Rivalry Weekend

The Texas-A&M and Alabama-Auburn games exemplify why Thanksgiving weekend is the best weekend the in College Football season, better even than bowl week.  The Aggies shouldn't have had a chance but they played a great game; same for Auburn.  Tonight there is Fla State-Tebow, which I predict will NOT be like those other 2 games.  I think the Tebows will roll.  But before that, there is Okie St-OU (my pick: Okie St); Va Tech-Va (my pick: Va Tech); Georgia Tech-Georgia (my pick:  Tech); and many more.  Also, TCU takes on hapless New Mexico and though not a rivalry game, it is critical for TCU.  However, I don't think there is anything that TCU can do to get to the championship game.  Oxey suggests that if Texas loses to Nebraska next week, then TCU leaps Texas and goes to the championship game against the SEC winner.  Oxey also notes that both the offense and defense of TCU are in the top 5 in the country, unlike the Tebows, the Tide, and the Horns.  Interesting. 

Heisman:  criminal if McCoy doesn't win it.

This Is What College Football Is About

University of Texas --49, Texas A&M University--39.

Goshdarnit, that was a gut-bustin, rip-snortin, sidewinder of a game. Most points scored ever in this matchup. A kickoff return and a missed field goal popped the Aggies' balloon and sure, I wish the Aggies had won, but even so it was a great game.  I am so, so proud of those guys.  But let's give Texas its due.  The Horns generally and McCoy in particular rose up and showed why Texas is No. 3 in the country.  They made only one error (lost a punt) and didn't lose their cool.  Congrats to sbaskind and all Horns fans.  Take care of the Huskers and you'll be playing for the National Championship.

As for the Ags, they should be confident going into whatever bowl game they draw.  Also, playing well on ESPN on Thanksgiving against the No. 3 team should help recruiting (wishful thinking, much?).  Final word:  Jerrod Johnson played lights out last night.  I hope someone out there saw how good this guy is.

For game stats, which are stunning, go here.

Shotgun

Some sports tidbits:

Hakeem Olajuwon's daughter, Abi, is playing basketball at OU.  I would like to see her play.

Texas A&M won the National Guard FLW College Fishing Texas Regional Championship.  Who knew.

On Friday, Highland Park (11-1) meets Waxahachie (12-0) in the regionals.  Go Scots!

Enjoyed watching the Horns yesterday.  It was senior day for UT, last game in Austin and it was really fun to watch McCoy.  He just seemed relaxed, having some real fun.  And here I make a bold prediction:  MCCOY WINS THE HEISMAN.

Today's Dallas Morning News has an article on NFL coaches who possibly are on the chopping block:  Jim Zorn-Washington; Tom Cable-Oakland; Eric Mangini-Cleveland; Wade Phillips-your heroes; and Lovie Smith-Chicago.

Pet Peeve of the Day

A week or so ago, I was talking to a couple about their kids, one of whom is a six-year old girl.  They were telling me that she was playing soccer, which piqued my interest, of course.  They said she liked to go to practice but didn't like gameday.  Their solution?  Don't make her go to the games.  Really?  Let her join a team, practice with the team and then NOT SHOW UP FOR THE GAMES.  Wow.  This sure is teaching her some good lessons.  I honestly had to bite my tongue so that I wouldn't blurt out that I thought they were IDIOTS.  (WARNING:  This is the part where I talk about "...when I was a kid...")  My brothers played organized sports as kids and before each season of whatever sport began, my dad would ask if they were sure they wanted to play, because if they joined the team, they had to go to practice, they had to go to games, even if they rode the pine (none of this "everyone gets to play" b.s.).  No weekends off, no skipping games for other activities.  And after the questions, my brothers would decide.  Simple.  Do parents do that anymore?  Yes, I realize that this kid is only six but still.

VICTORY

Aggies 38
Bears 3

The Dallas Dipthongs

The Dallas Mavericks are starting an as-yet-unnamed Development League team, which will play in Frisco, and guess what?  Nancy Lieberman has been named head coach.  I, of course, think this is AWESOME.  If any woman can succeed coaching men, it is Lieberman.  Dell Harris is the general manager and Spud Webb, one of my favorites, is the head of basketball operations (whatever that means). Lieberman makes it clear in the linked article that the only thing that matters here is that the team win.  

I think we should have a naming contest:  how about the Frisco WASPs?  The Mudders?  Or the Taters, in homage to Spud (and Nancy)?   If we want to be p.c., we could call them the Rainbows or maybe we could coin our own word and be the Frisco Diversities?  Or for you pessimists, the Frisco No How No Ways.  (Say that fast...sounds GOOD.  Reminds me of the Hicawee Tribe on F-Troop).  Suggestions welcome. 

The Aggies and the French

I am going out on a limb and picking the Aggies to defeat the Bears this week. The Aggies will thereby become bowl eligible (at 6-5) and distinguish themselves from the French Infantry (notwithstanding bbl jr.'s sentiment to the contrary), even though after the OU game the Aggies' field general noted the similarity: "We weren't very good," A&M coach Mike Sherman said. "We shot ourselves in the foot numerous times." However, I am hoping that the following week on Thanksgiving, the Aggies will re-live Waterloo with Coach Sherman playing the part of Napoleon (or even Gen. Ney) and Mack Brown as the Duke of Wellington. My great fear, however, is that the roles will be reversed - and the dream-season for the Horns will die on the grass of Kyle Field. It remains to be seen which will be the men sans-culottes. Liberté, égalité, fraternité!

embarrased

I did not see the game. I just now ( 11:30pm) saw the score.  Somebody should resign and some of them apparently should be players.  C'mon Coach, tell me how they never quit. Why can't offensive coaches hire some one to run an actual defense. That one game wipes out all the good some of their other games did for potential recruits.
how do you sell a kid on playing at A&M now? " we were one of the highest scoring teams in the nation son, except against Oklahoma when we rolled over and peed ourselves like the  french infantry.

A celebration of soccer . . .

To accommodate Oxey's request, I am now promoting women's soccer -- but, as you can see, within the rules.

Poke the Iggles, Please

Dallas plays Philly tonight. Grrr. Westbrook is out, which is good for us since we can't ever seem to stop him. Tony Dungee commented that our pass rush is the key for us because McNabb has been going long alot, and needs time to do it. So, time for Ware to earn those big bucks. Go Cowboys.

Spiked

On opening day of the season, an Oregon player punched an opposing player and was suspended for the year by his coach.  Last week, Brandon Spikes of the Tebows tried to gouge out the eye of the opposing running back and was suspended for one half of one game by Tebow coach Urban Meyer.  I think this is shameful:  shameful behavior on the part of Spikes and shameful behavior on the part of the Coach.

And In Other News

Another undefeated team fell today.  Iowa lost to Northwestern.  Iowa's qb, Stanzi, went out in the first half (I think) and a red-shirt freshman finished the game for the Hawkeyes.  The Tebows play Vandy tonight and should win.  Boise won on Thursday, Bama is playing LSU right now, and TCU plays later today.  So much for the undefeateds.  Oh, did I fail to mention that the UNDEFEATED TEXAS LONGHORNS crushed UCF earlier today?  McCoy to Shipley...a thing of beauty.

In deference to Drumski, I should mention that the Ill-ini won again today, though they lost Juice Williams to an injury. 

And to Meeshigan haters everywhere, Big Blue lost another one.

Evil Triumphs

Colorado: 35...Your Heroes: 34

Bored with run of the mill pre-kindergarten competition?

Hey Brady, when I get there I am taking you down!