Week 8 - Tyler Strong!

 

Let's just leave this one right here....

There are two absolutes in the world of ESPN/ABC/Disney Corp: It’s Lebron James’ world and we are all just living in it, and every QB at Ohio State is automatically a Heisman candidate. Is anyone else sick of hearing about every move and bowel movement that Lebron makes? In the middle of a great Purdue game, why do we care about Lebron’s second game as a Laker? Also, Dwayne Haskins, as were the last 5 Ohio State QBs is not that good, nor will he play the position on Sundays but Herbie and the boys would make you think otherwise. Haskins had a few good games early this year against really bad teams. Nuff said. Ahhhh, I feel much better now that I got these things off my chest.

No college game this weekend for the DFT crew but there was plenty of action to talk about. We did attend the Monte Vista HS game against Foothill High which they won easily improving to 7-2 on the season. Saturday, Mrs. Tailgate and I were alerted that there was a TCU watch party in town, so naturally we invited ourselves. I walked in wearing a Sooner hat and playing the Sooner fight song on my phone. Needless to say, I was received like a whore in church. 

 

Clockwise from the top: Flipped off by a frog, Dan and the Marine's finest, Mrs Tailgate and Julie, opposing Moms.

Around the country – Speaking of the aforementioned Sooners, the Ruffin McNeil Defense was a much improved version since the firing of Screaming Mike Stoops after the Texas disaster. The Defense was stout for 3 quarters with just one quarter of subpar play giving up 27 points whilst Kyler Murray and the high octane O put up 52.  College Gameday finally came to Pullman, Washington for the Wazou – Oregon game. It was perhaps the most spirited Gameday I can recall watching, as the fans on the Palouse have been waiting forever to see this. Wazou led by new campus legend Gardner “The Stache” Minshew pulled off the upset over the Ducks resulting in a wild post-game, storm the field celebration. 

In West Lafayette, IN, on a frigid winter night, the Boilermakers pulled off not only the biggest upset of the year, but an embarrassing beat down of #2 ranked Ohio State. The fans stormed the field in an epic scene that will go down as one of the most memorable games in Purdue history. Kirk Herbstreit who called the game on ABC was finally out of excuses for Ohio State at the end of the game as he was still thinking Santa was coming down the chimney. Continuing in the Big Ten, the fighting Harbaughs marched into East Lansing to play their “Little Brother”. To say there is bad blood between the two teams is an understatement as things got heated even before the game started. In a game that included a lengthy weather delay, Big Bro came away with a 21-7 win. Coaches Harbaugh and Dantoni will not be sending Christmas cards to eachother this year. In the ACC, Clemson ended all discussion that NC State could make it a two team conference by annihilating them in Death Valley. In the other Death Valley in Baton Rouge, Coach O and the LSU Tigers shut down the men from Stark Vegas 19-3. In Group of Five Conference news, Cincinnati dropped its first game of the year to Temple and UCF and USF remain unbeaten. Division III, #4 ranked Frostburg State defeated Montclair to keep their record unblemished.

 

The Maddalon clan pre-gaming at UW

5th year Senior Ken Reinke celebrating with his new besties at ASU tailgate.

FBI's most wanted were located in Annapolis on Saturday. officer Scarpa gets the credit.

Ginger Trophy -  As noted last week, we have a new weekly feature called the Ginger Trophy, giving acknowledgment to something really Badass. Said trophy is named after our first awardee for sneaking the 5 liter keg (Now Trophy) into a stadium. This week, the trophy goes to Purdue super fan Tyler Trent. He was featured on ESPN College Gameday on Saturday. Tyler is a Purdue Student who is battling cancer for the third time in his young life. He attended the Purdue game Saturday night despite his serious illness and was named honorary team captain.  He even gave a speech to the team in the locker room after the big win. In a world of many “me first” people who complain about little things, keep in mind there are people like Tyler with real issues that stay positive and fight the good fight. For your courage Tyler, you are simply badass and we salute you with this week’s Ginger. Tyler Strong and #Cancer Sucks!

Bieber  Honors – To add insult to injury, not only did Ohio State lose a game this week, they also lost their Team Captain and Star player Nick Bosa to……QUITTING ON HIS TEAM! After suffering an injury several weeks ago, Bosa was told by doctors he could return in December, just in time for the Big Ten Championship game. Instead of heeding the doctor’s advice, Selfish Nicky decided to drop out of school and prepare for the NFL combines in February.  Even with an injury, a Captain still has a job to do for his team and that is lead and lead by example at that. What kind of leader quits on his troops in battle to save himself for something only he sees as more important? I don’t buy the argument that he has to be concerned for his future. Hell, if that was the case, why even have college football? I am so tired of these entitled snowflakes that can’t suck it up and do the right thing. If I were an NFL GM, I would have buyer beware alarms going off all around this guy as he just showed his Jay Cutler/Josh Rosen colors. Nick, you won’t be playing for the Big Ten or National Championship hardware this year but you did earn your first Bieber award. 

Next Up – I am now on the verge of my late season Juggernaut with 7 games over the next 23 days. I will be attending the Appalachian State at Georgia Southern game Thursday night in Statesboro, GA in a Sun Belt Conference battle heavyweight matchup.  On Friday, I will be meeting up with my High School Crew in Starkville, MS for our annual reunion weekend with Texas A&M visiting Mississippi State in an SEC West battle.

Happy Tailgating!