL, National Championship game elimination game.

A couple more previews for you in terms of Football, and these will be bold.

• Heisman will not go to one of the Big Three Qbs.
• USC beats UF in Pasadena
• Ole Miss season will be very predictable after the South Carolina game.
• Arkansas better not be over looked. Mallet can throw it and we now Patrino loves to throw the football.
• Penn State could make the National Championship game.
• First Pick next year in the NFL Draft won't be a QB.
• Meyer will be the new coach at Norte Dame at 7 mill per.
• ESPN will talk more about Prior at OSU than everyone in the SEC combined.

So there it is sports fans, enjoy and I'm on the record for my predictions. So enjoy the season, and cherish it. It could be one of the best for many reasons. Please don't look at the big picture of things until After week 8, thats half way home and we should know alot about every team. So I will leave with, Are you Ready?

Whitewater

It has taken me now over two weeks to get this post together and written. Why did it take me so long? Well, I'm still at a lost for words on how to describe fully the trip that I took from June 18-28. It was by far a more memorable trip than I ever thought it would be. Sitting back and trying to think of where to begin is to hard, but I'm going to do my best to recap an amazing adventure. I told several people that I was going to Idaho to go whitewater rafting and they thought I was crazy and/or stupid. Well let me tell you something, it was the far from that.
I want to first say that what made the trip were the people that were on it, we covered the US, from Florida to Washington, Alabama to Arizona, and we even had someone from England as well. We were from all over the world and each person brought and put the own unique touch on the trip. When we do it all over again I would like to have the same group. I can't speak for everyone, but I personally can say that I learned something from everyone.
Whitewater rafting in Idaho in June down the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is an amazing experience. The river has so much to offer. Everyone who went found something that they could enjoy. I was lucky to be able to try so many different things. I got to paddle, fly fish, relax, and even spent some time in a ducky. I could do the whole river again doing anyone of these things the entire time and would be completly blessed and contempt to do so. On the river we went over rapids with such names as Tappin, Powerhouse, Hayseed, and Kramer. These are only a few that were conquered on the river, some were more crazy and dangerous then other, but each brought on a different challenge. Of course the river was where all the excitement was but just as good as the river was spending time at camp.
All our camp sites were all full of amazing views. We played cards, hiked up mountains, fished more, jumped off rocks/cliffs into the river, and yes even played a little butt darts. Each camp had it own unique feature, but they all had one thing in common: Laughter and Joy. You would think that you were apart of a Christmas morning opening presents if you could of heard this group being around on another.
I would love to go own and tell you more but I can not think of the words. I know that I'm already looking forward to doing it all again in two years. I just hope that I don't have to wait two years to see everyone again. So to everyone who went on the trip and to those that made this trip possible I want to say Thanks, and hopefully I will see you soon.

College Rules!

Ok enough is enough. I played golf today with a this gentlemen from Ohio. He was from outside of Columbus so I knew he routed for OSU (Oh Shut Up). Our conversations started out peacefully talking about sports and what not. As the round passed and the conversation grew on. Now I want to make this clear, I did not tell him anything about me, where I'm from, which school I attended, nothing! The Colonel Reb head cover on my driver wasn't a tip.
So the conversation about jobs, weather, national news etc.. to something we both agreed on, Brett Farve needs to hang it up, and how boring the summer is until football starts back up. I asked him whats the one thing you wished could be changed in all of Football? Not just college, but the pro's as well. He sat there for a second and though about it and then he hit me with it. This is no lie and 100% the truth. He looks me square in the eye and says. There needs to be a rule that if you make the BCS championship the previous season and then won your conference the next you should automatically play in that season's BCS championship. Ok there are look a person gave to when you hear stupid things, but then there are looks of just pure amazement.
Ok I actually decided I was going to play along with this one. Besides we were on the 11th hole and I wanted to see where this was going. This is only gets better to me. I'm saying to this guy yeah, thats a great idea. I think any team who finished second the previous season should get a pass if they win their conference, then they should get a straight pass to the championship game. Even better the winner should not, because its fun to see a different school win every year. At this point I got this guy going, we are now best friends playing golf, hanging out, talking sports etc... Deep down I'm about to shoot myself for even letting this conversation get to this point. So conversation keeps going about college football, and he never asks me who do I pull for again the club head cover was there right in my cart the whole time. We start talking about the BIG TEN. My favorite, talking rivalries, big games, why they don't need a 12th team, and even a little basketball. Why I know so much about the BIG TEN is because I love to bash it, so I feel inclined to watch sportcenter and let them tell me everything I need to know about.
This all last for about 4 holes. So then comes the kicker that finally sent me over the edge. He looks at me and says, you know what. I think the NCAA needs to do away with conference championships and only make each teams schedule 11 games. You play each team in your confernce and then some school from your state or near for the fans. Ok I hit my wall and turned on the guy. Now my face about the BCS game was nothing compared to what I gave him for that comment. First thing out of my mouth, pure laughter. I could not stop laughing. This guy believed for the entire conversation that we must think alike.
Again going to back to his conversation on the BCS game this all makes sense to me. Once I stopped laughing, the only thing that I could say was, umm if that ever passes then I will actually start pulling for a BIG TEN team. I continued with why on earth would the NCAA ever allow that to happen. Think about it for a second, why would they just shut down National Collegiate Athletic Association. I continued thats just what I want to see, a beat down every year of from the champion of the SEC or USC to Ohio State. Midgets from China playing waterpolo sounds more exciting. At that point this guys face is more priceless than mine was. Ok so next I decided that he might be the dumbest person I ever talked to in sports. I told him that he should leave and never come back to Florida or the south unless its for another beat down from an SEC school or in any other bowl game. He had the balls to ask me if I agreed with his other points about football and basketball. I held back the tears from laughing so hard to simple say, NOPE! At that point we are alomst done with out round, the guy just drove off. Not another word or did I even see him pick up his ball. They guy just left. I continued my round I was playing pretty good. I finished with a 79, one eagle, two doubles, so not bad.
Moral of the story is this, find out where people are from before you start to talk to them about something, save your self the embarassment. This gentlemen seemed like a nice guy, but he assumed that I was from up north and did not pay attention to his surroundings. I might have led him on a bit, but I had to. It was well worth the laugh.

I actually have no Idea

So just to get you started, I really have no idea why I'm doing this. I guests you could say the curriostity of what actually a blog is got me. The title that was easy, Thanks Wild Bill. What will I be writing about? Anything and everything that is random. The majority of my posts will be something sports related though. I love sports and watch and follow just about anything on TV. There are a few teams that I religiously follow: Ole Miss everything, Duke Basketball, Orlando Magic, little golf, and sorry Rebel fans but Bama football as well. I have to I grew up in the state and have to talk to my family about something when I go home.
Ok here we go with the first real blog,
I think my first post as they say in blog terms should be about the title of my blog and a little bit about myself. The title is very simple, there is so many things that I have no clue about, but think I do. I was sitting at a bar in Oxford with my friend Bill and we were talk and somehow that line hit. The line has hit several times when I mentioned it to others. But there was only one first and it came from me and Bill. Now we have thought on several occasions about different chapters of a book that we could write about, or even volumes, but for the sake of things and modern technology, maybe a blog will do. Items that have been discuessed: Life, College, Relationships, Drinking, Games, you name it we have somehow send each other messages dealing with this title. So I have no idea about where this blog is going to go, or even if it will be liked. But like many things in life I must try to find out.
So first a little background on the author for those those think they know about me but really have no idea. Ok I now live in Orlando Florida, I'm 26 and will turn 27 in September. I have one roommate who is one of my best friends from growing up in Mobile. I graduated from High School and went to Ole Miss for College. It was by far the best thing I ever did. I had no idea about Ole Miss and what my future would turn out to be when I enrolled there, but my life would not be the same I believe had I now attended there. So many great friends and memories where made there. I'm currently working on several things, but the company that actually pays me to this point in time is Marriott. Marriott is a great company, and I'm thankful everyday for having a job. When not working I enjoy several things. The beach, sports, partying, are the norms for me, but am up for most things as long as they are outside or something active. So there you go a little background info.
Little disclaimer, all opinions are mine or unless I use your name then it become yours. My opinions are mine and sometimes I hope they aren't to offensive. But if they are oh well, you don't have to open my page and read it. If you think you know me then you will understand why I'm writing what I have.
So goodnight to all, I must go close my bar down, and go home and have a beer. Besides its Friday night and the Rebel had a walkoff today in the Super!