Category Archives: college baseball

Wednesday, June 29, 2016 – What is a Chanticleer?

Wednesday, June 29, 2016 – What is a Chanticleer?  By Buddy T. Cat

Buddy Glasses

Buddy T. Cat

Tonight either the Arizona Wildcats or the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers will have a dogpile. One college baseball team will become Division I College Baseball National Champions. A dogpile for the sports challenged signals the final out, game over and the winning players all pile on top of one another near the pitcher’s mound. I am not real sure how that tradition began.

Until the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers pitched and hit their way to Omaha and the College World Series, few people knew the noun chanticleer. This is because they did not pay attention in high English literature or college literature classes. Until the 1960’s the mascot of Coastal Carolina was a Trojan – the warrior, not the condom. An English professor and his students suggested the mascot be changed and the Chanticleer was born.

“Chanticleer comes from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. More specifically, he comes from the Nun’s Priest Tale, a story within Canterbury Tales. The Chanticleer is a proud and fierce rooster who dominates the barnyard. For the best description of Chanticleer, we turn to Chaucer’s words.

“For crowing there was not his equal in all the land. His voice was merrier than the merry organ that plays in church, and his crowing from his resting place was more trustworthy than a clock. His comb was redder than fine coral and turreted like a castle wall, his bill was black and shone like a jet, and his legs and toes were like azure. His nails were whiter than the lily and his feathers were like burnished gold.”

With all of his splendor and great looks, Chanticleer is also greatly feared and mightily respected by all.”http://www.goccusports.com/trads/WhatisaChanticleer.html

Wouldn’t it be fun if the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers played the Delaware Blue Hens?

Go Chanticleers. Feel the teal.

Friday, June 10, 2016 – Truckin’ Frogs

Friday, June 10, 2016 – Truckin’ – Yes indeed yesterday’s song was Truckin’ by The Grateful Dead. What along strange trip it’s been! Deadheads recognized Mountain View and tie-dyed Bears T-shirt. Thank goodness there are no photographs and memories are only told late at night among close friends.

But this is Snarky Friday so our song for today is the TCU Fight song.

Frog went a courtin’ and he did ride, uh-huh

Frog went a courtin’ and he did ride, uh-huh

Frog went a courtin’ and he did ride

With a sword and a pistol by his side, uh-huh uh-huh, oh yeah.

He rode right up to Miss Reveille’s door, uh-huh

He rode right up to Miss Reveille’s door, uh-huh

He rode right up to Miss Reveille’s door, uh-huh

Gave three loud raps, and a very big roar, uh-huh uh-huh, oh yeah.

He said, “Miss Rev, will you marry me? uh-huh

He said, “Miss Rev, will you marry me? uh-huh

He said, “Miss Rev, will you marry me?

And oh so happy we will be, uh-huh uh-huh, oh yeah.

And this boys and girls is when Reveille jumped on and squashed the Frog.

Welcome to Blue Bell Park, Froggies.

Blue park 1 (800x518)

BTHO TCU

Gig ‘Em Aggies

Saturday, June 4, 2016 – Sad Day in Sports – One Classy Organization – And Legends.

Saturday, June 4, 2016 – Sad Day in Sports – One Classy Organization – And Legends.

From The Bryan Eagle By TRAVIS L. BROWN travis.brown@theeagle.com The Eagle

“All I could do is sit and look at it because, first of all, I couldn’t believe that there was an organization classy enough to do that for us,” Minnesota infielder Micah Coffey said.

When the Minnesota baseball team arrived at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park on Friday for their NCAA tournament opener against Wake Forest, they were met with a special surprise.

Texas A&M staff members placed a new on-deck mat just outside the third base dugout with a large No. 25 filling the middle of the circle — the number of Minnesota pitching coach Todd Oakes. Oakes died May 26 after his third bout with leukemia. He was in his 18th year coaching for the Golden Gophers.

———— From Me

The families of baseball also mourn the passing of Vanderbilt pitcher Donny Everett. The sophomore – projected number one draft pick – drowned while fishing with his buddies on the eve of the Commodores’ NCAA regional opener.

———– From Me

Whether you liked him or hated him, he was The Greatest. Muhammed Ali was the greatest heavy weight boxer of the twentieth century.

Here’s to these three from the great philosopher of the twentieth century, Jimmy Buffet from The Last Mango in Paris.

I had to search my memories

As I looked into those eyes

Our lives change like the weather

But a legend never dies.

Good Night Austin (600x800)

For my Parrot Head buddies seeing Jimmy in The Woodlands tonight. This is from Austin 2013 – photo by me

Friday, June 3, 2016 – Baseball, Bubbles and Texas Aggies

Friday, June 3, 2016 – Baseball, Bubbles and Texas Aggies

It’s a long way to Tipparari and it’s a long way to Omaha, Nebraska, home of the Division I College Baseball World Series. But it begins today in Blue Bell Park on Olsen Field. Coming to visit the beautiful, if not still flooded, Brazos Valley are:

Beginning at 3:00 PM today, the teams taking to the field are:

The Wake Forest Deacon Demons and the Minnesota Gophers.

Wake Forest is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina – a city named after two brands of cigarettes. It was found in 1834 and first called The Wake Forest Manual Labor Institute. In 1839 the name was changed to Wake Forest College. That made it sound less like a prison. The mascot of Wake Forest is the Demon Deacons whose colors are Wake Forest gold and black. Everyone loves a good oxymoron mascot.

The University of Minnesota – represents the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Their mascot is the Gophers whose name is Goldy Gopher. They could be scary gophers. They have been to the CWS SEVEN times, have many conference baseball championships and have many players who play or have played in the MLB. Not just a pretty gopher face. The school colors are doo-doo brown and yellow.

At 8:00 the teams taking the field are:

The State University of New York Binghamton University Bearcats. BU, as they like to be known, was established in 1946 to meet the needs of the local World War II vets returning from war. The color is dark green. Just one color? Not even white? Is the Baxter the Bearcat dressed in all green?

And hosting the regional we have the #4 Top National Seed – The SEC Tournament Champions – Texas Aggie Baseball Team! WHOOP! Bring on the bubbles! When the Aggies score a run, the fans have bubble machines sending bubbles throughout the field.

The Aggies and the Bearcats can be seen on the SEC network. The rest of teams’ fans get to pay ESPN3 for streaming.

A word to the other teams – don’t forget to factor in the train schedule. I so enjoy hearing the train whistle as moves along the tracks next to Wellborn just as the visiting pitcher goes into his wind up. Scares the crap out of him and makes him throw the ball into the upper stands! Gig ‘Em!

Campus tour 7.5.2014 2014-07-05 101 (600x800)

A landmark in College Station. Do you know what it is?

Campus tour 7.5.2014 2014-07-05 056 (2) (600x800)

BTHO Binghamton

Wednesday, June 1, 2016 – June is Busting Out All Over – 161 Days

Wednesday, June 1, 2016 – June is Busting Out All Over – 161 Days

I was looking for something to think about today and found nothing of interest. I will play word association with myself.

Bouys

Donald Trump – Bombastic – even the PGA is leaving your Florida golf course and taking a tournament to Mexico City.

Hillary Clinton – I will email her later.

Bernie Sanders – The Supremes – You Just Keep Me Hanging On

ESPN/CBS/SEC Football Broadcasts – House Cleaning – Good Bye Vern Lunquist. Good Bye Chris Berman. Please take Brent Mushburger with you. See if Jesse Palmer can ride with you.

NCAA Women’s College World Series – there are some very large girls who play softball. If you have any eligibility left I am sure a Division III football team would be interested in your talents.

Baylor – WOW. How sad. And now Ken Starr. Who would have ever seen his demise due to a sex scandal? Talk about Karma. One of my mother’s favorite proverbs “Play in shit; gonna get shitty.”

New Favorite TV Show – Houdini and Doyle – Science vs. Spiritualism in London 1901 plus the suffragettes.

Texas – “Water, water, everywhere and oh the boards did shrink; water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.”

Transgender – Give me strength. Who gets to do the in-service next fall for teachers on who gets to tinkle where? Does it coincide with their concealed handgun workshop?

Nothing of interest – same old same old except for the 161 days. There are 161 days until Election Day. Then what?

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 – Football, Basketball and Baseball

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 – Football, Basketball and Baseball

NCAA Football – I have shied away from the Baylor University scandal. It is a sad situation and I know my personal Baylor family and my family of Baylor friends are heartbroken. I will take a bat-crap, mentally disturbed Heisman winner over this scandal any day.

However, I saw today that Baylor hired Wake Forest football coach Jim Grobe as acting head coach for 2016. He comes from a school whose mascot is the Demon Deacons. Here’s what I’m thinking – it was the demon deacons that got Baylor in this mess in the first place. The ultimate irony is Ken Starr being demoted in a sex scandal.

NBA Basketball – too much Curry and not enough KD (Kevin Durant) Sad for my OKC Thunder fans, but excited for my Golden State Warrior friends.

NCAA Baseball – THE University of Texas reassigned long-time baseball coach Augie Garrido. Meanwhile to those teams whose sights are set on the College World Series in Omaha get to play on. The CWS takes place in Omaha, Nebraska in case the Longhorns forgot where it is held since you have not visited in so long.

First, however, in order to play in Omaha eight teams must win through their NCAA College Baseball Regionals and Super Regionals beginning on Friday. Perhaps the name should be changed to “Welcome to the SEC and ACC College Baseball Tournaments.” Or maybe the name should be changed to the Southern NCAA Regionals, since most of the 64 teams and all of the hosting sites are in the south.

Meanwhile for the #4 National Seed – The Fighting Texas Aggies play Binghamton State University of New York. Who? More about the Binghamton Bearcats later. Until then,

BTHO Binghamton

Barn 1 (800x530)

Note the trespassing sign to the left. I am outside the fence with a telephoto lens. Photo by me.

Oh look – The Wake Forest Demon Deacons are in the College Station Regional too.

Friday, May 27, 2016 – It Did Not Seem Like Kansas At First, But…

Friday, May 27, 2016 – It Did Not Seem Like Kansas At First, But…

It did not seem like the opening scenes of The Wizard of Oz until about 1:00 PM yesterday when the pressure dropped sucking all the air out of my living room for a couple of seconds. Then the weather alarms went off saying “take shelter in inner room.”  I ensure I have car keys, wallet, flashlight, a charged phone, and a bottle of water. I also ensure I am wearing appropriate foundation garments, a nice t-shirt, jeans and proper shoes in the event I am on the evening news. I then seek shelter. And that’s when I saw my motorcycle helmet and thought what the hell?  I also took my tablet so I could stream the SEC baseball tournament on ESPN. So there I sat for about 15 minutes until weather app says it was safe to leave.

Helmet (800x800)

As the day stormed on and news reports were issued, I learned the tornado briefly touched down – first in the Lowe’s parking lot off of Briarcrest and Highway 6 (probably when the air got sucked out of my living room); then it crossed Highway 6 and touching down at Booneville Rd (Highway 158) and Briarcrest – directly across from Allen Academy and then proceeding cause significant damage to Wheeler Ridge subdivision.  Thankfully there were no injuries or lives lost. I mention these because if you have been to my house, you know those are the exits you take to my house.

Eagle tornado (800x450)

But Bryan, Texas made the ABC World News last evening.  Storms began around 3 AM this morning and have continued all morning.   I have gone to inflate my raft. Stay safe. Stay dry.  Thank you to all who checked on my safety.

 

 

Wednesday, May 25, 2016 – Baseball, hot dogs and Texas Aggies

Wednesday, May 25, 2016 – Baseball, hot dogs and Texas Aggies – Obviously not this morning.  I apologize for technical difficulties causing HWIT to be late. While HAL from Geek Squad worked on my computer, I watched time run out for the Aggies against Vanderbilt in the SEC college baseball tournament.  But now it is after lunch so time for a nap.  This is a necessary activity to ensure I can stay awake for LSU and Florida tonight.

From all of the other teams in all sports, we would like to extend this exclamation to all schools from Florida – “You still suck!”