Week 10 - Daddy's Little Girl

Happy Veteran’s Day from Norman, OK Native, Toby Keith

 

Daughter #2 and Dan at the DG House

This weekend I found myself on the plains of Oklahoma for Dad’s Weekend at the University of Oklahoma. Along with spending time with daughter #2, there was by chance coincidentally a football game. The Oklahoma Sooners would be hosting the Iowa State Cyclones. It is my policy to not write twice about schools I have visited, however, I will make mention of a few highlights. As many of you know, Oklahoma is a place I hold near and dear to my heart having lived in the Sooner State for three years and meeting the future Mrs. Tailgate here. First and foremost, another fantastic Tailgate was put on by Lauren and Mike Mullica. Many of the Oklahoma side of my family members were in attendance. Great food, drink and company as usual. I had my first Schlitz in over 30 years and was stoked to know it still exists and tastes great. We also stopped into the Hardzog tailgate for a spell and were introduced to “Not your Dad’s Root Beer”, now a new favorite beverage of the Tailgate. 

It's okay because its not her Dad's Root Beer

How I miss my Schlitz!

Fireball puts fire on your chest, proof is in the picture!

Striking the Pose at the Tailgate

The Mullica/Eichenger/Bolt/Peters/Donnelly Tailgate at OU

The Hardzog Tailgate Crew

The ladies of DG

At the onset of the game there was a Warbird Flyover, and at halftime parachuters jumped into the stadium with flags. The Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band linked up with a Military band and performed a number of patriotic songs in honor of Veterans Day. These are all elements of my perfect day. Oklahoma was led by QB Baker Mayfield and Running Back Semage Perine who both had huge nights in the 52 – 16 rout of the Cyclones. Oklahoma Improves to 8 - 1 on the season and still has a legitimate shot to make the CFP final four. Next week will be a seminal moment for them as they face the undefeated Baylor Bears in Waco, TX. 

It was a pleasure to meet OU great Jamelle Holieway today by chance in Norman. Boomer Sooner! pic.twitter.com/2Aqcmt7Rm8

— Dan Donnelly (@Dantailgater) November 6, 2015

Boomer......

.....Sooner!

Around the nation – Up the road in Stillwater, Oklahoma, the OK State Cow Pokes ran rough shod over the TCU Spiked Toads, and in doing so ruined any chance TCU had of making the CFP this year. However, Oklahoma State improved to 9 - 0 and enhanced their chances of dancing when it counts this year. On Tuesday night, we saw Toledo lose their shot at a big payday by losing to their MAC Conference nemesis NIU and ruining their previously unblemished record.  In Death Valley, SC, Clemson held on for a tough win over the Seminoles from Tallahassee securing their grip on the top ranking in the CFP. Navy shocked the Tigers from Memphis with a beat down on Beall St. in the Heart of Memphis. The ghost of Elvis was overheard saying to the football Gods “Don’t be Cruel.” Memphis kissed its chances goodbye of getting a BCS Bowl bid and were promptly “Returned to Sender.” Navy is now 7-1 and should get more respect from the pollsters. Their only loss was to a very good Notre Dame team. Oh wait, they don’t play in the SEC or BIG Ten, what was I thinking? In the most anticipated game of the week, Alabama’s Defense proved too much for Man Child Leonard Fournette to handle as he was held to a sub pedestrian 31 yards on 19 carries. In addition to Leonard’s dismal performance, Derrick Henry from the Tide racked up over 200 yards on the ground and jumped right into that upper echelon of Heisman candidates. Final Score Bama 30 – LSU 16. In Lincoln, Nebraska, the Huskers shocked previously unbeaten Michigan State when once again, a blown call may have been the difference (See Bieber).  And for the fourth week in a row, a game was decided on another crazy play in Oxford, MS. The Arkansas Razorbacks down by 7 in overtime, were faced with 4^th and 25. QB Brandon Allen completed a pass to his Wide Out who flung the ball backwards and the ball was subsequently picked up by an alert teammate who scampered for a first down. Arkansas ended up scoring a touchdown and the two point conversion to escape with a big upset win. Coach Brett “Curly” Beliema was so ecstatic in the press conference, he promptly told the nation he was going to go hop on his wife. Go figure.

  

Eskimoe Joe Cunningham and his Crew at Oklahoma State - TCU game

 

The McCabe Family taking in their first game at The Big House

The Keehan girl, note fireball and Dad's smile!

The Keehan boy at Clemson FSU game

 

RG III and West Point Wiggings at Army - AFA game

 

Should I be concerned that my Pharmacist likes fireball?

Bieber Award – Bad officials that change the outcome of the game. Last week we all saw what happened when Miami was unfairly awarded a victory over Duke after the referees missed a minimum of four calls on that crazy last second, nine lateral play. The officiating crew from that game was suspended for the next two weeks. That will not however change the outcome of the game. This weekend, most of us agree that the officials blew the call in the Nebraska Michigan State game potentially costing Sparty a chance to be in the final four. A Nebraska player went out of bounds, came back in bounds caught the ball and scored. He was not pushed out of bounds. That my friends is as legal as prostitution and fireball shots in in the Saudi Kingdom. In the Washington State, ASU game, Wazoo was awarded a fifth down due to an inadvertent whistle that resulted in a touchdown for the Cougs. This epidemic is akin to humanoids no longer being able to navigate because we have gotten so used to our GPS. Officials, have now become so reliant on replay that they are okay calling whatever they feel like. They believe that if it is egregiously bad, the play will be overturned. Simply put, the keen eye of officiating has deteriorated to a point of epidemic proportions where outcomes of games and seasons are being affected. What is not in dispute is that these bad officials are this week’s recipient of the desired hardware that is the Bieber Award!

Next Week – This time I am dead serious, I will be taking the weekend off doing “Honey Dos” for Mrs. Tailgate and getting reacquainted with my couch in the DFT World Headquarters. Seriously, no use trying to tempt me with box seats to the Oklahoma – Baylor game, I won’t go………hint, hint.  I mean it! Please send pics so I can live vicariously through your experiences!

Happy Tailgating!