Week 5 CFB 2011

People ask me what makes college football so great versus other sports. So here is my answer: It is the school spirit, the home fans all wearing the same color shirt, 81,000 people doing the jump around, the student section, the marching band, the fight song, the mascot, the players pre-game walk to the stadium, the unpredictability of the outcome, the school traditions, tailgating, the cheerleaders, ESPN College Gameday & Erin Andrews, Keith Jackson, Lee Corso, School pride, flying colors that have real meaning, regional rivalries, military fly overs, the history of the game, the legends and myths of the game, the passion. All of these things combined make the perfect recipe for what is the greatest spectator sport in the world. It is what drives me to wake every Saturday at 5:45 AM to watch 18 hours of football or attend a live game and a tailgate party. This is why I put life on hold and treat this hallowed day as the sacred Sabbath of Autumn! Every Saturday from Labor Day through Thanksgiving weekend brings excitement to me that I have not known since I was kid waking up on Christmas morning. Perhaps there is a Corso Clause?

Tailgate update - We hosted another backyard all day tailgate party at Dan’s Bar & Grill. Alumni from Northwestern, UCLA and Notre Dame were in attendance. Grub consisted of dogs, links, drinks and lots of other good chow. The first featured game of the day was the Northwestern Wildcats squaring off in Champaign against the mighty fighting Illini. Northwestern, bolstered by the return of Quarterback Dan Persa had high hopes and jumped out to an 18 point lead. As predicted, brawn outpaced brain and the Illini came muscling back to win. As the game was winding down, my Northwestern friend and former NW player was heard screaming at the TV (See picture of the tall dude with hand gestures) “That’s all right, that’s okay, you’re going to work for me one day!!!!!” We then watched Boise win a redemption match against Nevada in ugly fashion. I called a last second audible and bailed on going to the UCLA - Stanford game and took a hit on my dwindling allocation of man cards. However, I was able to watch another 9 games throughout the evening from the comfort zone of my leather box seats at home!

Around the rest of the country – The most hyped games of the week turned out to be lopsided beat downs. The Master educated the pupil in the swamp, Nick Saban showed the young grasshopper Will Muschamp how it is done on the road in a hostile environment. Nick was heard saying “take that &%$#ing Gator Chomp and stick it!”. Nebraska was given a rude welcome to the Big Ten in Madison. How did the Cornhuskers like the “jump around” at Camp Randall? And Russell Wilson now has to be the front runner for the Heisman. Is he this year’s Cam Newton without the Scandal? And how about some respect for Dabo and his Clemson Tigers knocking off three top 20 teams in a row? Dabo has brought excitement to Clemson that has not been seen since the likes of Danny Ford graced the sidelines in Death Valley. Now for the gems of the weekend: Did anyone see the BYU - Utah State game Friday night. Utah State is challenging Toledo for this year’s Heartbreak kids. And How about Arkansas improbable comeback over the SEC wannabe Texas A&M? Andrew Luck may not only be the best QB in the Country but that catch he made may make him the best receiver with this Heisman worthy play:

I wonder if Gordon Gee had another fun Saturday in the Horseshoe? Oh what’s that, they lost at home against Michigan State? It sucks to play by the rules, doesn’t it? Perhaps G2 should schedule some Little Sisters of the Poor to get those 10 wins again. RG III we still love you…one interception won’t kill you, but it was untimely. K –State is still undefeated so props to the man who has a stadium named after him in Manhattan, KS …Mr. Bill Snyder. Washington State scoring 2 TD’s in the final 180 seconds to beat the buffs in their PAC 12 debut was impressive or deflating depending on what side of the picture you view from. The Service academy update had Army winning big, and Navy going down to Air Force in OT because young Mr. Proctor could not keep his emotions in check. Seriously coach Ken, make the squid walk the plank…arggggghhhhhhhh!

No gripe of the week this week, instead we will do the good deed of the week. Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State has befriended a young 9 year old cancer patient named Olivia. Instead of me writing about it, please click on the video below and enjoy the story:

Guest blogger of the week – roving reporter “Willy (Brother) from the Tailgate “ reported in live from McDaniel College in Westminster, MD.

“Small college football at its best!”

Although the home team lost and fell to 1-3, it was an exciting game that wasn't decided until the final seconds. We (son Joey, his friend, and myself) had great seats right behind the McDaniel bench, and the atmosphere was festive and friendly. Easy access, good, cheap food, free parking and no admission has guaranteed that this old timer will definitely come back for the next game, on October 15! Final score Gettysburg - 44 McDaniel -37.

Next Friday, the tailgate will travel to Fresno to watch the Boise State Broncos take on the Central Valley Bulldogs of Fresno State. Saturday will be a day of recovery watching multiple games back at the man cave.

Happy Tailgating!

Week 4 CFB 2011

The command center of the Tailgate was primarily rooted to the leather luxury box seats in the family room all day Saturday after Friday night’s backyard dry run turned into a late nighter and rough morning. Nonetheless, the Tailgate Nation had many of its members attend the following games around the country: LSU –WVA, Ark – AL, Tulsa -Boise, Mizzou –OU, St. Vincent PA DIII game, and Oregon and Arizona. At the command center the primary games viewed were Notre Dame – Pitt, OK State – TA&M, and Tulsa – Boise with live look ins on 27 other games throughout the day. I do rule my castle….at least for 1 day a week. What’s that honey? Yes dear, I will go do the grocery shopping today. Yes dear I will clean the bathrooms. Also, for those coming over for the backyard tailgates, we received new tailgate games to play in the yard. Of course they will involve the vices of gambling and drinking to truly enjoy.

So, at the beginning of the year, we were concerned with who we could have fun with now that some of the main Characters from Tailgate years in the past were no longer in CFB. Well, how can you not love Clemson Coach Dabo Swinney? Perhaps one of the best post game interviewees in the country. I want the 5 hour energy drink he imbibes. And do you have his back? “He got your back!”

Also, our boy Dana Holgerson does in fact have a Ben Franklin neck comb over. How does his wife let him leave the house that way? Of course BK and Coach Bennett have also made our list this year as newcomers to the tailgate roast. We will vote at the end of the year on your favorite.

Around the country – First, a shout out to the Zookies from Illinois for starting out 4 -0. Good luck in conference play. Hey Terps, you got shellacked again. Maybe you should start playing ball and stop changing your wardrobe every 5 minutes now. And How about San Jose State getting their first D1-A win in 2 years? UCLA knocking off Oregon State in perhaps the battle of the basement in the PAC 12. Let’s give a nod to the Sun Devils of Tempe for knocking off the Lame led Trojans late last night. No disrespect to Bama and the Sooners but LSU is the number one team in the country right now. Big wins against 3 ranked opponents on the road, pretty darn impressive. And #7 Mathieu is as good as it gets in CFB. Alabama looked dominant against a game Razorback team in Tuscaloosa. And of course Dabo Swinney getting his second big win in as many weeks in Death Valley. We do have your back coach Dabo! Tough loss for Cal in Seattle against the Huskies. Poor execution on the last set of downs did them in. Wisconsin, you are 4-0 but conference play starts next week..it will be interesting to see how good you really are. And BK and the Irish eeking one out on the banks of the Monongahela. Toledo got robbed in the Carrier Dome. The UGA Dawgs acted like Dawgs and squelched the Rebel yell. Boise winning easily but not looking as sharp as they should. Did my daughter stay to the bitter end or was she at the library studying like she told me she would do? OU putting a scare in the hearts of Sooner Nation before they decided to pull away from Mizzou. One of the best games of the day was watching OK State come from behind a 20 -3 deficit to a win. Brandon Weedon now has to be in the Heisman conversation. This will bode well for those who also receive AARP benefits. RG III and Baylor cooking Rice easily. He too is squarely in the Heisman race. The Cornhuskers shucking and jiving to a win in Laramie against an improved Cowboy team. Is the Quack Attack back? Just ask the Wildcats from Tucson. And let’s not forget about Mr. Robinson doing his thing again in the Hoke Bowl (Gov Chris Christie’s long lost twin) against the Aztecs in the Big House yesterday. We know where you have gone Mr. Robinson and here’s to you Mr. Robinson! Army did not prepare for battle and got blasted by Ball State. The mighty Falcons of Air Force flew by their opponents easily.

Gripe of the Week

The butt pimple otherwise known as the Salsa Rapper “Pit Bull” in the new Dr Pepper commercial that is always on ESPN. First of all, when I want to have a good time, a really good time I don’t drink Dr Pepper. Second, I don’t go to some warehouse in my cool guy suit with bling and watch some other pimple on the butt of life do the modern adaptation of break dancing. The funny part is that the girls dancing around you are all 5 inches taller than your little man self. And last Pitt Bull, why are your commercials on every college football game on the ESPN Networks? What the hell do you know about football? The worst part about this is after I watch 18 hours of college football on Saturday, is that I can’t get that stupid jingle out of my head and I wake up in a cold sweat singing “Let’s have a good time, a really good time”. Food for thought: what ever happened to “I’m a Pepper she’s a Pepper don’t you want to be a Pepper too?”

Happy tailgating!