A lesson in how to play football

...from Borat:

Mike Slive Interview

In some ways on this past season, I felt like William Miller in Almost Famous. Not only was I touring the nation, I was able to see sports at a level I never expected. This included press box seating near such big names as Stewart Mandel, Roy Kramer, and Barry Alvarez. It even included a head coach inviting me over to his house for breakfast, but you’ll have to wait for the book to hear that tale. Several months ago, I was fortunate enough to interview SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. Below is an excerpt of our conversation. Remember that this project of mine was always focused on the fans, so that’s the nature of the majority of these questions. To be sure, I could have pressed him on a few of these issues and wish I had done more of that. Here's what he had to say.

How would you describe the typical SEC football fan?
There’s no such thing. I think more about the fans as a group than I do as individuals, and I think they share common characteristics. When I think of an SEC fan, I think of loyalty, passion, knowledge, concern and abiding interest in their institution and in their athletic programs. And it matters not whether they’re graduates. A fan base is made up of people from all walks of life. People with all different backgrounds.

One of the things I’ve often watched and really marveled at and enjoyed is the fact that in our league, our institutions and athletic programs have a definite family orientation. It’s not unusual to see three generations of a family attend, for example, a football game together You often see Mom and Dad, children and grandma and grandpa. And you realize that it wasn’t long ago that the grandma and grandpa were mom and dad. And before that, they were the children. The family shares an experience – they look forward to it as part of their family rituals, family events, family life cycle events. It’s always very heartwarming when you walk through a stadium and you see that.

Coaches salaries seem to be increasing at a rapid rate. What do you think about that?
I approach it first from the point of view that the conference or the NCAA can’t control salaries by law. The last time the NCAA tried to do that, they settled a case for 53 million dollars. There isn’t anything we can do about it. These are institutional decisions and have been driven by the marketplace for coaches, which is impacted by the NFL and also by the importance of success at all of these institutions. I am concerned about increasing costs, of which salaries are a part, and the ability for revenue to keep pace with the cost. So yes, it’s a concern as an overall part of the health. As I understand, the number for salaries is about 3% of an institution’s overall budget and that hasn’t changed in 15 years. The visibility has made it a significant issue. I think our presidents have been looking at this issue. They are subsidizing athletics.

In the final analysis, what’s the nature of the question – are we asking whether or not it’s a fiscal issue, moral issue. Given the way athletic departments are required to fund themselves by our major institutions and to the extent that football revenue can support 20 other sports. Should a president make more than a football coach? In a perfect world yes, in the way intercollegiate athletics has grown up as an auxiliary enterprise w/o university funding, the generation of that income becomes imperative.

Being commissioner, is it harder to be a fan?
This is my standard answer. When I go to a conference game, I’m neutral – I just hope the officiating goes well. During bowl games, I become a fan. The anxiety that one feels in being a fan is hell. Because it’s exciting and fun, but it’s a very different experience for a commissioner when a team is playing a national championship game versus a conference game. You just become a fan.

Regarding the playoff debate, does the SEC have an official position?
In our annual spring meeting, our presidents met, and last year when Dr. Matching brought up the concept – our presidents and chancellors talked about it. They overwhelmingly said that they were not interested in a playoff, but at that time authorized Dr. Kian at Ole Miss and me to explore other formats in the context of the BCS. Our exploration has been more in the area of a plus one within the context of the BCS.

When I ask fans what they wish was different about the game, the only complaint on which everyone agreed was the way non-conference games keep getting less and less competitive. This came up again and again. What’s your take on the issue?
I have been outspoken from here, not having to coach these teams and not having to produce the revenue – it has always been my hope that we will play more significant inter-conference games on a home and home basis for the fans, and selfishly for the conference because the more high quality home-and-home games that we play gives us much better inventory to negotiate with when it comes to talking with television. With a home-and-home, every other year gives us a better schedule for our television folks. Right from the beginning when we went to twelve games, it has been my goal to improve the non-conference schedules. That’s one issue where I totally agree.

When I was at Tennessee, a couple of fans suggested that we create an SEC-Big Ten Challenge, similar to the ACC-Big Ten challenge in basketball. Take one weekend early in the season and match up home-and-homes with the strongest teams playing one another. Then switch the teams every two years. Is there any chance we can get this to happen?
I have heard such a suggestion before, and the positives are very clear. It is an interesting idea, one we would look at, but at first blush some of the obstacles may be insurmountable.

What do you like best about college football?
Oh boy, I like a lot of things about it. There’s just the same experience you have. When you drive up to a stadium and feel the pulse and the excitement and see the tailgating and the recreational vehicles and the colors and the anticipation, and in our league, the stadiums are full, the weather’s usually good. The anticipation is great. And the games have been fabulous in our league. They’re so competitive and so unpredictable. There’s something special about a football weekend, the Friday night leading up to it, the Saturday game. Also the institution is the focus of attention. It’s a rallying point for alumni, friends, and administrators. There are so many offshoots of the game itself that can be very positive for the institution. That’s really a very difficult atmosphere to duplicate in other sports and at other level of competition.

Do you have a favorite memory?
It’s hard to duplicate winning the National Championship two years in a row and being on the field and being on the podium and sharing the excitement. But I will tell you this, that’s exciting, but it’s no more exciting than that same experience at the SEC championship game. Our championship game has all the same trappings of the NC game. Same, if not more intense fan support b/c it’s both our teams. It’s sold out in the wintertime before anybody knows who’s playing. Our people will tell you it’s as good as any bowl game if not better. It’s as good as any NC game. Sharing with them the other ecstasy and sense of accomplishment that they feel at that moment.

Some New Movies

...well, not new, but newly available. Just up and running, SnagFilms.com is to documentary film projects what Hulu is to television. Among the multitude of films there for your perusal are a handful of college football specials. I'm most partial to the extremely comprehensive Rivalries: The History of Ohio State and Michigan, which features the following remarkable quote from an aging Pat Summerall: "1991 was a rout all the way but it was exciting because of the magic of Magic Desmond 'Magic' Howard." But I recommend taking a peek at the following movies as well:

Live The Dream (Texas' national championship run in 2005)
National Champions: The Story of the 2006 Florida Gators
Out of the Blue (Boise State's 2006 season and Fiesta Bowl victory)
Rivalries: The Tradition of Georgia vs. Florida

(HT: /film)

Stagg Bowl Recap

Continuing my series of "nostalgia files" that didn't make their way into SI On Campus due to my own lethargy or otherwise busy news weeks, I am turning on the way-back-machine. Today I present the column I originally wrote after the Stagg Bowl, way back in mid-December. Travel with me back to the past to reminisce about my trip to Salem, Virginia for the D-III championship game.

For the last 15 seasons, Salem, Virginia has played host to the two teams who have survived the gauntlet of the Division III playoffs. One could call it the D-III Super Bowl, but everyone uses its given name, the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. For the third consecutive year, Mount Union faced off against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for the national championship. Predictions of freezing rain had clearly kept some folks from making the trek, but plenty of enthused fans and alumni arrived at the stadium parking lot early to celebrate making it this far.

Mount Union came in as prohibitive favorites, having only lost three games this century, and owning two straight victories over the Warhawks in Salem. To an impartial observer, the landscape of revelers could be a bit confusing. Both teams claim purple and black as their colors. Perhaps that was just as well. They say familiarity breeds contempt, but fans from both sides were friendly to one another, greeting their opposition with smiles and, quite frequently, beers. The celebratory air did much to cut through the freezing cold, and when that failed, purple people jumped in their cars to warm up. Those who made the drive down from Alliance, Ohio did so with supreme confidence that the Purple Raiders would win their tenth crown, flying banners that said, “Merry X-mas” and “Welcome to the Kehres Bowl” in honor of their coach, Larry Kehres. That the team had outscored opponents 605-55 over the course of the season only served to buoy that confidence. In a bold move, some Mount Union fans wore t-shirts listing their national championships, including 2007.

Just some of the confident Purple Raiders

However, the visitors were not limited to Purple Raiders and Warhawks. Alumni and current students from across the D-III landscape showed up to take part in the festivities. Representatives from Virginia’s Christopher Newport University, Wesley College in Delaware, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Texas and countless others made the trip to meet some of their brethren and talk football all weekend. In an example of the minor clash of cultures on display, a man from Texas kidded another from Wisconsin, “You talk funny! I have a cousin from Ohio. He talks funny, too.” Despite some gentle ribbing, there is a clear kinship among everyone making the pilgrimage to Salem. Division III doesn’t garner the national attention of the big schools. When it does find the spotlight, derision is often not far behind. These fans are quick to complain when talking heads call their sport “High School Football.”

Fans came from all over America

A group from Virginia’s Bridgewater College has been coming down to Salem every year since their team lost to Mount Union in the 2001 Stagg Bowl. Stone Station, so called because they do their home tailgating in front the house of school president, Dr. Phil Stone, employs contributions from all of their constituents. The result is a buffet fit for a king bestowed on any hungry soul in the vicinity. Much to the delight of the entire parking lot, they served up pulled pork, deep fried turkey, crab soup, barbecued chicken, ham sandwiches, fried potatoes, various salads, and made-from-scratch brownies and cookies. Once the first person yelled “Dig in,” the line didn’t stop flowing until ten minutes before kickoff. When the Whitewater band arrived, they headed straight for the spread, with one member exclaiming, “We’ll find the Whitewater tailgate later. I’m getting in line.” More than simply an impressive display of generosity, the folks at Bridgewater look forward to this event all season. It’s just as fun for them to meet far flung D-III fans as it is for those fans to chow down on all the tasty grub. While folks sampled the group’s eats, they did their best to stay warm, huddling near wood-burning fire pits. Stone Station knows how to pamper.

By the time the game kicked off, the dreaded rain finally arrived. Outside of some of the ballcarriers, nobody seemed to mind. Most unaffiliated fans pulled for Whitewater to get the upset, hoping the third try would be the charm. The game featured big hits, shifts in momentum, and some huge plays. Through the strength of Gagliardi Trophy winner Justin Beaver’s legs and an impressive defensive performance, they managed to outplay Mount Union. In the game’s closing minutes, the Warhawk fans briefly dusted off the “Over-rated!” chant, but quickly switched to “U-Dub-Dub!” A much more appropriate cheer given the respect these two teams have for one another.

Being photographed with the lowest rung on the Sports Illustrated ladder was hardly the biggest thrill of the day for the Whitewater Dance Team

After players from both teams shook hands, the Warhawks collected their trophy and posed for a team picture. Once that was finished, they shouted in unison, “Miller Time!” When one of the neutral fans blurted out, “It’s a Wisconsin thing,” a Whitewater fan said, “That’s right! We don’t drink Budweiser.” The Whitewater players then ran over to celebrate with their fans. Within fifteen minutes after the games end, the skies opened up and doused the area with rain. That cut the post-game celebration short, sending people back to their hotels. It was just as well. The pinnacle of Division III football had delivered. The game was excellent, but perhaps more importantly, the game’s followers had gotten to know one another. They all have hopes of their team’s chances to play their way into the Stagg Bowl next season. But even if the team doesn’t bring them to Salem, they plan to come anyway. After comments about the thrilling game, the most frequently heard farewell was, “See you next year,” a promise sure to be fulfilled.

Tailgate Report Card: Florida vs Georgia

I know what you're thinking. They tailgate for Softball? Well, perhaps they do, but in going through all my notes, I realized there were a couple SI On Campus stories I wrote that were never published. Consider this my "things I lost in the fire" era. So we are going way back to the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party for this one. I don't even remember what I wrote, but here it is...

Setting A neutral-site game has a lot to offer in terms of heated pregame passion shown by both sides. But the area surrounding Alltel stadium in Jacksonville is hardly anyone’s version of paradise. The tailgating areas mostly consist of cement parking lots packed with cars and little room for major grilling or tenting. That said, one has to be impressed with the immense scale of the scene. You could walk for ten blocks in any direction and still not leave the tailgating areas. Grade: C+

Knowledge of Fans As the day wore on, it seemed the level of football knowledge decreased. I’m sure it was just buried beneath all the bourbon, beer, and other consumables. A lot of people were local Jacksonville and not as into the college game as one would expect in an on-campus setting. Every Georgia fan I spoke with was convinced they had no chance to win the game. Then again, had any of us heard of Knowshon Moreno before Saturday? Grade: C

Eats Most tailgates served pre-prepared grub or made sandwiches. Grills were rather scarce for an SEC football matchup. Part of that could have been due to the fact that this is neither team’s normal home turf. However, some more committed groups managed to put together beef tenderloin, low country boil, BBQ ribs, hot nachos, and of course heaping piles of barbecue. But how seriously does one have to take grub at a cocktail party? Grade: B-Drinks They don’t call it the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party for nothing. While there was plenty of beer to be had, bourbon was the most popular ingredient of the day. Mixed with ginger ale or coke, big bottles found themselves emptied by the end of the day. One group busted out the champagne as soon as they arrived, but many Georgia folks popped corks after the game ended. You’d be hard-pressed to find a thirsty soul in Jacksonville Saturday. Grade: AYard Games Tight quarters meant little room for throwing and tossing. Still, people managed to get in a little cornhole, beer pong, and washers. Grade: B-

Cheers and Songs It seems these neutral site affairs bring out the best in pregame enthusiasm. Florida fans started with “Orange! Blue!” The Georgia backers then countered with “What’s that coming down the track? A huge machine that’s big and black!” Gators shouted “It’s great, to be, a Florida Gator! It’s great, to be, a Florida Gator!” Dawgs woofed with a tenacity that would make Arsenio Hall blush. As kickoff approached, chats grew louder and more frequent. Walking into the game, many young men and women had already blown out their vocal cords. Grade: A

Eye Candy One could easily argue that this game is the reason the category was invented. Beautiful Georgia girls dressed in red and back sundresses and traveled in groups all day. If that wasn’t your thing, Florida cuties donned jerseys and short shorts. The day’s competition wasn’t limited to the on-field action. Ladies from both fan bases brought their A game. Even the unattractive girls looked good. I didn’t want to leave. Grade: ASuperfans Hardly anyone was painted or wearing outlandish getups. One guy’s outfit featured a plush coat in Gator blue and was topped with a homemade pimp hat. But beyond that, everyone sported team colors. Red slacks were frequent, as were Percy Harvin jerseys. Grade: C

X-factor Many games feature large huddles of RVs assigned to special sections near the stadium. But there’s nothing quite like RV City in Jacksonville. Because neighbors for the week are from opposing camps, they make special effort to wave their team’s flags and decorate their home. The result is a bizarre sort of anytown USA feel, with pride on display. Everyone managed to get along. Grade: B

Best Tailgate The standout effort belongs to Gator Hawg’s Lawg Annual BBQ. Fans of both teams flocked to their spot in RV city throughout the day, and with good reason. Over the course of the weekend, they went through four bushels of oysters, 600 pounds of barbecued pork, and enough ribs and baked beans to choke a tyrannosaurus. But perhaps the best feature of their setup is that they had two porto-lets all to themselves. The only complaint would be that their TVs were a bit dated. Plasmas would have been nice, but the classic screens fit with the vintage RV motif. Grade: B-

Perhaps because of the recent one-sidedness of the rivalry, everyone was pretty cheerful and there to have a good time. Digs on the opposition were frequent, but altercations were few and far between. I was surprised at how many Florida and Georgia fans arrived as part of the same crew. The stadium itself is awfully sterile, as is the environment nearby. I know it’s tradition to have the game in Jacksonville, but I don’t see any major reason not to go to a more typically home-and-home matchup. But it was a great experience and I’ll be recommending to friends and acquaintances to take their own visit to the WLOCP at least once.

Looking Back, Part II

Of course I meant to have this up earlier, but things have been extremely busy 'round here at Road Games HQ. A couple weeks ago, I covered some of the highlights of the season's visits, accomplishments, and experiences, handing out awards for various categories. So let's keep it rolling. Remember, whenever possible, these are based completely on the thoughts of the fans I encountered and not my own opinions.

Most arrogant fans
I was nervous when I visited Ohio State. Nervous because they tend not to look kindly upon people who graduated from that school up north. My concern was enhanced by the fact that nearly every place I went, fans relayed their Buckeye horror stories. I decided that I would have an "ask and I'll tell" policy regarding the site of my education. The funny thing was, I had nothing to worry about. Not one person asked me about it the entire weekend. This was a major surprise. Every place I visited had its share of bragging and arrogance, but in Columbus, they took this to another level. They were #1 in the country at the time, but the fact that they weren't the least bit interested in any other programs speaks volumes. People treated me as nicely as they did anywhere else, but a certain air of superiority was present, particularly with the older fans. At the end of the weekend, I concluded that not only are the they most arrogant folks around, they'd be proud to hear me say so.

#33 looks hungry - and is apparently the TV Title Holder.

Hottest Girls
I should preface this award by stating that there is a clear correlation between the calendar and attractiveness of the women. Tennessee didn't fare all that well in this category, but because it was an 11:30 am kickoff late in the season the deck was stacked against them. (And people kept claiming it was cold. Clearly none of them have lived through a Chicago winter.) Furthermore, the excitement of a home opener seems to bring out the latest sundress technology. While I was extremely impressed by the talent on display at Georgia, USC, Texas, LSU and even Michigan (in freezing cold weather!), Clemson took the cake for me. Maybe it was just 'cause it was my first southern football game, or maybe I spent enough time with the right sororities, but there's a reason SIOC kept using this picture over and over again:

I have no idea what these girls' names are.

Loudest Fans
This is without question LSU. Clemson folks proudly claim that they have the loudest decibel rating on record. That may be the case, but I've never heard anything quite like that LSU crowd. They beat Virginia Tech 48-7, and screamed relentlessly right up to the last seconds ticking off the clock. Kids, old folks, boys and girls all got into the act. My favorite moment was when they showed the Alabama score and the nine year old kid sitting behind me hollered, "I HATE NICK SAYBAHN!" His four year old brother added, "I hate Nick Saybahn, too."Drunkest Fans
The oft-heard cheer goes, "When you say Wiiiiiisconsin, you've said it all." That the brief chant is taken from a Budweiser commercial is only fitting. Well, kinda. They brew Bud in St. Louis not Milwaukee. But anyway, when Wisconsin hosted Iowa in their Big Ten opener, I was blown away by the raw amount of drunkenness on display, particularly by the students. People party at games all across the country, but nobody drinks more aggressively than the students in Madison. It was named Playboy's #1 party school in the country for a reason. I mean, look at how this guy ended up:

That's right. They were playing Iowa.

Best Marching Band
With all due respect to the Wisconsin band and their festive fifth quarter, they didn't manage to win this award. As mentioned in my post the other day, I love fight songs more than ever, and have an even greater appreciation for the sweat these often unrecognized college kids put in every week of the fall. Almost all the bands sounded great and blasted their exhortations with verve. But one did manage to outdo the others. The kids at Ohio State don't just get the crowd whipped into a frenzy, they high-step their way with such technical precision that it appears they are all operating with the same brain. It's truly a thing of beauty. So congrats to the Buckeye band, even if you did get the Script Ohio idea from Michigan.

Best Beef
The most oft-heard phrase in Lincoln at stop #4 was "Tommie Frazier," but right behind that was "corn-fed beef." I had my fair share of red meat that day, but nothing compared to Vaughan Blum's steak sandwiches. He and his compatriots brought 300 pounds of steak and freshly baked french rolls. It was enough to feed the whole team! Tasty, delicious, and succulent all at once, it will always be one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of Lincoln.
Best Individual Item I Ate
Believe me, I have never had a time where I was consistently treated to more quality eats in my life. At nearly every stop, people who had labored hard over their best outdoor culinary efforts brought a smile to my lips and warmth to my belly. I am surprised by my choice for this award, but I have to admit, there is one particular item that stands out to this day. I can still recall every detail of its flavor and texture and how absolutely glorious it was. No surprise that it was likely the least healthy thing I consumed. However, the fact that it was served in a cardboard racecar I could never have predicted. That item was deep fried cookie dough procured at the State Fair of Texas. Hot, sweet, and rich with chocolaty goodness, it surpassed all expectations.

I could see in its eyes that this turkey would have loved a taste.

Least Friendly Fans
I don't want to be misinterpreted here, because everywhere I went, I was met with politeness. But outside of the gang at the Beershoes tailgate, the University of Washington tailgates were a series of nice, but somewhat reserved folks. It was easily the hardest I had to work over the course of this trip, and even after I nudged my way into parties, people were not all that forthcoming with information. Everyone was very nice, but they didn't even seem that interested in neighboring tailgates. The fans are every bit as passionate there. I am told by friends in the know that it's simply how things are in Seattle.

These guys were awesome, though.

Prettiest Campus
Let me be clear, I didn't go to a single ugly campus (well, OK, the Rutgers Piscataway campus is considerably dumpy, but New Brunswick has a rustic, urban-lite charm). Clemson, nestled in the Appalachian hills, Georgia, with its pretty downtown section, Notre Dame, particularly by the grotto, Tennessee, the Hill on the river, Bridgewater, with its quaint small-town charm, and Wisconsin, perched on two lakes all left lasting impressions. But USC really takes things to a whole new level. The surrounding area is a typical Los Angeles urban environment (read: GTA San Andreas). But the campus itself has clearly had truckloads of money poured into it. From the Romanesque facades to the perfectly manicured greens and flower beds, it was unlike any other campus I visited. No wonder they get all those recruits.

This is a school? Looks like the Hearst mansion.

Best Scotch
"Shag" Shaugnessy, Harvard alum and team captain from 1958, tailgates at every Crimson home game. After the team dispatched Princeton, he arrayed a series of bottles of the good stuff under his tent. I can't recall which brand I sampled, but it was excellent. The most memorable moment happened when he tried to get a senior student to give it a taste. The young man couldn't handle the intensity and returned to his Miller Lite.

Shag holds court at postgame.

Random thing that brought the biggest smile to my face
As it turned out, nearly all the games I hit ended up being evening kickoffs, and at the Iron Bowl, that meant extra time to party. At one point, I crossed paths with a family rounding a corner between tailgate lots. Straggling behind was grandma, looking a tad disoriented and holding in a small plastic cup the Auburn blue remnants of the jello shot she had clearly just consumed. I can't begin to describe how happy this made me.

Didn't get a photo of grandma. These cheerleaders made me smile, too.

My favorite "from the car" photo
I'm going to have an upcoming posting that's all photos and captions because I have so many good ones. But this is the only one I tried to make artistic. I thought it turned out pretty well, no?

My favorite game photo
My camera certainly showed its prowess at capturing the beauty of coeds around the nation. But action shots were where it faltered a bit. There were many decent ones, but I dig this shot from the Red River Shootout the most. Nobody's really moving yet, but you see some horns in the air and can imagine how much more difficult it was for Oklahoma's offense to deal with crowd noise at this end of the stadium.
Best game I saw in person
Before the trip began I of course envisioned seeing upsets or dramatic finishes every week. But that's just not how college football works. Your expectations are often dashed (just ask all the fine folks I met in Lincoln before USC's offensive line put the hurt on 'em). Still, I was able to catch my fair share of quality contests: FSU/Clemson, Iowa/Wisconsin, USC/Washington, Rutgers/South Florida, and Florida/Georgia were all competitive and exciting in their own regard. But nothing compared to the drama and thrills of the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. When Justin Beaver scampered for 70 yards to seal the upset and National Championship with just minutes to play, I have to admit, I lost my mind a bit (and joyously hollered the word "Beaver!" over and over again). It was a tremendous way for me to finish the season. Check out these highlights if you don't believe me.

Most Satisfying Experience
Gosh, here's where I get humble and proud at the same time. I can't remember if I've written this before, but on my way home from the west coast - after the USC game, I had a somewhat bizarre epiphany somewhere between Salt Lake City and Cheyenne. It was before the nasty weather pummeled me across the plains. I thought about all the fun I'd had, and all the sights I'd seen, and all the people I'd met - old friends and new. I became a bit overwhelmed. Maybe it was the first time I had a moment to step back and think about the big picture. I can think about all the games and all those people - every hilarious comment, generously donated beverage, and comfortable home. But I guess what this trip has truly given me above anything else is a renewed appreciation for my country. The stunning sites we have to visit are only surpassed by all the wonderful people that call this place home. I have always known this, but now I really get it. Now it's a part of me. I can't pinpoint any one moment that sums this up (though if you could put the Grand Canyon, screaming LSU fans, Shag's Scotch collection, a pile of barbecue, and Tiger Rag in the living room of my college house, you'd be a third of the way there). I guess what I'm saying is, thank you to everyone I met along the way. It was the most exciting time of my entire life and I owe you all a lot more than the feeble praise I write in this space.

One last thing I want to mention today. I came across a blog of another guy who's doing a cross-country trip. His name is Daniel, an Army veteran who lost his right arm in Afghanistan. Check out his blog here. A bit more inspiring than my journey, perhaps, but I know at the end of his road, he'll surely have many of the same feelings I do.

I'll have at least one very big announcement here very soon, but I'm not tipping my hand on it just yet. Until then, I keep sparring with my own prose, doing my best to put together something people will want to read. Shoot me a note if it's been a while or ya just want to say hello.

Fight Songs Are Cool

Still working on that next "Looking Back" posting, but I had to share this video. It's nothing necessarily profound or dramatic. Just one fan's top ten fight songs with some game photos. But since I visited all of theses schools and heard the songs played again and again and again, it stirs something visceral in me when I hear them. Before I set out, most of them didn't really mean anything to me - or maybe I even condemned them as inferior, dumb, or just plain uninteresting. But now I get a bit of that same joyful feeling that each school's fans get. These are fantastic pieces of American history. Thank goodness they're here forever. Yes, even you "Across the Field."


(HT EDSBS)

And because they didn't include it and I had the pleasure of hearing four different school marching bands play it, here's the oldest version of Tiger Rag I could find:


The new posting will be up soon. I promise!