Friday, October 16, 2015 – Count Down Until Kick Off – Or Here’s What I’m Wearing
There is no other game of significance on Saturday afternoon. BTHO Alabama.
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Friday, October 16, 2015 – Count Down Until Kick Off – Or Here’s What I’m Wearing
There is no other game of significance on Saturday afternoon. BTHO Alabama.
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Posted in Uncategorized
Thursday, October 15, 2015 – Cooper Goodson? Where Are You? Or The Commandant and the Doctor
Cooper Goodson? Are you out there in Facebook land? If you are I hope you are well and happy. I wanted you to know that during high school at Magnolia High School I had the biggest crush on you. Did you think I sat in the back of the band bus to sit by the bass drum? Of course I could seldom think of anything to talk about and if there was a conversation it always seemed to end with you saying “Yeah, but girls can’t go to A&M.” If you only knew how that pissed me off.
Therefore I wanted you to know that girls now do go to Texas &M. Here is a photo of two of them. Presenting the first female Commandant of the Corps of Cadets, Alyssa Marie Michalke, and The Doctor, Yours Truly, Class of 1985. Photo by http://reddragonphotos.com/
I hope to see you one day and give you a big hug. After I slap you with my Aggie Ring. WHOOP!
BTHO – Alabama
Posted in College Football, Education, Misc., Native Texan
Tagged Alyssa Michalke, Corps of Cadets, Texas A&M University
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 – And Then There Was Coach Stallings – Part Two of The Alabama-Aggie Connection
Paul “Bear” Bryant was not the only Texas A&M football coach who won the war of player attrition and changed the way people think and work. The Aggie Football team had 132 players when 30 year old, first year head coach Gene Stallings arrived in College Station in December 1964. When the Aggies opened the season against the University of Houston in October there were 57 players listed in the program.
The members of Stallings’ first team celebrated their 50th year reunion the weekend of October 11 2015.
Like Bear Bryant, Stallings was called in to change the football attitude at Texas A&M. Like Bear Bryant he believed in hard work and physical demands. Stallings was a Junction Boy and was an assistant to The Bear in Alabama and now he was coming home to his alma mater to be the head coach.
Stallings had the players take a physical education class for those wanting to be coaches. He taught it. As player Jim Singleton said “Junction was two weeks. But we had to put up with him for a whole semester.”
Stallings converted four rooms on the second floor of G. Rolle White into workout rooms for the spring training and drills. In the fencing room (there was a fencing room?) players ran in place for 15 minutes. In the wrestling room there would be 15 minutes of drills. In the third station, the players head butted each other. In the fourth room they “rested” while they lifted weights.
In 1965 the Aggies went 3-7. In 1967 Stallings and The Fighting Texas Aggies won the Southwest Conference. The Aggies won The Cotton Bowl in 1968 beating Bear Bryant and the Crimson Tide of Alabama.
The Cotton Bowl would be Stallings’ only bowl victory as head coach at Texas A&M. After a stint in the NFL, he would take over the head coaching position at Alabama from Bear Bryant in 1990 and win the National Championship in 1992.
While there are those who know Coach Stallings for his football greatness, it is his greatness off the field that also makes a difference. His only son, John Mark Stallings was born with Down syndrome. John Mark, also known as “Johnny” died on August 2, 2008 due to a congenital heart condition. Two facilities at the University of Alabama are named for the younger Stallings. The Stallings Center that serves as home to the RISE Center for young children with disabilities was built in 1994. The equipment room in the University of Alabama football building was built and dedicated to Johnny Stallings in 2005.
Gene Stallings – A great man on all fields of play. http://coachgenestallings.com/
Oh – one more thing – BTHO ALABAMA!
Material taken from The Bryan Eagle, Sunday, October 11, 2015
Posted in College Football, Education
Tagged Alabama, college football, Crimson Tide, Gene Stallings, SEC, Texas A&M, Texas Aggies; football
Tuesday, October 13, 2015 – The Junction Boys – And The Legends Begin
When it comes to football The University of Alabama and Texas A&M University are more closely aligned than TAMU and tu ever were. You might call the Bama/TAMU connection a critical junction in college football.
Someplace between San Antonio and El Paso in the Texas Hill Country is a town called Junction, Texas. In 1954, the newly hired football coach of Texas A&M, Paul, Bear, Bryant took approximately 100 players into the wasteland of Junction for a football camp to toughen them up. The Texas Hill Country was experiencing the worst drought conditions in history. Temperatures hit the 100 degree mark before noon each day. Note this drought was surpassed only by the recent Hill Country droughts as the worst in Texas history. The “field” was dirt, rocky and filled with sticker burrs. Practices began at 8:00 am and ended at 11:00 PM daily.
Those who were there at the end of the ten days of the camp are called The Survivors or The Junction Boys. Those who remained formed the core of the undefeated unit that won the 1956 Southwest Conference championship.
The 1954 Texas Aggies went 1-9 for the season. It was Bear Bryant’s only losing season as a head coach. Yet, he would always cite his 1-9 A&M team of 1954 as his favorite.
Bear Bryant would leave Texas A&M to take the head coaching and Athletic Director positions in 1958 at Alabama. He took one of The Junction Boys with him as an assistant coach – a fellow from Paris, Texas named Gene Stallings. Read about Coach Stallings tomorrow.
Read the full story in The Junction Boys: How Ten Days in Hell with Bear Bryant Forged a Championship Team by Jim Dent.
Oh yeah – one more thing- BTHO Alabama!
Posted in College Football
Tagged Alabama, college football, Crimson Tide, Gene Stallings, Paul Bear Bryant, Texas A&M, The Junction Boys
Monday October 12, 2015 – Columbus Day Monday After Saturday College Football Awards –
Our awards today are sponsored by the article “A” for those who become scared when they see large, unfamiliar words and stop reading.
The first award is the Class Act Award. This award goes to LSU’s Leonard Fournette for his articulate and well-done post-game interview showing his support for the people of South Carolina and offering his game jersey up for auction with proceeds going toward the flood relief efforts. Perhaps every impact player in the SEC could make an offer.
LSU wins the Best Southern Hospitality Award for being the Visiting Team in Baton Rouge. I thought it was most hospitable for the Tiger Band to play the Gamecock Alma Mater and Fight Song – Especially when you spelled L-S-U on the field while playing them. Sweet.
I suppose no one cared enough to notice last Friday that I got Lawrence and Manhattan, locations of Kansas and Kansas State, respectively, backwards. It obviously did not impact Baylor who gets a Most Points Scored Award for blowing away Kansas 66-7. I did not watch the game in its entirety. Did Kansas score during a Baylor timeout or before Baylor returned to the field after half-time? Note to Kansas – Basketball season officially begins next weekend.
TCU obviously was as confused as I was on Saturday since the Frogs did not show up ONCE again until the closing moments of the game. You win A Poo Poo Undies Award for scaring your fan base and an Activate the Boykin Magic Award. But the magic is becoming shaky causing a Poll Phrog Slipping.
To THE University of Texas, I award The Win One for the BEVO Award for beating Oklahoma. BEVO – I do hope you are feeling better because the team, the coach, THE University and the alums certainly are. Way to go. If you only do it once, this was the game to do it!
To the OU Kicker – Teal Shoes? Fashion Blooper Award going toed you!
The Offensive Fun Fest Award goes to Texas Tech and Iowa State for scoring 66 and 31 points respectively. Uncle Will Muschamp, have you looked at either of these schools? They don’t seem to play much defense either, so may you could be there.
Oklahoma State – you once again receive a Poo-Poo Undies Award to having to win it again in OT.
The Ugly Uniform Award goes to The University of Tennessee. I would never Volunteer to wear that. You looked like orange highlighters or characters from the science fiction movie Tron.
To the Nebraska Cornhuskers – you receive The Heartbreak Again Award for losing for the fourth time in the final seconds of the game as Wisconsin kicked a field goal.
The Individual Heartbreak Award goes to Georgia running back Nick Chubb. Hope you are back in action soon.
The Award for Suddenly on the Radar for teams I did not care about in the beginning, but do now is shared by the following:
And last and certainly not least this week for sure:
The Crimson Tide of Alabama rose over those pesky Razorbacks finally drowning them in fourth quarter to win 27-14. This week I award The Tide the Columbus Day, Rand McNally, MapQuest, GPS, and all Navigational Systems Award.
And all points are set toward College Station, Texas and Kyle Field. Your arrival time is estimated to be five days and 43 minutes. Turn left on George Bush Blvd. Your destination is the gigantic stadium on your right. Have a nice day.
And now a Dr. Hunter check for understanding. Our word today was the article “A.” Please give a word that begins with that letter.
ALABAMA.
Good.
Now use it in a sentence.
BTHO ALABAMA!
EXCELLENT!
Posted in College Football, Native Texan
Tagged Alabama, Baylor, LSU, SEC, TCU, Texas Aggies; football, Texas Tech, University of Texas
If you need to work in the yard, visit the sick, go shopping or any other reasonable Saturday activity, this would be the Saturday to do so. There is not much happening on the college football gridiron.
Our 11:00 games begin with Baylor live from Manhattan, Kansas on Fox1. The Bears will play the winless Jayhawks. Let the Baylor Band play the first quarter.
Opposite the Bears, the annual Red River Rivalry takes place on ABC at 11:00. The Oklahoma Sooners seem to be on the rise while the Texas Longhorns – well, they just seem to be wishing and hoping and thinking and praying. In addition to being 1 – 4 for the season, now BEVO is ill. What else can go wrong for THE University? Bevo, I hope you are feeling better soon. I am sure the Aggie vets will take good care of you.
I am not sure either one of those games are worth getting up for.
The afternoon and evening games from the Big 12 provide Texas Tech and Iowa State at 2:30 with no TV coverage. Two relatively potentially exciting games could be the 6:00 West Virginia vs Oklahoma State on ESPN2 and TCU vs Kansas State in the Battle of the Purples at 6:30 on Fox.
Onward through the fog to the SEC, we find the schools from the Magnolia State – Ole Miss playing New Mexico State @ 11:00 and Mississippi State playing Troy 3:00. Both games are on the SECN. Georgia should have no problem at Tennessee at 2:30.
LSU will host South Carolina since South Carolina is still underwater. The time says 2:30 on ESPN. Florida and Missouri might have an interest level. They play @ 6:30 on SECN.
The only game of interest is the 6:00 PM ESPN broadcast of Arkansas and Alabama. Don’t look for an upset in Tuscaloosa. Please Pigs, do not make The Crimson Tide angry. The Tide is coming to Aggieland next Saturday.
Posted in College Football
Ok, you can cancel the seeing eye dog and return the white cane. Eye specialist said “Eye looks good; abrasion is smaller; one more day of antibiotic goop and pain meds and you should be fine by Friday.”
Pirate – Grrrr to the eye patch!
Posted in Uncategorized
Wednesday, October 7, 2015 – They EYE Has It
Nothing to write today. Have an eye issue with a corneal abrasion.
The Cyclops
Posted in Uncategorized
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 – Neighborhood Night Out and Buns
Tonight is Neighborhood Night Out. Some brave souls in the 55 and older hood organized a cookout. It starts at 6:00. That is very late for most of my neighbors. I do not know if they will be in their pajamas or not.
I am to bring my buns. Therefore, I want to thank my PT, (personal trainer, not a physical therapist) Killer Queen (KQ) for torturing me twice per week so I will have good looking buns. Those lunges and squats do wonders for your buns. And KQ makes me do them with 2o+ pounds more weight. What? I am supposed to bring hamburger buns? Oh. Well, they will look good too. Go meet your neighbors.
Posted in Uncategorized
Monday, October 5, 2015 – Monday After Saturday College Football Awards
Our Monday after Saturday College Football Awards are brought to you today by the word “amphigory.” Amphigory is a noun meaning “a meaningless or nonsensical piece of writing, especially one intended as a parody.” A quote – “it is the mother of all miscellanies, aka an amphigory, a medley, a pot-pourri, a gallimaufry, a salmagundi, and omnium-gatherum, a vade mecum, a smorgasbord. Robert McCrum, “God bless you Mr. Schott, The Guardian, December 7, 2002. (Dictionery.com)
Yes, all of those words will be on your assessment exam because they so describe Here’s What I’m Thinking and I have no idea what most of them mean. – Vade mecum?
But if that don’t describe the chaotic weekend of college football… Here is your ado, so further it by reading on.
To the horrible broadcasters of the Texas Aggie/Mississippi State game on the SECN – Brent Mushmouth and Jesse Palmer. What is the deal? Are you somebody’s brother-in-law? Son-in-law? Do you have video of people? I am not certain, Mr. Palmer, but I think you are supposed to give equal time to both teams. Did you not even pick up an A&M media guide? You get the Mute Button Award.
The Most Points Award goes to the Baylor Bears 63- 35 over Texas Tech. I do not think these bears are going into hibernation anytime soon.
However, it is a tie for Ugliest Uniforms between those bleached-out TCU lavender tops and the drab grey, olive and yellow uniforms of Baylor. Who is your uniform rep? Stevie Wonder?
There are several Poo-Poo Undies Awards that go to:
For having close games and scaring the poo out of your fan base. That # 1 Spot is looking very shaky, Buckeyes. Larry Culpepper is watching.
FYI – It was accurratte, that the officials from The Big 12 apologized for the bad calls by the referees. They were not accurrette when they established the line of scrimmage. The Spell Check Award goes to The Big 12. Is that accurratte?
The Pepto-Bismol for Dismal Awards goes the teams that were upset: These are:
Speaking of Dismal – The Train wreck Award goes THE University of Texas. I have no other words to say save – it could get worse. OU+CH = OUCH next Saturday. Next week UT players can tweet at half-time and call for Uber to come pick them up and just head on over to the State Fair of Texas.
Auburn wins the Dionne Warwick award for knowing “the way to San Jose.” Now do you know the way back to the SEC?
The Rain and Let’s Build an Ark Awards goes to:
And to The Crimson Tide of Alabama I am giving them the William T. Sherman Award as they “…sing the jubilee; hoorah, hoorah, the flag that makes us free; while we sang a chorus from Atlanta to the sea – While they were marching Through Georgia.”
And to The Fighting Texas Aggies – I am awarding the Reveille is so much prettier than Bully Award. Not to mention she does not drool and she wears clothes.
The QB of the Game Award goes to Kyle Allen of Texas A&M. The stats on passing leaders:
Or as Palmer would say: Prescott was edged out by Allen.
The Aggies have an open date next Saturday and Alabama entertains the Pork and beans from Arkansas.
But then … Coming to Kyle Field on a station near you – Alabama vs Texas A&M – October 17. BTHO Alabama.
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