Breaking News - Babypolloza 2011 Strikes Again

This reporter has received news that another couple has doubled the count of the 2011 Hootie and The Blowfish - Babypolloza Event.  A BIG Our Life shout out to Michael and Adrian on their great news.  When I first heard the news that Adrian was expecting a child, I jokingly said "you having twins" and Michael looked at me and said "you beat me to the second part of the news, Yes, twins!".  I then looked at Adrian and she confirmed the news - which at that point I am not sure my reaction was much different than their reaction when they found out.  I didn't believe them but pictures don't lie - two babies.  Wow, two babies, talk about getting put into the game without any warm-up.  They say the best way to learn to swim is to jump in the water.

They are going to be great parents.  We are super happy and excited for them! (and are praying for them)

PS - Aubrey and Wyatt are available to keep overnight or weekends, if you want some practice.

The moment YOU all have been waiting for...

12/13/11
3:30pm
MUSC Prenatal Services 
North Charleston Office

We arrived at our appointment on time and with the kids (for the grammar challenged that plural for Aubrey and Wyatt).  You're probably thinking, "Who thought this would be a good idea?"  I thought it would be a good idea to take the kids and let them see the "baby in mommy's belly" on the screen with us.  It has been an awesome experience for LA and I each time and we wanted them to be apart of it.  We did consider not taking Wyatt but decided that if Aubrey went Wyatt was going also.  For those considering doing this here's a couple of tips:

1. This isn't The Lion King or Dora
2. If you can't figure out what you're looking, I am pretty sure a 3 year old and 21 month old isn't going to have a clue either.
3. Unless your kids are older, I am pretty sure that they will never remember and those 35 minutes of their life that they lost, they would have enjoyed playing on the playground at daycare more.
4. After about 3 minutes, you are going to need some entertainment for the kids and realize that this wasn't a good idea.

We survived the appointment and got good news.  10 fingers, 10 toes, all the organs and the umbilical cord look great and the baby is about 14 ounces and healthy.  There are no markers for downs syndrome which make our risk that same as any 29/30 year old having a baby.

I wanted Aubrey to make a video about the "baby in mommy's belly" for the big announcement but didn't have a chance tonight because we had Little Gym.  Aubrey determined what we are having after carefully analyzing the following pictures:

So what do you think it is? Boy? Girl?

Aubrey tells us that we are having a girl and her name is going to be Kelly (or I guess Kellie).  She has as good of a chance as being right as LA and I.  We are 0-3 on finding out.  Hang on for about 134 days and we will all find out at the same time.  Well, actually I will be the first to know then LA, immediate family and everyone else.  Check back after the new year for the poll to pick the gender, day and time.

Is It A Boy or A Girl?

Today @ 3:30pm is the much anticipated 20 week ultrasound when we CAN find out if we are having Boy 2 or Girl 2.  The Chinese calendar say it's a boy.  LA and I thinks it's a girl.  Adrian's voodoo a few years back said we would have a girl, boy, girl (and I must say that it has been very accurate with all everyone that it has been done to).  What do you think?

Check back in later tonight to find out.    

PS - We are praying for a report of a healthy baby today, boy or girl it doesn't matter.

The Belt is Back - 2nd Time

The Belt Is Back Home

2 Time Belt Champion in 2012

When your playing for the belt "every game matters" (at least those that give you a shot at the belt)

What do you think their talking about in Atlanta, Blacksburg, Miami, Tallahassee, Baton Rouge, Tuscaloosa, Eugene, Stillwater and Boise...They are saying Oh, my! They have the belt again for the second time!...For all of you who thought we were through...You were wrong! WE'RE BACK.



I am not sure what Dabo, The Chad, and K Steele did but in 7 days they found the brakes on the train that after missing two exits (NCSU and SC) and picking up speed and heading for a horrific crash, slowed down enough to take the exit for the ACC Championship without crashing and hit the gas and then the nitrus to steamroll a good Va Tech team (that was crushing their opponents and now a team who's only two losses were to Clemson) that presented every possible problem (running QB, running back, receivers that catch, and a defense that ate offenses) that we have had all year and found a way to stop them cold and knock them out in the second half.

The Good
1.  NO TURNOVERS (created 3 turnovers on D)
2.  Andre Ellington (give me 21 more of him and we would rule the football universe)
3.  10 Wins (1st time in 20 years)
4.  ACC (Another Clemson Championship - 14th) Championship
5.  Tajh Boyd
6.  D. Allen
7.  Defense - MUCH improved tackling, playing assignments

The Bad 
1.  Mike "Mr. Bad Apple" Bellamy (sent home and suspended indefinitely, went from the dog house to the out house...he has some growing up to do.

And now finally a poll that matters (unlike the BCS):
The OurLife Wk 12 Poll
1.  Clemson (Title Belt Holders)
2.  Doesn't Matter
3.  Irrelevant
4.  Unimportant
5.  Can't Hear You
6.  Not A Big Deal
7.  Who Cares
8.  Insignificant
9.  Your Team

The OurLife Summary
After taking taking the exit from perfection in Atlanta, GA by receiving a butt whooping by Ga Tech, that led to a squeaker at home against Wake where we were outplayed on both sides of the ball, and then reaching terminal velocity(with losses at NC State and SC) that had us headed for complete destruction and a 9-5 record.  I was not very confident in our chances after those 4 lack luster efforts (you can go back and read my thoughts) BUT I still gave them a chance if we could get Va Tech into a submission hold like the figure four and that is what happened.  We walked the aisle with a champions heart and determination because we had held the belt before and we wanted it back.  It wasn't easy but we had the belt to play for and #91 - the Clemson great Chester McGlockton (who had tragically passed away earlier in the week).  The defense looked like the defenses of old when Chester played and dominated the line of scrimmage holding the VT running attack in check and limiting the passing game to one touchdown.  Tajh looked more comfortable and was completing passes.  The OL wasn't perfect but got the job down in pass protection and giving Andre just enough room to run.  As always turnovers are important and we got 3 and didn't give any away and that doesn't guarantee a win but you don't win many giving the ball away 3 times.

I am satisfied with the 10 wins and a 10-3 record but DISAPPOINTED because we lost to NC State (not a good football team).  I was one of the ones that thought 7 or 8 wins would be all that was possible.  I give Dabo, football staff and team credit for their accomplishments.  Enjoy the victory but work starts soon for the Orange Bowl game and winning the 11th game.  It's pretty cool that we get to go back to Miami 30 years after winning our 1st National Championship.  Let's take our record in Miami to 2-0.

Looking for the video highlights, stats and the kitchen sink - click here.

Payday
What was this victory worth to Dabo - about $400,000 raise to median ACC Coaches pay which is around $2.2 million (plus his bonus money).  How about The Chad? He signed for $1.3 million - not bad for a man that was making high school coaches pay 3 years ago.  

USA Today Coaches' Poll
Let's look at how the coaches who vote in the final USA Today coaches' poll ranked Clemson (Actual Ranking #14):
Our Friends
#9
Al Golden - Miami
Chris Petersen - Boise St
Larry Porter - Memphis
#12
Steve Spurrier - SC (even after this video)
Our Enemies (Each of you have a butt whooping coming)
#22
Larry Fedora - Southern Miss (who also ranked his team at #16, 6 spots ahead of Clemson, interesting - who has been offered the UNC job)
Kyle Whittingham - Utah
#21
Ron Zook - Former Coach of Illinois
#19
Pete Lembo - Ball State

College Football Bowl Season
I wanted chaos in the BCS but I thought it was going to come from multiple no loss teams but instead it was multiple 1 loss teams causing the chaos.  Each 1 loss team with a valid argument.  I am not sure that "every game counts" like the BCS would have you believe.  I do think Alabama outplayed LSU (but did lose at home) but since they only lost by 3 points, is that loss is better than Ok State's lose to Iowa State (which I don't think is an excuse but it did happen after learning of a tragic plane crash involving the basketball coach which the school has a history of tragic accidents)?  Yeah, maybe but if you look at who each team beat, their ranking, and record, Ok State has a valid argument to be #2 and playing for the national championship.  I have a problem with computers that use some secret formula (like it is the recipe to Coke or Diet Coke) that no one knows except some nerd in a cubical in South Dakota and is dependent on the data being entered correctly (and as close as Alabama and Ok State were this year, just like an error last year changed the order of some teams lower in the BCS who's to say it didn't happen this year with rankings #2, #3?  I also have a problem with how the teams are selected for all the other bowls (for example - Va Tech and Michigan in the Sugar Bowl this year and Boise going to the Las Vegas Bowl).  It is hard for me to understand why football, the number 1 sport in college athletics is the ONLY sport to let computers decide who plays for the national championship instead of it being played out on the field.  Most folks would say it is the because of the kids and their education and extending the season makes it too long.  Whatever, what about the NCAA extending the season of the 20 DII schools (FCS) who are currently in the PLAYOFFS while players are still having to go to class.  Did I miss something about DII football players being exempt from classes and exams.  Is their education not as important as the players at FBS schools.  The DII playoff schedule is as follows:

Nov 20 - Playoff Field Announced (20 teams - not selected by computer)

Nov. 26 - First round

Dec. 3 - Second round

Dec. 9 and 10 - Quarterfinals

Dec. 16 and 17 - Semifinals

January 7, 2012, 1:00 pm ET, Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, TX - championship game

Based on my memory from college, seems like at least four teams would be playing during most college exam week and maybe 8 teams.  The only difference is the DII schools only play an 11 game season and don't have any bowls to attend.  In my limited functioning mind, it would seem that we have enough smart people (like Greg and Jeremy) who could figure out a playoff system with 20, 16, 8 or 4 (but I really don't like 4) teams and figure out the Bowl System.

Let me give you 281 reasons the BCS and Bowl System will continue in some form in college football

     Reason 1 - 281:  2011/2012 Bowl Payout - $281 Million dollars

It reminds me of the silly season in golf when pros are playing in small fields for large pay days.  Based on my calculations the projected ACC take from college football silly season - $44,980,000 (divided by some conference formula and distributed to each member school).  And that my friends is why we have the bowl system.  However, I believe a legitimate college football playoff would generate substantial money for individual schools(with additional home games) and probably exceed the $281 million currently being distributed BUT for any of this to happen the OLD ESTABLISHMENT (see Fiesta Bowl fiasco last year, which don't think isn't/wasn't happening at the Sugar, Orange and Rose) has to be replaced and all the current FAT CATS that are living the good life have to be cut from teat that is feeding them and get real jobs like everyone else.

From The Weekend That Was Football and Championship Week

I forgot about a couple of things that happened over the extended Thanksgiving weekend of college football.

*Did you see the Michigan punter after he bobbled/dropped the snap?


*Did you see the kind words Arkansas coach had for the Mad Hatter after he kicked a field goal late in the game (not safe for children)


*Last week UT (in the south UT is Univ Tennessee; elsewhere it might be Univ Texas but not on this blog) beat Vandy in OT and in the UT locker room after the win you would have thought they won the national championship again and their coach said "...the one thing Tennessee always does is kick the shit out of Vandy". (1st SEC victory of year; six point victory in OT; I am not sure what he will say after a 10 point SEC win but that might never happen - especially after what happened this week....
*A UT loss at Kentucky which I hope The Joker said "the one thing, UK always does is kick the shit out of UT" (attributed to someone else on twitter) 
While I am on this UT rant...
*How did I miss out on the college head coaching gig?  Serious career mistake.  I could have had a losing record in WAC,  and still been hired @ UT with a contract like the following:

• 1.8 million per year increasing to 2.3 million by 2015
• Buyout 5 million until 2/2013; 4 million in 2014/15; only 2.5 million after 2/15/15
• Kiffin Clause - If Dooley leaves (which that isn't happening because I don't think anybody would want him after his UT debacle (unless his father hires him for Kennasaw St where Vince is consulting w/them as they begin a football program, thus far) before 2/15/12 he pays 4 million; 3 million a year later; 1 million in 2014; and drops by 250k the last two years of contract
• That is crazy money and even if he is a failure he gets paid.
• Do not mean to pick on UT (because it is happening at all colleges.  There needs to be a performance clause.  If you have a losing record then your buyout decreases for every loss up to a $0 buyout if you are a totally incompetent) but saw this info and was somewhat shocked but also realized that he isn't the only coach making that kind of money.  I understand he is a professional and wants to win but call me stupid that 5 million hanging out there is a heck of a cushion even if you fail.  But to be honest, it might not be worth the 5 million for all the criticism and complaining from all the crazy fans while losing before being canned.  BUT 5 big ones in then bank account and sitting on the beach somewhere with enough fruity drinks that can make you forget about the crazy fans and all the bad names you were called.

*UPDATE = B1G fan hoax - nicely played. Click here for the details of the hoax You can attend the B1G Championship game free, get free parking and get paid $75 as a "seat filler" (click the link to find out how).  If your in Indy and looking for something to do.  Even if you don't get picked, $9 will get you a ticket.  Pretty cheap entertainment for the evening. I am pretty sure the same thing is happening for the ACC Championship game and he Orange Bowl.

*Suh is a punk...a lot of bad stuff happens between the white lines of the football field and in piles that normal people (like you and me) never know about BUT intentionally stepping stomping on someone is crossing the line. And if you don't think he stepped on him intentionally, then try telling LA's she's not pregnant.

*Turned on CU vs Iowa basketball game last night and was shocked to find CU up 20 and held on for the win. Good shooting covers many inadequacies (much like a good offense does in football).

*RIP Chester McGlockton - former Clemson lineman great and played in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders

Final Four

On Thursday of this week my niece, Meghan's #7 Armstrong Atlantic Pirates women's soccer team will begin play Thursday at 3:00pm in the NCAA DII Final Four in Pensacola, FL against the St. Rose Golden Knights. Since she went out with her season ending knee injury (she has had successful surgery and has started rehab) in the Peach Belt conference championship, they have fought on without her with three victories (2-0, 1-0, 2-1). I don't think it will be much of a game - how tough can you be when your school name is St. Rose (sounds more compassionate than I'm gonna kick your ____) and even if you try to toughen up the name with catchy mascot/nickname like Golden Knights(the only Golden Knights should be Army), it still doesn't invoke fear in your opponent. However, if you are a Pirate you walk on the field ready to rape, pillage and plunder (do whatever it takes to win) and your opponent is scared to death before even taking the field.

Good Luck to the ARMSTRONG PIRATES (ARRRRRRRRRRRR)

The NCAA DIV II Womens Soccer Bracket can be found here.

Weekend Review

The Battle For The Palmetto State
To be honest, battle implies at least two people or more fighting to the finish and this more like a bully on the playground (can you talk about bullying anymore...anyway) who demanded your lunch money (and took your lunch money for the last two years) and you emptied your pockets as he was walking up and gave him an extra five. 

The Good
1. That we didn't get beat any worse
2. Andre Ellington

The Bad
1. The offense
1b. The defense
1c. RED ZONE (you can't beat anyone if you can't score in the red zone...taking FGs and giving up touchdowns...that math never works)
1d. Losing to freaking SC (they were/are the better team)


Summary
Just read last weeks post it all still applies.  Last week I mentioned we were on a road to 9-5 and we are now one exit closer and I actually think we are still accelerating.  I am beginning to believe Sandra Bullock has taken over for Dabo and she can't slow down because there's a bomb on board.  We got out manned across the board, couldn't make the necessary plays (Sammy dropping an apparent TD early in the game - after 11 games, we finally found out he was human), made Shaw look like a Heisman candidate (along with every other QB we have faced - except BC and UNC), and too many 3 and outs.  I mentioned it early on and I think it has become a factor, when The Chad's offense is clicking it puts up points but when it is off (because of your inability to execute or their defense being superior) the defense is stressed (and our D is not anywhere near good enough to be stressed) because of the quick 3 and outs - pretty sure Clemson had a three play series that last less than a minute (like 38 seconds).  We have a bunch of problems and they won't be fixed in a week (just like they weren't fixed in the prior 14 days).  Congrats to the Gamecocks, I hope you get the Cotton Bowl invite because the house of Jerry is super nice - definitely worth a road trip.

Clemson vs Virginia Tech
ACC Championship Game
Title Belt Game (click for game info)
My only comment on this game is that we have a chance.  If we can get them into a Ric Flair Figure 4


or hit them like 45 year old George Foreman (a punchers chance). 


The key to Va Tech is playing them early in the year.  The key to Clemson is play them late in the year.  We have three goals still in reach - win ten game, win the ACC, win the freaking Belt back.  You don't get a shot at holding the belt two times in year very often.  This is important.  They have to show up ready to play and regain some respect.  How much character do they have?  We will find out Saturday evening.  I hope we leave Charlotte with the ACC championship, Title Belt and 10 wins.  It would be a salvage to a disappointing 4 game stretch. 

Happy Thanksgiving

Just wanted to take a few minutes to say that LA, Aubrey, Wyatt and I have so much too be thankful for this Thanksgiving and actually we try to treat each day as Thanksgiving. God pours out his blessing upon us everyday. God has given us His one and only Son, Jesus that we might have life abundantly. God has blessed with a new baby growing in mommy's belly, food on our table every day - every meal (a fridge and pantry full of food), cars with gas in them to drive to work or anywhere we want to go, jobs, an incredible set of parents/grandparents (who we have much to still learn from), brothers, sisters, nieces, aunts, uncles, nephews and cousins that love and support us and provide laughter and are fun to hang out with (at least most of them, since it's Thanksgiving I won't make a top ten family (unlike someone I know that made a top 20 friend list, I'm Just Sayin)), friends that love and support us like family (and like to go out to eat), clothes, shoes, cell phones, computers, and much, much, much more! We are grateful and have much to give back...

The Cherubs sang "Give Thanks" last Sunday.

Give Thanks with a greatful heart
Give Thanks to the Holy One
Give Thanks because He's given Jesus Christ His Son
And now let the weak
Say I am strong
Let the poor say
I am rich
Because of what the Lord
Has done for us
Give Thanks

Weekend Update

Wyatt Update
Wyatt has been declared ineligible to play any sports in the US or anywhere in the world.  He has been labeled a "roider".

He has another cold that got into his chest and is on albuterol and steriods for the next week.

Clemson vs NC State
(This is going to be quick)

The Good
1. That we didn't get beat any worse

The Bad
1. The offensive line
1a. Turnovers
1b. The defense (more on that below)
1c. The players (more on that below)
1d. The coaches
1e.  Losing to freaking NC State

Summary
Not much to talk about here this week. Just when you thought Dabo had removed the ghosts of Tammy Bowden that teams walks onto the field and we lose to an inferior team (beat the teams your supposed to beat and fight to the finish against those you are supposed to lose).  However, this was a train wreck that you could see coming.  I didn't expect it against NC State, so I guess it was a blind side train wreck which is the worst. Every week (except GA Tech), the defense has been gashed and the offense has bailed them out. We have made quarterbacks and running backs who are at best average look like Heisman candidates after playing us. Our lack of turnovers on offense and scoring points in the early part of the season gave everyone a false hope that the defense would get better BUT at week 10 we got our faces crushed in (see tribute to Larry Munson below) at Ga. Tech, took a week off and put on a Houdini performance by escaping the straight jacket and escaping with a win, then went to Raleigh, NC for the Textile Bowl and could not "hunker down"(see Larry Munson tribute below) on defense and stop one of the worst offenses in the country that only averaged 70 some yards a game rushing (their running back had that many yards in the first half) AND offensively stunk it up for the third week in a row.

Let me go ahead and make this point. I do not want to hear about it being a "trap game", "not having anything to play for". If anyone of those 80+ players on scholarship are not motivated to play each week here is a reason

1. You play @ Clemson University and not Podunk U

And a few more reason to be motivated last week:

1. You WERE 9-1
2. You WERE Number 7 in the country
3. The real world isn't near as fun as playing football for 14 weeks (give yourself something to look back on and say "Remember when we were 9-1, #7 and went to Raleigh and beat the ever loving $#!+ out of NC State

If just the first one isn't enough, ask Dabo for you transfer papers and take your talents to SC.

I am going to continue to keep it real and tell you that we are headed down a road that leads to 9-5 at a pace well above the legal speed limit (not sure the trooper can catch us to pull us over).  I am not quite sure I am buying into Dabo, Kevin and Chad's "we're going to fix it".  They have had 11 weeks to improve and develop backups and it hasn't happened.  I am pretty sure 1 week isn't enough time either...but stranger things have happened and getting embarrassed on TV three weeks in a row might be enough to finally make the players mad.  It is going to take a lot more effort and execution of fundamentals on both sides of the ball in the coming weeks.  It would appear our weaknesses have been exposed to the world and Ga Tech, Wake and NC State exploited it (which their little wolf thing they do with their finger is the lamest (that's not the word I wanted to use) thing I have seen at a school playing football); put pressure on QB through the OL (an OL that is banged up, more like a colander, and that could not stop a high school DL right now) and drop 7 into coverage and take away the long pass by dropping two men deep; offensively run the ball because we can't tackle and pass the ball down the middle because we can't cover your receivers.  Another problem is the Red Zone.  We are not very efficient at scoring touchdowns in the Red Zone...week after week we settle for field goals.  Give us the ball at the 21 or further out and we will beat the poop out of you.  Give us the ball inside the 20 and we will field goal you to death (or you will beat us scoring touchdowns while we kick field goals) - pretty sure this has something to do with the offensive line knocking the DL off the ball...but I am not a coach.  I am just a blogger and not a very good one of those.  The best tweets from the game came from @Imjustsayin__ 

@Imjustsayin___Greg Horres

Looks like the Clemson O-line has trouble blocking defenders who move...

@Imjustsayin___Greg Horres

Looks like Clemson's D has trouble against running QBs... And running RBs... and catching WRs...

I haven't given up hope.  There are a couple of exits on this road we are traveling (and one next week will be for the Title Belt).  I just hope we slow down enough to take the exit instead of crashing violently.

PS - I am not about to jump off a building.  I still like our coaching staff.  I knew we were thin on the OL and didn't have a lot of experienced backups on offense or defense and as injuries have piled up it has shown that weakness.  I just want 22 hungry, motivated players to walk onto the field and step up and play their hearts out.    

Highlight Video

I couldn't find one...Oh, that's because there wasn't any unless you were a Wolfpacker.

Rivalry Week - Good Guys vs Bad Guys/ Tiger vs Chickens 

The Tigers roll into Columbia on Saturday night (which on the road, night game and a national ESPN TV audience usually spells ass whooping for Clemson) and both teams are 9-2 and both teams have had moments of brilliance.  Clemson on offense and SC on defense (I still think Ingram is their top offensive weapon and he plays defense).  Who knows what happens in this game.  Last time we were in Columbia, we lost because they said we weren't motivated and didn't have anything to play for since we had the ACC championship the next week which from my earlier rant is horse hockey.  I honestly hope Ellis Johnson's video machine is broke this week - I am sure he hasn't looked at the tape from Ga Tech, Wake and NC State.  This is for state bragging rights and the opportunity to "stepped on their face with a hobnail boot and broke their nose" (see tribute to Larry Munson below).

Clemson Basketball

Want to talk about a team heading downhill fast and doesn't know how to stop.  It's been a rough week - a loss to the College of Charleston (which I am not too upset about, GO COUGARS!) and a loss last night to Coastal Carolina which is 20 times worse than a loss to the Cougs (as my college professor said about Coastal years ago "you have to keep an eye on them and what they are doing...creepy Coastalism".  In addition to losing to Coastal, they got the honored on the hourly showing of ESPN Sportscenter by being showcased on ESPN's Top Plays as the Number 1 play - Clemson gets a defensive stop(missed shot) with a couple seconds left but don't block out (defender fell down) and Coastal gets the tip in at the horn.  It could be a long year...maybe Dabo, Kevin and The Chad can tell Brad how to fix it.    

RIP Larry Munson

I didn't grow up in the Golden Age of Radio (1920s until 1950s when TV replaced the radio as a form of entertainment) but I did grow up in a time before every college football game was broadcast on TV. It was a big deal when your team was on TV. I also was deprived as a kid and did not have cable television until late in my high school years. It had something to do with the location of our house and the distance from the road to our house and signal loss...etc (at least that's what my father told me and I have no reason to doubt him...or do I? Was it really some plan to keep me and my sister from watching cable TV, which was seen at the time as an evil of society (all those channels and rigged boxes)? So many Saturdays were spent listening to the radio as announcers painted a picture and your imagination took you there. I was fortunate to be able to hear some of the best announcers of college football games - Jim Phillips at Clemson, Bob Fulton at South Carolina and occasionally Larry Munson at Georgia. All were legends and had a special gift that got you standing up shouting with them. Larry Munson passed away this week and one more legendary announcer has departed. There won't be anymore like them. The radio broadcasts of college football today are not the same. In a tribute to Larry here is some of his best work. Take a few minutes and go back in time when every football game wasn't on tv.

Munson Classics:

"...oh, God a touchdown...in the corner...was it Watson or Gibson...trying to put glasses on it"
"...my God Almighty, Herschel Walker he ran right through 2 men"
"...run Lindsey"
"...broke my chair...stadium fell down...now they are going to have to rebuild it now"(It was their last game in the old Gator Bowl stadium where GA play FL each year in the "largest outdoor cocktail party")
"...largest cocktail party...there's going to be some property destroyed tonight..we were out of it...you gave up and I gave up to...miracle"
"...hunker, hunker down guys"
"...85 seconds left" (classic)
"...look at the sugar falling from the sky"
"...62 seconds...were going to try to kick one a hundred thousand miles...try to kick a 60 yard plus a foot and a half...this is ungodly" (this was against Clemson, he actually kicked from Clemson to Athens through the goal post)
"...we just stepped on their face with a hobnail boot and broke their nose, we just crushed their face..."

Title Belt Match-Up

VA Tech vs Virginia 

Major League Baseball

Can someone tell me why it is November and baseball is still in the newspapers? Why does it take 25 days to announce all the post season awards.

And to be fair to baseball: Congratulations and another deal with the owners and players a year early and avoiding a strike. I am still not watching BUT at least you realize the value of not striking and not being in the news everyday for being unable to find a way to split billions of dollars.

Which leads us to the continuing coverage of the...

NBA

Still don't care they are not playing. The only ones I feel sorry for in this mess are the employees who are not working because these to groups can't find a way to split billions of dollars.

PS - In case the NBA players wondered, they are not the NFL. Get the deal done asap before everyone who cared turns into me.

Weekend Update - (Updated 11.16)

Women's Bathroom
I've had a couple or incidents with the women's bathroom lately.  

You wouldn't believe the nasty looks and words women give me when I take Aubrey to the restroom.  Where else I supposed to take her?  The men's?  Are you kidding me?  Do you know how nasty and dirty men's restroom are?  Do you realize that if a man has used the toilet in a public restroom he has either peed all over the seat or blown the place up.  I might as well as take her the port-a-potty at the nearest construction site.      

FYI the women's bathroom at Zaxby's in Summerville near the Target (every female knows where that is) is straight back and the men's restroom is on the right.  If you want to get a strange look from a couple of women (because we all know women go to the restroom in pairs), open the door and take a step in side.  About the time I took the first step and was looking for the urinal, my eyes caught the eyes of to visions of beauty standing at the mirror, laughing which stopped and turned into a shocked looked like they were about to be attacked by animal.  I quickly realized I was in enemy territory and retreated say "opps" and started laughing as I turned around and found the door to the men's restroom.  The rest of the story is that fortunately for me the two lovely women starring at me with the "what are you doing in here look" was Ashley and LA. 

Welcome to the 21st Century, LA
I don't know how this story slipped past me but LA put her Motorola Razr away a couple of weeks ago and joined everyone else in the Inerd revolution that has swept the nation and now has an Iphone 4s. I am pretty sure that Danny and LA were the last two people in the US to join the smartphone revolution. Welcome aboard the mobile information super highway.

More updates towards the bottom.

Baby Update
Everyone is wanting to know what is going on with LA and the baby.  Nothing much to report except that LA is still tired from being pregnant and work.  Not sure it LA knows for sure but I am not sure exactly how far long she is.  I am estimating about 17 weeks.  We have an ultrasound coming up in about 3 weeks (1st of December).  As soon as I am certain, I will start a calendar on the blog to keep me and everyone updated how far along LA is.  We are still debating about finding out the sex.  LA doesn't want to find out and I would like to find out since it is number 3 and we didn't find out on the first two.

Aubrey has named the "baby in mommy's belly" Kelly regardless of it being a boy or girl.  I am going to let LA break the news to her that Kelly is not on the short list (or actually any length of list) for names for baby 3.  

Clemson Lake Weekend 2
Wesley, Karissa, Wes, Garrett, Mike, Heather, Hayes, Emmy, LA, Aubrey, Wyatt and me headed out last Friday afternoon for a weekend at Lake Hartwell and a Clemson football game (more on the game later).  LA and I wanted to get to downtown Clemson before the stores closed to do a little shopping so we didn't have to worry about it on Saturday when it is crazy downtown.  I was shocked at how many people were shopping downtown.  I was pretty sure that we were the only one that would have that idea since when I have drive up on a Saturday, I am in traffic with all 78,000 of my closest friends.  Since it is now daylight savings time and get dark at 5:30pm, we had to find the house in the dark but how hard can that be, we have GPS and we found Gregg's family lake house in the dark with GPS and find driving skills navigating a curvy, hilly road.  It's actually more difficult that I thought, since evidently Harbor is a popular street name in that area and there is a pretty big difference between Harbor Lane and Harbor Drive both are on Lake Hartwell.  We found Harbor Drive pretty easy.  Harbor Lane was a little more difficult since it was in Townville BFE.  We were fortunate that Wesley arrived first and left a bread crumb trail for us to follow...since at this point I was skeptical about the GPS and after about 5 turns on back country roads it felt like we were on some wild goose chase and like we were about 2 turns from sleeping in Mr. O'Leary's barn with the cows.  We found the house and 6500 square feet was just barely enough room for us.  The house has a lot of potential but wasn't as nice as I had expected.  It has some flaws but it was better than sleeping in a hotel, motel, Holiday Inn.  We gave the kids (except Aubrey and Wyatt) the bottom floor to destroy and stay up as late as they wanted which turned out to be after 1am on Saturday.  We fixed breakfast both days at the house and had some of the best Jimmy Dean Mike Ulmer sausage ever made.  Wyatt and Aubrey were pretty good at the game (not as good as last game but not a total disaster).  Aubrey and Wyatt were done with the game midway through the third quarter (when WF was scoring the last of their 21 third quarter points) so I took them down below where I could see the game on tv and walk out to the portals occasionally.  LA came down in the 4th quarter to save the day.  NEVER under estimate the power of a lollipop and smarties to get a child do just about anything you want them to do.  We had a good weekend and it was good to spend some time with everyone.  Hopefully, we can do this every year.

Clemson vs Wake Forest

The Good
1.  ACC Atlantic Division Champions (Goal 1 accomplished)
2.  The Chad (without him, we are 6-4 - loses to V Tech, G Tech, MD, and WF and maybe worse)
3.  Andre Ellington (98 yards the hard way - translated very little blocking)
4.  4th quarter Tajh
5.  WF's defensive inability to catch balls thrown by Tajh directly to them
6.  WF's field goal kicker (almost as bad as ours)

The Bad
1.  TURNOVERS
2.  OL and Defense
3.  Tackling
4.  The Deuce injured (probably out for NC State but will not likely play)
5.  Bye week and still looked bad

Summary
I have tired to be honest and realistic this whole football season.  What is the difference between past years and this year?  We have won games in the 4th quarter that we have lost in past years (see above).  Currently, we have one loss, are Atlantic Division champs, and have two big games remaining.  Why is the NC State game important/a big game?  It will show that we can finish and put the train back on the track because after Ga Tech and WF, we don't look very good.  We are 7th in the BCS and to be honest we are the weakest 1 loss team in the country.  Our defense (is a strainer) cannot stop the run and when our offense is running ruff it isn't very pretty.  Hopefully, we can get it figured out this week.  I will give them a hint, eliminate the mistakes and tackle (knock the poop out of them).  It's a big game because beating NC State will give us 10 wins, something that hasn't been done looong time.  It's important because the following week we play SC in Columbia at night (night games on the road and on ESPN aren't always good experiences for us) and some momentum would be nice.  This year has been fun so far because it always fun when you are winning - losing sucks.  Clemson has three games left and I hope we show up each week and play up to our potential on offense and defense (at least on offense, we still have the potential to not stop you on defense but one time and still win but out scoring you).
Highlights


Trophy Presentation


Title Belt Update
Since we still have a possible title belt shop, I am going to keep you updated on what's going on with the title holder - Virginia Tech (who took it from Georgia Tech last Thursday night).  Virginia Tech is on the road this week at UNC and unless they lose in Chapel Hill, Clemson will get another shot at the belt in the ACCCG in Charlotte with the belt and the ACC championship on the line against either Virginia Tech or Virginia.  Virginia Tech's final game of the season is a rivalry game against Virginia.


Armstrong Atlantic Soccer Update
My niece's season has ended. In the conference final (1st wknd in November), she injured her knee(1:37 remaining - tore her ACL and MCL) making a save with about 10 minutes remaining. She gutted out the final 10 minutes and they won the conference tournament title with a goal in the final seconds. On last Sunday, they won their first game of the NCAA tournament and have advanced to the round of 16. Here's the video from the conference final and the save when she got hurt:


In an exclusive with this Ourlife reporter, she told me the following:


Penn State Scandal
I haven't commented on this blog about the Penn State scandal but I have been on top of every article written, interview, blog...etc and I HAVE read the Grand Jury report all 27 pages (which after reading, I wanted to throw up and then drive to Happy Valley and kick his @$$). If he is indeed guilty of 1 or more accounts (which after hearing his interview the other night with Bob Costas, I am even more convinced), then set up an appointment at the tattoo parlor (why are the call tattoo parlors?) and get "I Like Young Boys" tatted on his arms and send him to prison. What this has opened my eyes to is how easy it was/would be for a parent to get sucked into all the opportunities JS(or anyone) was offering (tickets to games, hanging out with football team, working out at Penn State, being a father figure to a child that might not have one in their life....etc) and not question what was going on any further. If someone what's to shower(no pun intended) those type of things on Aubrey, Wyatt or Baby 3 they better have room for one more because me or LA will be attending and watching you like a hawk. I sent an email to some friends about making sure to question me or LA about who my kids are hanging out with (adults or friends) and I would do the same for them - no hurt feelings.


It's hard to laugh about anything about this topic but Jon Stewart did a good job of summarizing pretty much everyone's thoughts after the JS (via phone) and lawyer (who is questionable at best) interview with Bob Costas on Monday night...

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Hope Clemson is recruiting this sophomore from VA...Ric Flair would be proud
Just this one tackle alone should get him a scholarship to most D1 (FBS) schools.  They called an unnecessary roughness penalty on the play which I think is hogwash.  It's football, a contact sports not quidditch (which if you are a male playing it, please turn in your man card....oh, that's right you never had a man card). 

Monday...Wednesday Ramblings

The Title Belt
Just wanted to update something from my last post after Clemson's debacle in Atlanta.  The title belt is currently held by Ga Tech.  Their remaining games are against Virginia Tech (for the ACC Coastal Division), Duke and Georgia.  It is possible for Clemson to get another shot at the Belt in the ACC championship game in Charlotte against Va Tech or Ga Tech.  It is also possible for the belt to hijacked by Georgia and taken to the SEC.  I will keep you updated over the next three weeks on who has THE BELT.

Weekend 
LA and I got to spend last weekend with our hosts for the weekend (Greg and Jenn) and some great friends at an AWESOME lake house (Da Casa Banana2) on Lake Oconee in Greensboro, GA.  Greg and Jenn treated us like kings and queens and gave us a little taste of what's it's like to be on MTV Cribs.  As Greg's says "I'm a pretty big deal" and he was right.  It is about an hour outside of Augusta on I-20W.  The house is perfect for a large family gathering with 10 southern state (SC, NC, GA, FL, LA, AL, TN, VA, KY, MS - long live the south) themed bedrooms and bathrooms.  LA and I were assigned the GA room and I was happy we had indoor plumbing and not an outhouse like most of GA still has (actually our bathroom was kind of themed as an outhouse - tin walls in shower and flower pot as the shower head).  The house is loaded with amenities - pool, hot tub, fire pit, large kitchen, multiple refrigerators and stoves, large laundry room, man's room (complete with flat screen tv, pool table, bar, pin ball machine, golf arcade video game ), and a media room under construction.  They haven't missed a detail in making this the perfect vacation spot for a large family gathering.  If you are looking for a place that sleeps 40 for a weekend or week, I would suggest looking at Da Casa Banana 2 first.  Your not going to find anything like it anywhere else (and I didn't even tell you about the mural painted on the wall in the master bedroom). (I have not received any compensation from the owners of Da Casa Banana for this endorsement.)  A weekend can't be any better than spending it with friends, hot breakfasts, snacks, frogmore stew, football on the tv, pool and playing arcade games (all on free play, wiis are so 2000's) .  I am pretty sure no one found out I went back downstairs after everyone went to bed to play a couple more rounds of golf.  The rest of details will be kept to the attendees "What happens at Lake Oconee, stays at Lake Oconee".  A big thank you to Greg and Jenn, Greg's parents and Jim and Deeny.  PS - Hope you don't mind but I borrowed the key from Greg and made a copy.  I will be the guy in the man room playing the golf game.  I am harmless.

Clemson Weekend Part 2
I am looking forward to Clemson weekend part 2 with LA, our kids and Wesley and Mike's families.  We are arriving on Friday late afternoon, going to the Clemson game, and coming home on Sunday.  There might even be a chance for me to meet a famous movie/tv star on Saturday at the game.  I will let you know next week, if it happens.


County Music Star     
You saw Aubrey's music debut a couple weeks ago with the Cherub Choir.  She has also started singing a couple of country songs.  Here are the videos of here first two country songs she started singing out of the blue.  I am pretty sure it's from when she rides with mommy because she would be telling jokes (Bob and Tom) or singing "Back In Black" if it was from my car. 

Taylor Swift - Mean

Tags: Mean, Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift Videos

Aubrey Singing The Chous and Dancing - Mean


Blake Shelton - God Gave Me You

Tags: God Gave Me You, Blake Shelton, Blake Shelton Videos

Aubrey Not Singing the Chorus and Dancing - God Gave Me You


Her wardrobe might need some work but I think she has the dancing down pat. Wyatt even gets into it a little bit. Aren't kids the best!!!

LA's Big 30 Birthday

Monday was LA's 30th birthday...I mean 29th birthday.  If you want to know more about her check out last year's post.  I think I am taking it harder than she is.

Why LA turning 30 is bad for KC:

• No longer married to someone in their 20's
• I was legendary now I am just ordinary.  It was fun while it lasted
• I am just like everyone else (except Danny who has a wife in her 20's...enjoy it while it lasts)
• Now we are both just old...no one will care or act shocked now about our age difference
• If LA is 30 then, wow, I am old.

Why turning 30 for LA isn't so bad:

• She will always be much younger than me
• If she ever feels old or is having one of "those days" she can just look at me and instantly feel 14 years younger
• It's not 35 or 40 (and I already told her 40 is when you really are old)
• 30 is the new 20
• She actually still looks 20
• She is and will always be the youngest in her family
• Better than the alternative (you know, six feet under)
• 30 is not as old as she thought

Since this was written after her birthday, I hope she had a great day!  She had a great birthday weekend at the lake with a bunch of friends, thanks to Greg and Jenn and has ANOTHER lake weekend this coming weekend with her brothers and the Clemson game on Saturday.  She did have to go to work (which probably wasn't a lot of fun on her birthday) but got a edible arrangement from the girls at work (errr...ladies at work, since most of them are over 30).  We went to dinner at Yokoso's.  She got gifts from me and the kids - cupcake carrier (a sign she is old), monogrammed scarf (orange - a sign she is trendy and still "hot"), two Clemson stickers for her car and a long sleeve Clemson t-shirt (a sign she has graduated from college but is SUPER COOL).  Probably the best present, I could have given her was lottery tickets.  If she would have won, talk about a birthday present that kept on giving.  We even had cake and ice cream.



30 is just a number and you are only as old as you feel and act.  I will love you no matter how old you are (and I know that you will get finer with age - just like wine and me) and I look forward to laughing and celebrating many more birthdays with you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  I LOVE YOU!!! (all 30 years of you).

PS - I owe you the 30 spankings and 1 to grow on....maybe we can change it to kisses :)

Title Defense 6 - Pesky Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech has walked the aisle and defeated The Man


Down Goes Frazier, Down Goes Frazier


Our Life College Poll - Discontinued

The Good
1. Sammy Watkins

The Bad
1. Losing to Ga Tech (Va Tech, Florida State acceptable but not Ga Tech)
1. Turnovers (4 total but only 3 mattered; last one was interception on last drive down by 14; two turnovers by running backs - Bellamy is now officially labeled in my book as a fumbler and a punk (you don't talk $hi# after a play and especially when the other team is handing your @ss to you - he will have the title until he proves me different; BTW - we will still take any points he scores)
2. It's either coaching or scheme (not buying players because we have had better and worse players and same results) why we can't stop the triple option or running qbs.  VA (who is terrible) and Miami shut down GT.  Why couldn't we?
3. Ellington being hurt
4. The Chad - It's going to be expensive to keep him around.  I hope he realize that there's no other place like the hills of Clemson, SC.

Summary
I have been a realist during this whole ride to 8-0 and now 8-1.  I told you earlier that we could have been 6-6 (after 6-0), 7-5 (after 7-0) and 8-4 (after 8-0 - which Dabo must now prevent from happening).  Getting your first lost late in the year is tough because you start thinking what it might be and could it be.  At the beginning of the year, if you would have told me Clemson would have been 8-0, I would have told you that you are crazy.  I would have been happy at this point with 7-2 but actually thought 6-3 was more probable.  It was a fun ride but unless you buy another ticket, you can't ride it forever.  Dabo was able to keep everyone focused and motivated for 8 weeks but we walked the aisle on week 9 and took a couple of knockout punches, got a gift from the refs, got an interception and a chance to cut the lead to 7 and I Believe that if Clemson scores there that we win the game because the defense is motivated to find a way to stop GT (but that's not what happened, instead Tajh throw an interception and the equipment manager started loading the bus).  As I (and everyone else) have said earlier, it doesn't matter who you are playing if you are ranked in the top 10, that teams are motivated to beat you and if your playing in their house it is going to be that much harder.  We have successfully made to quarterbacks look like Heisman candidates (MD and GT).   So Paul Johnson and Al Groh got more revenge against Clemson....arghhhhh.  The defense was our weak point - see earlier games against _____________(pick an opponent, except Boston College) and their inability to stop the run, giving up the big pass play, playing in a hostile environment and turnover and it's the end of the road.  Not going to dwell on this loss anymore....we have an off week (hopefully, it will an "off" week with lots of work on both sides of the ball (the offense and defense will see exactly what GT did the rest of the year) and it's time to move on an accomplish the team's goals from the beginning of the year - division champ, acc champ and orange bowl champ.

Misc Football Stuff From Week 9
1.  I saw this hit and wanted the kid ejected (regardless of his actions after the hit which is why he got ejected).  I am pretty sure I blogged about this earlier this year after a similar hit but it has to be an immediate ejection for hitting a player who has signaled a fair catch or if you hit him before the ball gets to him.  This kid was lucky....


2.  My first Christmas wish list item for 2011:


3.  Eric Legrand Leads Rutgers onto the field


4. Some of the best costumes you might not have seen - Rice/Palin (awesome); zombie kids (awesome)

My Sister's (Julie) Birthday - October 28, 2011

Friday was a big day for my OLDER sister, she celebrated another birthday.  I wanted to give her birthday shout out.  I am not going to discuss how old she is or how much older than me she is or if this birthday was the end of a decade or start of a new one.

As many things, as I can think of about my sister because I am pretty sure I couldn't come up with enough for how old she is...

1.  She is a Summerville High School graduate (They had schools back then?  I can't tell you the year she graduated, because then you will figure out how old she is and I know she doesn't want that)
2.  She was in the marching band for SHS
3.  She played the flute and was in the color guard
4.  She knocked one of her friends out with her flag pole one time...she said it was an accident (but let's be honest, Aubrey says everything is an accident too)
5.  She tried to knock me out with a baseball (She said that was an accident, also. I don't remember to much about us growing up and playing together, since she was so much older than I was but I do still remember that day vividly)
6.  I remember us having an imaginary line in the back seat of the car on trips..."Don't cross the line." (On second thoughts maybe it was mom and dad that established the imaginary line)
7.  She went to the College of Charleston during the John Kresse era.  Go Cougars!!!
8.  She actually graduated with a degree in childhood education...I know shocking that someone from Summerville HS could graduate with a college degree.
9.  She taught in Dorchester District 2 for a few years but lived in Charleston off Hwy 61...she must have been making the big bucks.  Probably it was when she told mom and dad she wasn't coming back to this two bit town.  It wasn't big enough for her....at least that's what I thought I heard, remember I was younger when she left for college and was just glad to have the house to myself and glad she didn't come back home and cramp my style (that carried on for a number of years in that house during HS, college and after college).   
10. She always bought me and my friends alcohol (just kidding mom and dad - would have been a good idea if I would have thought or cared about it then - hindsight is always 20/20)
11. She now lives in Savannah, Ga. (home of Paula Dean, that's all that going on there right?)
12.  She married her roommate from college husband's brother (they met at her wedding...guess it was love at first sight) 
13.  When she moved to Savannah, I vowed that I would never move her sofa bed again.  It was the heaviest sofa every made because it was actually made in America and the bed frame was steel.
14. She has 3 great kids - Carter, Meghan and Katie
15. She still is a school teacher (25 years in Savannah - a quarter century, should give you a clue as to how old she is...that's a long time reporting to work - good job)
16. She has patience (see number 14 and 15).
17. She was mom and dad's favorite (until I was born - ha!ha!)
18. Everyone always thought I was older (and it made her mad...bet she wouldn't be mad now).
19. She is a recreational photographer...probably will be her retired career (which has got to be getting pretty close)
20. She loves "The Sound Of Music".  I can't even count how many time I had to watch it but enough to know - Doe a deer, a female deer; Ray a drop of golden sun; Me, a name I call myself; Far, a long way to run; Sow, a needle pulling thread; La, an note to follow sow; Tea, a drink with jam and bread; which brings us back to Doe...
21. She does a great job creating scrapbooks (Hopefully, she will do our kids when she retires.)
22. She loves "Gone With The Wind" just a little bit less than than "The Sound of Music" but not much.
23. This birthday was a BIG one because she left town to avoid the heat.  Chris took her away to the Georgia mountains for her birthday weekend.  Not sure I would be going to the mountains this time of the year - bears and snakes are looking for their last meal before hibernating.   
24.She is a fantastic mother and sister.
25. This is the halfway point to how old she is (and my stopping point - graduated from SHS in 79 and CofC in 83).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Your only as old as you feel.  Unfortunately, your pretty old.

We love you!!! Hope you have lots more birthdays but you will always be my older sister.

Aubrey wanted to make you a couple of videos....Enjoy!

Singing Debut

Last Sunday Aubrey made her singing debut with the Cherub Choir at Bethany.  Pretty sure she will be signing a recording deal any day now...just waiting on Simon to give her a call.  We are real proud of her - especially since we were pretty sure she was going to run out of the sanctuary (every second the last song and longest benediction ever lasted gave her time to run for the door).  All the kids did great.  Here's the video....Madonna  Carrie Underwood look out.

Title Defense 5 - UNC Reunion Weekend

A couple of shout outs before we get to the important Clemson football recap.

*To my wife who is the greatest and kept the kids on Saturday so I could go to the Clemson game with my long time friend from college, Walt (who is the only UNC fan I know - you don't want too many of them in your life).  I love you, LA!

*To Stuart and Meg on their wedding (and giving me and a couple of others that I saw at the game a pass on attending their wedding).  I hope y'all have many years of happiness together.  I was able to make the end of the reception to wish them well and tell them Dabo said "Congratulations, this win is for Stu and Meg."

Title Defense Number
"In professional sports, Ric Flair 5 times the man"..."whether you like it or not, learn to love it, because it's the best thing going, today!"..."(the 4 horsemen) compete at a level unknown to mortal man.  We run all night, we run all day, 24 hours.  We live, we eat, we think wrestling.  We're the best there is"..."...diamonds are forever and so are the 4 horsemen"


*Note...if you don't want to watch the match (which I don't know why you wouldn't want to watch the best there ever was) skip to the 5:28 mark.

Our Life College Football Poll:
3 New Teams Received Votes
1. Clemson (Title Belt Holder)
2. Doesn't Matter
3. Irrelevant
4. Unimportant
5. Who Cares
6. Can't Hear You
7. Not A Big Deal
8. Insignificant
9. Your Team

The Good
1. Downtown Kourtnei Brown / Touchdown Kourtnei Brown / Kourtnei Bad Bad Leroy Brown
2. The offense 50+ points two weeks in a row - 35 points in the 3rd quarter
3. Nuk Hopkins (if you have a child the Nuk should should familiar, yep that's where his nickname came from)
4. The Chad

The Bad
1. NOON KICKOFFs (just bad, bad, bad for college football)
2. Big Plays - I place the blame on safeties and cornerbacks (poor tackling and poor coverage).  We have got to stop the big plays for touchdowns and big plays that lead to touchdowns.
3. Kickoffs - Have to find someone who can kick the ball into the end zone (regular kickoff guy out for the year).  I appreciate the effort from Zimmerman (our punter) but he doesn't have the leg for kickoff, punting yes.  18,000 students, Dabo, send the email for open tryouts.  I wouldn't complain if it was a girl - whatever make us better and kicking the ball in the end zone consistently makes us better.

Summary
As I mentioned earlier, my friend from college, Walt, went to the game with me to continue a tradition that was started after college of attending Clemson vs UNC football games. The ACC expansion caused us not to get together quite as often since Clemson and UNC are on a rotating schedule. There's a long story behind this comment but now before I attend any UNC football game with him, I must see the ticket before getting in the car to go with him (something about a UNC vs Miami game when UNC was ranked probably Top 10 and I didn't have a ticket but unknown to me he had a ticket. Me and his wife ended up with tickets to get in but no assigned seat (they were student tickets and the student sections were packed early before we got in the game and thus my rule was established). I am glad Clemson has had the upper hand the past years in football because we don't have it in basketball. We were able to expose the weakness in UNC's defense - their secondary which Taj was able to pick apart and throw touchdowns to 5 different players.  No one can say we are one dimensional or stopping player x will stop the scoring.  The Tiger has lost 10 pounds this year from doing pushups after each score.  The 35 points in the 3rd was crazy.



Title Defense 6 Preview

It was supposed to be a match up of top ten teams but Ga. Tech is now on a two game losing streak and looking to get back on track.  If history has a say in the outcome then Ga Tech will derail Clemson's BCS plans and get back on track (Last time Clemson was 8-0 and defeated UNC to get to 8-0 they lost the following week to Ga Tech - 2000).  BUT as Lee Corso says "No so fast"...this Clemson team is different from the 2000 edition coached by Tammy Bowden.  We have Dabo, The Chad and cast of playmakers.  It's different, right?  Until a new precedent is established, I keep waiting for something like this to happen (finding a way to let a certain victory slip from our hands).  I keep telling myself it is different but to prove it is different you have to get it done each week and I believe that's the message Dabo is preaching to the troops - finish the job.  It will be another hostile (as hostile as engineers can be) environment and another night game.  Hopefully, the Danny Ford and '81 team National Championship team that was in town for last weekends events was able to shed some light on taking care of business each week to the current players.  If they weren't convincing enough then they should watch the video of Oklahoma and Wisconsin games and see first hand what happens to your National Title hopes when you don't get the job done.  The ranks of the unbeaten are down to the Elite 8.  I hope we can walk out of Bobby Dowd Stadium on Saturday night still unbeaten...one week at a time.

Misc
1.  Clemson has run 626 plays to lead the nation and The Chad says "we can run more"
2.  Welcome back to the blogging world, Jenn Williams - Courtyard.  I hope she stays at it.  It's always a good read.
3. Dizzy Bat Baseball at a football tailgate not a good spectator sport



5. Congrats to Meghan for being name PBC Goalie of the Week - This one goes with her (2) PBC Takedowns of the Week...evidently the word is getting around the conference not to mess with Armstrong's goalie.

• 1st GOW award 
• 5th Shutout of the season
• Conference Game scoreless streak 568:14 minutes (this sounds even better...her last conference goal was way back in September (9/24))

Week 7 - Title Defense Number 4

LA and I went on the road for Week 7.  We went to Lodge (just past BFE) and stayed with Wesley, Karissa, Wes, Garrett and Paige.  I didn't realize they had cable that far out in the country or indoor plumbing.  However, I forgot the Wesley is a BIG DEAL.  The hospitality was superb (like staying at at 5 star resort), Wyatt and Aubrey had a good time playing with everyone.  Since Clemson won, we might be back when Clemson is on the road when they play Georgia Tech, NC State and SC (leave a key for us since you will be in Ohio).  We were in Lodge for Wes' confirmation on Sunday.  Congrats to him for becoming a full member of the Lodge UMC.

I am a little late with this but better late than never.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUZIE.  Wyatt wants to give you some kisses.

Clemson Vs Maryland - Title Defense 4

"...It belongs to me until there's a man that can walk the isle and do something about it....weather you like it or not I am going to be the Champ for a long time..."




Our Life College Football Poll:
1. Clemson (Title Belt Holder)
2. Doesn't Matter
3. Irrelevant
4. Unimportant
5. Who Cares
6. Your Team

Breaking League Expansion News
Clemson has been in invited and accepted to join the PAC 12 (where defense is an option).  I said it in an earlier post, our defense might not be able to stop you but we can out score you.

The Good
1.  The Deuce (Is there any question?) 345 all purpose yards breaking CJ's record (oh, and by the way, we needed every yard and point he scored for us)
2.  2nd half Tajh
3.  Ellington (good running skills to get extra yards running angles to get away from defenders)
4.  Never quitting - pretty sure Tammy's CU teams would have folded up the tent and got on the bus

The Bad
1.  Run Defense
2.  Run Defense
3.  Run Defense
4.  1st half Tajh (I am not sure who the heck he was throwing the ball to for much of the 1st half...except for the one he threw directly to the MD defender)

Summary

After the first series, where Clemson scored with ease against MD, I was not worried about the offense scoring points and being able to do it quickly.  I was concerned with how quick we were scoring and the defense that was getting schooled being too tired.  I told you every week since we won the title belt that you get everyone's best shot (just like the Nature Boy did).  We have got to get the defensive side of the ball figured out.  We can't be a contender until that is fixed.  We made their quarterback look like Michael Vick.  It was exciting....maybe a little too much.  The road isn't any easier from here on out...UNC, GTech (on the road), Wake, NC State (on the road), SC (on the road).



Chicago - The Windy City
I was in Chicago Monday night, Tuesday and left at 6pm on Wednesday for Motorola meetings.  Just where everyone wants to be in October (I know the weather gets worse...which I hope I never see).  For some reason when I travel with my sales team and we check in at the hotel they get the premium room and I get the closet.  I am the one paying for the rooms and get the crapiest room in the hotel.  For example, last year our meetings were in Ft. Lauderdale and the hotel was beachfront.  Their rooms were facing the oceans with big balconies and huge glass doors and I couldn't even smell the ocean from my closet sized room facing the beautiful convention center. This year, we had all requested a king bed.  Jim got his room first - king bed.  We were joking about me getting the closet and I told the gentlemen helping me "no worry, he is going to upgrade me to the presidential suite".  He sure did double beds "just like you requested".  I said "no, I requested a king".  He checked the computer and told me I was out of luck - double beds or no room.  Chris was next guess what kind of bed he had - king.  It wasn't a big deal but it was funny.  Chris insisted we switch rooms so we were rebels and changed rooms.

When we were leaving on Wednesday, the weather had turned pretty crappy (normal for them) - 20-30mph winds and rain.  I was concerned that we were going to get to stay an extra day but we weren't delayed and got of town.  I would have preferred having my buddy Travis flying the plane because to be honest, it was probably the worst weather I had ever taken off in (except for the 10 degree morning trying to leave Jackson Hole, WY and the weather was good but it was cold and we had to deice 3 times.).

Misc
*  Down to 10 undefeated teams
*  RIP Dan Wheldon
*  Get Well Soon Marcus Lattimore (crappy way to blow you knee out)
*  Did you see this video?  It's everywhere so I figured I would add it also.  Jeremy what are the odds of this happening?

Tale of the Tape - 3 Years and 18 Months

I am a little late posting this information but here's where Aubrey and Wyatt are after 3 years and 18 months, respectively.

Aubrey
40 inches tall (3' 4" - 75 percentile)
38 pounds (94 percentile)

Wyatt
Height:  33.5 inches tall (2' 9.5" - 77th percentile)
Weight:  28.5 pounds (90th percentile)
Head Circumference: 19" (72nd percentile)

This was the doctor's appointment on Thursday before Wyatt decided he didn't like (actually his body didn't like) amoxicillin.

Both are healthy and provided laughter, shaking of heads and enjoyment every day.  We are blessed beyond measure with two healthy kids.   We are just about out of the weeds with these two and beginning to prepare to get back in the infant mode.  In the last 3 months, they are beginning to start interacting more and playing more with each other which has been fun to watch - actually it is Aubrey getting Wyatt to play dress up. 

Two Tech Giants Pass Away

In a matter of 7 days, we have lost to technological giants - Steve Jobs of Apple and Robert Galvin of Motorola.  One with much press and another hardly mentioned but without the vision of both of these men no telling where we would be....don't believe me click the links and read about them.

Bob Galvin while leading Motorola lead the way for them to invent the first radios used by the military, the equipment NASA used to communicate to astronauts, the first celllular telephone system and phones (just to mention a few) that we all depend each day.  Without Bob Galvin's leadership at Motorola years ahead of Steve Jobs no telling what Steve would have been able to create.  Steve Jobs was pretty successful in his own right by creating everything starting and "i" in front of it that you and I have to have.  I don't have an iphone but I do have an ipod and I bet you would be hard pressed to find someone that doesn't have something Apple or Motorola in their house.  Both pioneers in their field and great leaders at different times.

Bob Galvin is the reason businesses like mine today are around and how Motorola has and still is able to set itself apart from it's competition because of his creation of a quality standard int the 80s that challenged America's companies to meet/exceed their overseas competitors.  It was called Six Sigma.  He also realized early on at Motorola that he needed a nationwide group of independent service centers to provide the service and support to Motorola's customers after the sale.  The combination of local high quality service and the best products put Motorola on track to beat their competition, be the leader the communications industry and is something that continues today because of Mr. Galvin's leadership and vision.   

I had the honor of meeting Mr. Galvin at a friend's 50th business anniversary which he made a point of attending even after retiring.  He understood the invaluable benefit of the service shops and there contribution to the overall success of Motorola. 

Rest in Peace