It's Kickoff Time - Heaven On Earth For 13 Weeks

For the next 13 weeks we get a glimpse of what heaven must be like for a southerner:

• College Football
• Tailgating
• Food
• Family
• Friends
• Fun

It is unlike any other time of year and the rest of year isn't too bad either.  Hank Williams Jr. sang about how great it was to live the south in his song "If Heaven Ain't Alot Like Dixie".

If heaven ain't a lot like Dixie, I don't wanna go

If heaven ain't a lot like Dixie, I'd just as soon stay home

I was one of the chosen few, to be born in Alabam'.

I'm just like my daddy's son, I'm proud of who I am.

I went through a lot of good women, and shook old Jim Beam's hand,

If I never see the pearly gate, I've walked through the promised land.

If heaven ain't a lot like Dixie, I don't wanna go

If heaven ain't a lot like Dixie, I'd just as soon stay home

If they don't have a Grand Ole Opry, like they do in Tennessee,

Just send me to hell or New York City, it would be about the same to me.

I've got wild honey trees and crazy little weeds growing around my shack,

These dusty roads ain't streets of gold, but I'm happy right where I'm at.

All these pretty little southern belles are a country boy's dream, 

They ain't go wings or halos, but they're sure looking good to me.

There was a graphic the other day on ESPN about NFL or College Football:

If Florida wasn't infiltrated by northerners, it would be a red state also.  Any other questions about why college football Saturdays in the South are important.  No better place on earth to be than at a stadium tailgating before a game or at home watching the games in HD. 

It Was A Long Wait But We Made It Without Killing Anyone (Another week and all hell was going to break loose):

Since the clock read 0:00 at the National Championship game between Alabama and LSU way back in January everyone has been counting the days until tonight.

Our feathered friends from just up the road in Columbia kickoff the college football season on the road this weekend in Nashville taking on the Vanderbilt Commodores.  This is an unusual position for the Gamecocks - opening on the road.  I thought they were going to Detroit because the only Commodores I know about were a Motown group that had massive hits including "Brick House" (that is still played at every frat party and wedding") and in their honor:


I am pretty sure this is the first time I have every heard of a team's mascot being being named after a Motown group or was the group named after the university?  I am pretty confident that the latter didn't happen.  Let's just call it a coincidence and move on to the bigger question - What's going to happen tonight in Nashville? It's the first game of the year so you have to be prepared for anything to happen. It's the first game under the big lights, thousands of rabid fans cheering, and an  espn tv audience.  I like the Gamecocks in this game but I don't think it will be a cakewalk by any stretch of the imagination.  I will be watching Lattimore to see if he is back like last year pre-injury or is just back.  He's a force if back 100%.  Vandy has improved and is not the doormat of the SEC anymore - UK has taken it's place.

In case I don't get another post up I will go provide you my summary of the Saturday night Primetime game - Clemson vs Auburn.

• Atlanta, GA - Where Clemson goes to die (in recent years) - hoping for a reversal of fortune in Hotlanta
• Auburn - new offensive and defensive coordinators - who knows what to expect (I am expecting a few pee-wee football trick plays)...tape shows they will be run first but they have a capable quarterback and receivers
• CU and AU offensive lines suspect - CU's more so than AU.  AU has recruited 4/5 star talent on the OL the last couple of years that is inexperienced
• Plus for CU - AU's all everything center got a little to excited last weekend and has been suspended for the game - good job Clemson ladies visiting AU last weekend and filling him up on drinks
• CU - No Sammy Watkins - big blow but not enough for me to lose sleep.  We are deep at receiver.  It does probably take 6 points off the board - the Sammy Factor
• CU - Tajh has to have time throw the ball and can't force throws into coverage
• Expecting much improvement in his play this year and for him to lay off the cheeseburgers during the season
• CU - Ellington - hoping he stays healthy this year and is the beast he has been for the past 3 years when healthy
• CU - Defense has to stop the run...Linebackers have to tackle, fill holes and stop the run and keep them out of the end zone.

I don't feel as good about Saturday night as I did last year we when defeated the defending national champs in Death Valley.  I am expecting a back and forth battle with some points on the board - not CU vs MD last year but in the 20/30's.  A lot of unknowns on both sides of the ball, 1st game of the year (see above) - Clemson leaves Atlanta 1-0.

GO TIGERS!

PS - For those interested in the TITLE BELT, it resides in West by God Virginia at your kissing cousins house with the burning couch on the front lawn.  I am hoping for a Marshall victory this weekend.  If that happens the belt will be on a tour unlike ever before.

PSS - I hope whoever is reading this enjoys, because it was a royal pain in the backside to get this post up so you could read it.

GO AASU PIRATES

My niece, Meghan has returned to play goalie or I call it "The Enforcer" for the Armstrong Atlantic State(AASU) Pirates  Women's Soccer Team.  She has recovered from her season ending knee injury from last year during the Peach Belt Conference Championship game that they won.  The team then continued winning in the NCAA D II tournament and made the Final 4.

They are starting the season ranked number 3 in the country in the preseason poll and are traveling to take on powerhouse Grand Valley State (preseason number 2) in Michigan on Friday @7pm.  It's a big game early in the season for both teams.  I am predicting a hostile environment for the Lady Pirates and it turning into a battle royal.  I am also expecting the Lady Lakers to be a little timid around the ASU goalkeeper.  I am pretty sure the video from last year's game was leaked to them when Meghan decapitated one of the opposing players.

I know the Lady Pirates have worked hard preparing for the season and are up for this early season challenge and will walk away a winner in a 2-1 extra time game.

You can watch the game online here.

Here's a little video the kids and I made this morning for the Lady Pirates:

 
GO PIRATES - KICK GVSU BUTTS!!!

Fish @ School

Aubrey started school two weeks ago and they have a class pet - a fish.  They named the fish - one o three, their classroom number.  At dinner one night last week, Aubrey told us about the fish.  LA and I could hardly hold back the laughter.  It seems that one o three had some health issues and Ms. Latonya had to take one o three to the fish doctor.  LA and I are pretty sure one o three is not returning based on her description of the fishes health (or will be healed by the fish doctor replaced with a new fish and not tell them).  The first time she told the story was priceless.  I tried to get her to tell the story the next morning but it wasn't near as funny as the first time but it's still funny:

Aubrey Quotes

• While riding by S'ville Baptist Church and looking at cross on top of church - "Daddy, did Jesus have to climb all the way up there when he died on the cross"
• While I getting ready one morning "Daddy, one day I will be big enough to put that stuff (deodorant) under my arms."