The College Football thread

“I started to list Auburn high, but am afraid of a let down from not being in the NC game.”

“You are forgetting the power of The Moose! USC will win.”

“Chili has seen the light!

You don't see Auburn having the Tennesee bowl syndrome eh? I hope not.

On with the bowls!”

“28. Hawaii
27. Utah
26. Fresno State
25. Oregon State
24. UCLA
23. Colorado
22. Northern Illinois
21. Southern Miss
20. FSU
19. Louisville
18. California
17. Purdue
16. Texas
15. Miami (Fl)
14. Memphis
13. Auburn
12. Georgia
11. Georgia Tech
10. Iowa State
9. Cincinnati
8. Boston College
7. Tennessee
6. Toledo
5. LSU
4. Ohio State
3. Navy
2. Oklahoma
1. Alabama”

“Thanks Arky. I probably should've put Hawaii higher too. UAB's pass D sucks.”

“I'm thinking Timmy Chang may pass for 500 yards.”

“I think the over/under is 450 and I take the over.”

“I'm thinking the Mojo of the moose bay get dispelled... I'll take OU and the points if I were to make a bet.”

“Coooool! Well the usual suspects are back.

Doesn't anyone else want to show their football knowledge? Guessing ability? Luck?


28. Liberty Bowl- Louisville
27. Holiday Bowl- California
26. Las Vegas Bowl- UCLA
25. Gator Bowl- Florida State
24. Outback Bowl- Georgia
23. MPC Computers Bowl- Virginia
22. Capital One Bowl- LSU
21. Sugar Bowl- Auburn
20. Rose Bowl- Texas
19. Continental Tire Bowl- Boston College
18. Sun Bowl- Purdue
17. Cotton Bowl- Texas A&M
16. Fiesta Bowl- Utah
15. Silicon Valley Bowl- Northern Illinois
14. Sports Bowl- Syracuse
13. New Orleans Bowl- N. Texas
12. Independence Bowl- Iowa St.
11. Alamo Bowl- Oklahoma State
10. Motor City Bowl- Connecticut
9. Emerald Bowl- New Mexico
8. Houston Bowl- Texas-El Paso
7. GMAC Bowl- Memphis
6. Fort Worth Bowl- Marshall
5. Hawaii Bowl- Hawaii
4. Insight Bowl- Oregon State
3. Orange Bowl- USC
2. Music City Bowl- Alabama
1. Peach Bowl- Florida


May the footballs bounce in your direction!”

“Looks like arc is picking Florida solely based on what's on his diploma.”

“Louisville is strong, but I don't think they are as strong as arc wants to believe.”

“Cocoa, glad you joined us. you missed one! Please post before game time tonight.

Jo, I am so glad you wanted to play as well. Please post those missing two games before 7:30est.”

“That should be a great game to watch Chili. Surely we can get tickets. Anyone want to go?”

“I pick the fave and put'er at the end. It won't matter anyway. I won't need it to blow by you pretenders and has beens!”

“There was some talk on another thread about a foliage trip to the Smokies. Anyone interested in a Smokies trip the 3rd or 4th weekend in Oct? That's around peak time for leaves. We'll probably need to plan some elevation change so that we can be sure and cross into some leaves. If we're early, just climb and we'll get color.

Camping at #13 at Gregory Bald might be good. The campsite is at about 4500' with the bald at 5000'. 360* views overlooking Fontanna lake and Cades Cove.

Another option might be Cataloochee. We could possibly find a campsite close to a bald and have the same type view. An added bonus is the Cataloochee elk herd. They'd probably be in the middle of their bugling for that time of year.
last edited: 12/14/04 5:08:29 PM”

“Hell yeah!”

“We'd likely have about 2500' of elevation change over 4-5 miles. fyi for those unfamiliar with the area.

MDS and I hit Gregory about 3-4 days past the peak azalea time up there a couple of years back. It was beautiful. A deer came to within 5 feet of him. I got a pic with him and the deer in the same frame. I was maybe 15-20' away.”

“Somebody slap Cocoa & wake him up.

Sounds like a great idea but the only weekend I might be free is Oct. 21,22&23. I have football games every other Friday night until mid to late November. Also it depends on how my hip surgery goes. I go under the knife Feb. 9. WooHoo!”

“Good luck on surgery.

I hadn't looked at the calendar. I might be out for that weekend. 10/23 is my b'day. I suspect I'll catch flak for that. Are you and Parker planning on doing this provided your hip surgery goes well?”

“It's your b'day. Do what you want.
You may get to sleep out side a few more days when you return.

I'll be in the woods as soon as my doc allows it. I probably won't really know until it gets a lot closer.

Parker? You never know with him.”

“It seems like the thing to do is plan it for that weekend and then if I can go, I can go. If not, I'll try for Savage Gulf the following weekend or something.

I actually talked to my wife over the weekend about this trip to see if she was interested. Her biggest concern is the bears. I doubt she actually tries to go though.”

“Hah! There's an embedded Google ad for Army-Navy tickets! Where's Geo when ya' need him?!”

“Okay, with my first pick...for 28 points...


I take Southern Miss.”

“Bold statement there Tunacan.

Have I taken the early lead? I've to crow while I can.”

“Before I made my picks I checked injury reports. I compared rushing offenses to rushing defenses. I checked passing offenses against passing defenses. I checked rushing stats, I checked QB stats, and I checked receiving stats.

I carefully compared the data, came up with my list, and I picked Southern Miss to beat N. Texas.

Two hours before I posted, a friend looked at my list and strongly suggested that I pick N. Texas instead. “Duuuuuuh OK”, I said as I changed my pick. “Yeah, North Texas will wear them down with the running game”, he confidently predicted.

Do you think I should keep this guy as my stockbroker?”

“Ouch, and you had those losers in the middle of the pack too.”

“Dayhike, before I talked to him, I had S. Miss at #17. Ouch...ouch.

I figure I need to stop listening to him altogether, or grow some bigger cajones so that I can just say NO when he gets confidently adamant, but hasn't done as much research as I.”

“This is cut and pasted off a Bama Football board. I thought yall might enjoy it.

My Mother, Cancer and Coach Bryant

One evening, in the spring of 1981, my father informed me over dinner that my mother who had been in the hospital, had been diagnosed with cancer, and the prognosis wasn’t good. Needless to say as an only child, just 14 years old, I was devastated. My family was very close.

My mother eventually came home from the hospital late that summer, but she was still very ill. Some days due to the medication she wouldn’t even recognize me. It was a difficult time for all of us. My father had to work an enormous amount of overtime to try and pay for the mounting medical bills and my grandmother who lived with us cared for my mother around the clock. My only escape was the Crimson Tide.

Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky, it is unusual for a young boy to follow the Tide, but my fondness for Alabama has a unique connection. My grandmother had developed a friendship with Mary Harmon Bryant when they lived in Lexington while Coach Bryant was at Kentucky. My grandmother always said that Mary Harmon was the classiest lady she ever met. My father, a life long Kentucky fan, is a great admirer of Coach Bryant.

It just so happened that on September 19, 1981, Alabama made a rare trip to Lexington. My parents did not renew their Kentucky football tickets that season, due to her illness. It looked like I wasn’t going to be able to attend the game. Then, something very special happened. My Little League coach called the night before the game and said he had an extra ticket, and would I like to go? He knew the answer because I never shut up about Alabama. What I didn’t know, was that my grandmother had written Coach Bryant about my mothers illness, and had asked my coach to take me the game.

When we arrived at the stadium, we went right to the area where the visiting team’s locker room was located. I thought he was just giving me a chance to see the players, but when we stopped at the gate, he handed a man in a red blazer a piece of paper from his pocket, and after reading it, the man told us to meet him at this spot after the game.

The game seemed to fly by. Alabama didn’t play well but managed to pull out a win 19-10. After the game we headed for the chain link fence as instructed. As Coach Bryant slowly walked to the locker room, he was stopped by the man in the red blazer who whispered something in his ear. Coach Bryant then leaned over and shook my hand. I was face to face with the legend. I was so nervous, I couldn’t speak. I just stood there and shook. Coach Bryant, in that wonderful low growl said, “I hear your momma is sick, I know that has been hard on you. I’m sorry we didn’t play well for you today, that is my fault. I want you to be strong for your momma, and believe she is going to get better!” All I could muster was a weak “Yes Sir”, as tears rolled down my cheeks. Then he patted me on the shoulder, turned, and walked off.

As Coach Bryant slowly walked toward the locker room, the entire team began to pass by. They seemed to be nodding to acknowledge me. Ken Coley, the quarterback gave me the towel he had worn on his belt to wipe his hands during the game. Then the man in the red blazer shook my hand. I asked him why the players had done that, “I’m just a kid” I asked. “You’re wrong” he answered, “Coach Bryant spoke to you, they may not know who you are, but they know that makes you someone special.” Then I realized that a crowd of Alabama fans who had gathered at the fence to get a glimpse of Coach Bryant and the players were looking at me. For the first time in months, I was over come with joy.

When I arrived home that night I told my grandmother the story and she confessed to me her role in the arrangement. Then she told me, I must do what Coach Bryant had said, I must believe my mother would get better. I must have faith.

It is now 23 years later, and my mother, is alive and well. Her cancer mysteriously went into remission. The doctors didn’t have an answer for the miraculous change of events, but I did. I told them, Coach Bryant saved my mothers life. I know he didn’t really cure her, but he gave our family hope. And with hope, anything is possible.

I still live in Lexington, and cheer for the Tide. Everyday going home from work I pass Commonwealth Stadium. The chain link fence has since been replaced by an expansion at the still dinky stadium, but I always glance over as I pass by at the place where the greatest coach in the history of football, once took a few moments to care about a little boy who lived in Kentucky.”

“I screwed up by setting up the possibility of another Football thread trip only on email.

The very loose and general plan:

WHEN: Probably weekend of 10/22/05
WHERE: Probably Smokies. Gregory Bald or Cataloochee have been mentioned. Gregory overlooks Cades Cove. Cataloochee has elk. Both have balds that would offer wide views
WHO: Anyone who participates in this thread. It's a good food and fun type of trip with lots of bs about how each individuals sports team is far superior to all of the other teams.

So far, the folks who've expressed an interest are dayhiker, cocoa, arc, chili, Arky, and Dunadan. This is basically who went on the first football thread trip, with the exception of arc. The first trip was hosted by chili and Arky in the Ozarks. We have since had one or two smaller trips to the Sipsey Wilderness.”

“I'll go if Arc goes. I want another Michigan fan to hike with.”

“Nigal, arc is a South Carolina fan now that Steve Superior is coaching there.”

“No that\'s not it. He just likes \'em cause they have the word cocks in their name.”

“LMFAO @ nigal.”

“Are YOU tawkin' about... ME? Are YOU tawkin' about... ME?

I don't get no respect.


Well, it appears as if someone else will be enjoying the title of football god this year. I can’t have picked any worse so far considering the winning teams “ran up the score” in both games. It’s just so humiliating for those poor teams and me. Oh, the humanity.




The AP fires the first major shot!!!

The AP told the BCS to stop using its poll to determine who plays in their championship game. That is GREAT news. I am proud of the sportswriters for taking a stand on this nonsense.

PLAYOFF…PLAYOFF…PLAYOFF…”

“Ah, it's time to review the bowl standings so far... wait a minute... do you guys smell something?... Smells like something died. Oh, wait, it's just me.

arkykickinbuttandtakinames- 111
dayhikerclosebuttnocigar- 85
cocoaintherunning- 74
chilistillhasachance- 52
JOcan'tcount- 42
arcan'tpickabowltosavehislife- 31
Dunadanwaittillbasketballseason- 21”

“I'm so glad Dunadan participated. It's makes all seem right with the world, well, except for a Hawg being in first place.”

“I thought wounded knee participated?”

“Hey! Don't hate me because I'm pretty. Hate me because I'm kicking your butts.

Of course it can change at anytime but I'll get in my jabs while I can. As for the rest of you, Thank God for Dunadan!”

“At least he's consistent.”

“And cocoa, the aubie comes in third, yet again.”

“Personally, I like to wait for a big finish.”

“What about, "Thank God for arclite"? I have now taken the dubious honor of last place.

Hell, even Arky, who skipped one pick, and JO, who can't count to 28, are ahead of me.

How the heck did I ever manage to win this contest? How could I have picked (against the spread) so well all year, and have been so pathetic with my bowl picks?

Arky is running away with this thing! At least the winner will be from the SEC. It's the only conference where fans actually know something about football. Well... except for me, that is.



We are leaving at noon today. We'll make the six hour pilgrimage to Hotlanta. Tomorrow we get to see, in person (from spectacular seats), my team loose to Miami in the Peach Bowl. How do I know they'll loose? BECAUSE I FREAKIN' PICKED 'EM TO WIN!!!

My wife just isn't as romatically inclined as I am. I mean, what's more romantic than being at a football game with your spouse on New Year's Eve? So I got reservations in Dahloniga at a little bed and breakfast for Saturday and Sunday nights.

We're going to hook up with Radagast and Jenny Saturday to go hiking at Amicalola Falls State Park. I mean, what's more romantic than hiking with your spouse on New Year's Day?

I hope to make it back alive on Wednesday.”

“Arc, which pick did I skip?
What is the score for this so far?”

“Damn engineers. Never can keep the scores current.”

“Not so fast my friend. That's arclite that's keeping score and architects can barely add. I think I've had to correct his scores on more than one occasion. Surely he can handle 28 games.

I enjoyed seeing yall whip ole fRANNIES ass.”

“Whip??? More like a slaughter.”

“LOL! Just heard Minnesota was a bit more offensive than just Barber and Maroney's 276 rushing yards as the Minnesota's band struck up Rocky Top immediately following the Music City Bowl. Ouch!
last edited: 1/03/05 3:46:43 PM”

“Yep, they sure did. Folks on the Bama boards are hot. They're spouting about not having class and the like. Someone asked what the difference was between that and us singing Rammer Jammer. That's a song we sing after victories, though th and chili haven't heard it in a LONG time.

I suspect their playing it had to do more with the game being played in the state of TN that it did our rivalry, but who knows.”

“Believe it or not I didn't whatch the Rose Bowl and didn't even know who won til the next day.”

“Do you really think we're letting you get away with that lame ass excuse?

Nigal, are you still considering the Jericho trip?”