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.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
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
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
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
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..."
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.
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
- You play @ Clemson University and not Podunk U
- You WERE 9-1
- You WERE Number 7 in the country
- 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__
Looks like the Clemson O-line has trouble blocking defenders who move...
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.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
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 floorto 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...
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).
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
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...
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).
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
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
Aubrey Singing The Chous and Dancing - Mean
Blake Shelton - God Gave Me You
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!!!
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
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:
Why turning 30 for LA isn't so bad:
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 :)
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
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 :)
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
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)
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)
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