Hogg-ed Determination

Like all football fans, I have stuck with my team through highs and lows. However, only a few fans truly know what it is to watch as your team defeats itself. Every year as an Arkansas Razorback fan I see a team that has the tools to win. Even when the Hogs have tough years, they often seem to be in the bigger games. Then one only has to sit back and watch as they shoot themselves in the foot with penalties and turnovers.

As always, this year Arkansas was the subject of high expectations. Most of our offensive tools had returned, the defense was bent on improving, and the maturity level of the team had been on an obvious rise. Winning the first road game of the season in dramatic fashion was especially enjoyable. Excitement could never have been higher than going into today's game against #1 Alabama. And it was paying off. The Razorbacks came out firing, and even though Alabama answered at first, Arkansas was on top going into the half. Most of the third quarter looked great as well, with the Hogs holding onto the ball for the first seven minutes and scoring - though not a touchdown - making the day look like revenge for Alabama's 35-7 victory last year. However, everything went downhill from there. The Arkansas defense stopped putting pressure on Greg McElroy, a couple of dropped Arkansas passes, two interceptions - though Mallett's decision on the second was a good one - and an inability to get the ball back with a minute left in the game spelled doom for the Hogs against the #1 team. Describing the feeling of dejection and pain is impossible.

Here's the good news: Arkansas is still strong. The talk the last few weeks has been about the maturity of the team. Now is the time to show that maturity. Put this game behind you, prepare for the next one. Forget about the mistakes, play to the highest level the rest of the way. The only way to get through this league is through determination and sound play. That's what the Razorbacks need now and that's what fans will not only hope for but expect. Because those expectations are everything a fan needs.

FSU Disillusionment

If you keep up with the ESPN conference blogs, particularly Heather Dinich's ACC blog you will note nothing but constant criticism of the ACC's performance this past weekend. No doubt the embarrassing pair of losses by the tech schools and an thrashing of FSU merits some criticism, but there is a something greater going on for Heather Dinich than meets the eye. What would that be? Well, I am glad you asked: she has FSU disillusionment. What I mean by this is simply that she found out what the rest of us already knew: FSU, Jimbo Fisher and Christian Ponder are garbage. Yes, the glory days of FSU are gone and unlikely to return soon, Jimbo Fisher was able to beat some community college in his first game but a community college and Oklahoma are two different worlds. I have already commented on Christian Ponder in previous posts, kindly refer to them for further information.

Seriously, go to Heather's blog sometime and look at some of the stuff she says about Ponder.She is like a 13 year old girl who has a crush on one of her older brother's friends. The phrases she uses to describe him include bur are not limited to Heisman hopeful, one of the best QBs in the nation, MVP of the ACC, Ponder for president, 3rd horseman in the Apocalypse, etc.

So, to Heather I say: I know it is tough when you are the last person to realize that the team you love is common community college trash. I know it is tough when you realize that the coach you put all your money on can't tie up his own football cleats . I know it is tough when you realize that the QB you thought was going to win the Heisman is actual a no talent assclown. In spite of all of that please get out of FSU disillusionment and cover the rest of the teams like NCSU, BC, Maryland, UVA and Clemson. In short, we all knew it and we are grateful that you finally realize it too. Welcome to reality.

Games Of the Week

With it being the second week of the season most teams are still in their tune up games. Yes, many teams are still playing powerhouse school like Southwest Corner of Michigan State Community College. But there are few games worth watching:

1. Georgia at South Carolina
2. Florida St at Oklahoma
3. Miami at Ohio St
4. Penn St. at Alabama

Yes, Just one more week of cupcake schedules and real football can begin!

Clemson vs FSU McDaniel on Ponder Collision after interception

Stories I'm Already Tired of Hearing About

As I was going about my lunch time perusal of football websites (mostly ACC related) I kept running across the same story lines over and over again. This should not be so shocking since all of these writers are talking about the same games and conference activity over the weekend, right? Well there is just one problem. They are talking about the same story lines as they were over the summer and spring. The main offender is ESPN ACC blogger Heather Dinich. So, Heather, here are a few stories that I just don't give a damn about anymore:

1.Mark Herzlich: Don't get me wrong I am happy for the guy's overcoming cancer and that he had a good starting game. But after all the talk of this guy you'd think he was the only defensive player in the ACC or even the NCAA for that matter.

2. Bye Bye Bowden: Hats off to Bobby Bowden for his long and effective tenure at FSU but the man is retired, quit, fired or forced out (no on really knows how it went down) so let the story die already. Also, I hate to break it to you this is not the 90's, no one outside of Tallahassee cares about FSU anymore, nor do we care about Jimbo Fisher.

3. Christian Ponder: No, He won't win the Heisman Trophy. Why? Because he is garbage. Seriously, the way Heather Dinich talks about this guy makes wonder if he sneezes gold bars. View clip above to see my point.

Mostest Dumbest Mascot IV

This week's offender on the dumbest mascot list is none other than the USC Trojans. You may be a bit confused as to my claim on this; after all the Trojan is an ancient Greek warrior. Well, as right as you may be about that, consider the following:

1. The Trojans were tricked by a wooden horse and consequently were slaughtered. Not a good candidate to be an NCAA Mascot.

2. If your mascot is also a condom, it is not a good candidate for NCAA mascot.

3. A middle-aged man in a cheap Halloween costume on a horse (shown above) is just pathetic.

4. Let me be honest........I just hate USC.

Mostest Dumbest Mascots III

The next offender on the mostest dumbest mascot list takes us to Southern California and Division III Football. Yes, even though Whittier College football is more insignificant that the flag football team at your local YMCA they still qualify for an entry in a sports blog that is just as obscure.

The school was founded by a Quaker poet named John Greenleaf Whittier in the 1880's. The most important thing that we need to know about Whittier is that their mascot is 'the Poet'. This may not seem as bad as some others you may have heard but consider the following:

1. Is there anything more soft than a pacifist Quaker?

2. Is there anything more soft than a starving poet?

3 Is there anything more soft than a starving pacifist Quaker poet from southern California?

4. It just seems to much to say "Welcome to Whittier College, home of the fighting......I mean pacifist......because we're not allowed to fight, Poets.