Texas A&M Defects to SEC for 2012 Football Season?

Why talk politics when you can talk football? Well, college football anyway ... Just heard that the "Big 12", which only has 10 teams this year (but they are not the "Big 10" ... that is another conference, which happens to have 12 teams this year? talk about confusing!) will lose yet another team at the end of the season. You see, it seems that Texas A&M is defecting to the SEC at the end of this football season, and the SEC voted to let them in?

I'm sorry, being a U of Texas graduate and having worked with a rather arrogant individual from Texas A&M: I AM NOT a Texas A&M fan!! Quite frankly, I think the SEC is going chew Texas A&M to pieces. And while I will be all too happy to see this chewing on Texas A&M, I feel for the "Big 12" conference and U of Texas in particular. I mean, the UT and A&M rivalry is a fundamental part of the university cultural fabric in Texas. Now after decades of mostly good-natured and spirited rivalry ... this university rivalry will just be gone? Something is just not right about that!?! Granted UT and U of Oklahoma still have their rivalry, but somehow that's just not the same. Know what I mean?

I have sneaky suspicion that Texas A&M is going to come crawling back to the "Big 12" with their tail between their legs ... that's my prediction anyhow, psychic that I am  (I could be wrong ;)   And of course, I shall immensely enjoy seeing Ken's team (my adopted team), the U of Florida "Gators", "whoop up on" Texas A&M. I may just have to throw a BIG party for that game.

Go University of Oregon DUCKS!!

I need to write about something happy today. Thanksgiving was fun this year, from a snow point-of-view.  So even though we were away from  our family and friends, in Texas, we had our own little family of sorts along with lots of snow to help us celebrate this year.  According to locals who have lived here, in the Seattle area, all of their lives: "We've never had a White Thanksgiving!"  The kids had a blast with getting to miss two whole scheduled days of school due to the snow.  And of course, they thoroughly enjoyed going sledding for hours on end each day, including Thanksgiving Day!

The kids' "Monster Snowball" .... Thankfully, this thing was flung at me ; )

Fortunately, we had most of the supplies needed in order to throw together our Thanksgiving dinner, and what we didn't have: we just did without. So it was a simple Thanksgiving celebration; sometimes returning to basics helps to refocus your appreciation for all that you are truly grateful to have. And while extended family was greatly missed:  we made the most of the day, on our own, the best way we knew how to do.  I think, just maybe, getting back to the simpler things in life is something we as Americans, as a nation, should all be focused on this Thanksgiving most especially, given the state of our current economy.  Just a thought: take it for what you will.

Of course, no Thanksgiving would be complete without the college football games and holiday parades. Unfortunately, neither Ken's team (the Florida Gators) nor mine (University of Texas Longhorns) are having a very good year this year.  I guess our teams' poor performances are to be expected due to the influx of a large new freshman class of players who have seen very little game time this season.  A good friend of mine, however, happens to be a graduate of the University of Oregon.  Her team, The Ducks, are having an amazing year!  The Ducks are presently in first place and headed onto the National Championship last time I checked.  So I'd be willing to bet she --my high school friend, Kathy-- is pretty happy right now.  Bet she's cheering for her Ducks as we speak.  Go DUCKS! We'll be rooting for ya'll. : )

National Championship countdown ... It's getting closer!

GO TCU HORNED FROGS!  Most impressive ... a non-BCS team, not just in the top 10, but the top 5!

Song: 'We are the Champions'



From: http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1013041

"Horned Frogs Leap into top four of BCS

Mike Huguenin


Rivals.com College Football Editor

For the second week in a row, Alabama and Texas switched places in the BCS standings, with the Tide this week moving up to second and the Longhorns falling to third.
Florida remains No. 1, and the Gators and Crimson Tide will meet Dec. 5 in the SEC championship game. Texas is in the driver's seat for the Big 12 South title, and the top three teams are far ahead of the rest of the BCS field.
Here is the BCS top 12, with the school, its ranking last week, its spot in the coaches' poll, its spot in the Harris poll and its BCS computer average. A bonus: We've included NCAA strength of schedule (SOS), which is not part of the BCS formula..

Team (LW) Harris Coaches Comp. SOS

1. Florida (1) 1st 1st 1st T-18th

2. Alabama (3) 3rd 3rd 2nd 24th

3. Texas (2) 2nd 2nd 5th T-39th

4. TCU (6) 4th 4th 4th T-45th

5. Cincinnati (5) 5th 5th 3rd 73rd

6. Boise St. (7) 6th 6th 6th 100th

7. Ga. Tech (10) 7th 7th 7th 56th

8. LSU (9) 11th 11th 8th T-28th

9. USC (12) 10th 10th 11th 44th

10. Iowa (4) 12th 13th 9th T-28th

11. Ohio St. (16) 8th 8th T-13th 33rd

11. Pitt (13) 9th 9th T-13th 12th

Iowa's loss to Northwestern dropped the Hawkeyes from fourth to 10th in the BCS standings, and TCU was the beneficiary. The Horned Frogs climbed from sixth to fourth, with Cincinnati remaining in fifth.
Boise State is the lowest of the six unbeatens, at sixth in the BCS standings.

TCU remains the highest-ranked team from a non-Big Six league. A non-Big Six team is guaranteed a BCS spot in two ways. One is if it finishes in the top 12; the other is if it is ranked in the top 16 and its ranking is higher than that of a conference champion with an automatic berth. This week, the Horned Frogs are higher than any team from the ACC, Big East, Big Ten and Pac-10. "




And so the drama continues ... (whatever will men do when college football season ends?)   I must say, I am a bit relieved -- that Texas and Alabama flipped, putting Texas at number 3 now.  I don't want the National Championship to wind up being University of Florida vs. University of Texas ... have enough drama in my personal life already?!

But way to go TCU! (from my hometown of Fort Worth, Texas)  Horned Frogs rock!  Hard work pays off, no?!

The final games are up and coming.  Texas has had a whimpy schedule so far this far this far this year.  Oklahoma was probably their hardest game.  A&M is this weekend, but doubt they'll give Texas a real game?  Never know:  it could happen.  According to Ken, U of Florida has to face Alabama in the weeks ahead ... a sort of SEC championship.  He says that whoever wins that game will probably wind up playing Texas for the National Championship.  So basically, unless Texas screws up:  they're in.  Must be nice!  We'll see what happens.  That is one of the things that I DO LIKE about college football -- vs. pro; the fact that the unexpected can and often does happen.  Guess, I'll just keep biting my finger nails for the next few weeks -- just figuratively, course!  : )

Later,

M

Which U.S. University has the downright UGLIEST school colors?

Just FYI:  I am a very supportive, football watching wife -- college football anyway.  I know the scoring, the objective and most of the rules.  I would even cheer for my husband's team (UF) over mine (UT) if they wind up playing each other for the National Title -- sorry UT, UF is going for the 'team of the decade' ... just the way cookie crumbles this year.  That being said, let's just say when you're sick your perspective changes a little ...

While being forced to watch yet another college football game, my foggy, bored, flu-ridden mind begins to wander.  Ken, my husband, is watching the Virginia Tech vs. North Carolina college football game. Big surprise, right?  I wonder if the flu (fever) is affecting my eyesight?! Can Virginia Tech really be wearing such a horrid combination of colors? Who in their sober, right mind would put two such clashing colors as deep burgundy and bright pumpkin orange together?

I drag my sick self off the couch in order to get a better look at the TV screen. Yep,I wasn't hallucinating?!  The team's colors truly were deep burgundy and bright pumpkin orange. I ask Ken if he has the colors on his baby, 52" plasma properly adjusted? He isn't amused and ignores me.

I collapse back onto the couch and wonder to myself: Which U.S. University has the downright ugliest school colors? From what I've seen so far this season: I nominate Virginia Tech. What's your opinion? If I get enough submissions, perhaps we can put it to a final vote. : )

On that note: GO GATORS!

By the way, I do happen to like the GATORS' color pairing, but then I may be biased?!

Later,

M

P.S. 

Here is a link to a complete list of 4-yr. college / university school colors: http://www.ssur.org/research/CollegeColorsNicknames/FourYear/FourYear.htm


Results so far:  What's your opinion?  We'll put top 3 worst to a vote ...

Me "Virginia Tech!"

Ken says he hates U of Texas Colors:  "Burnt Orange and Boring White?!"  [I think he just sees UT as a potential rival for upcoming National Title.]

"North Carolina's colors are boring ... and baby blue?  Feminine?!"

"LSU.  Purple?"

"Brown University.  Seal brown and cardinal white."

University of Florida Gators Are Still #1 !

GATORS ROCK!

Visit the UF Gator's Zone: http://www.gatorzone.com/football/

Okay, I'm experiencing a rare moment of joy -- well, near to it anyway ... with happiness being 1-5 and joy 6-10 ,,, I'd say I'm at least at 7.5  : ).  University of Florida just defeated the University of Arkansas (in an uncomfortably close game)! But, hey: a WIN is a WIN?! Way to go Caleb Sturgis! Sturgis kicked the field goal that moved the Gators from a 20/20 tie with Arkansas, up to 23  to win the game in the final 4 seconds. So, the Gators continue their winning streak -- with 16 games undefeated -- and hold onto to their #1 National Ranking.  I've seen the Gators play better, but every team has their down days.  Sure they'll rally back for their next game (Georgia, right ?) .

I had been at a soccer game with Lauren, so that Ken wouldn't have to miss the game. When I returned home, Ken was in a BAD mood and Arkansas had just scored another touchdown. The score was now 20 Arkansas to the Gators 13. I told Ken to stop being so NEGATIVE -- HE WAS GOING TO JINX HIS TEAM! I told him to leave, if he was going to get so upset, and I'd watch the rest of the game for him. Then the girls and I started sending POSITIVE ENERGY to the Gator players -- and yes, praying too : ). We had a good little cheering section going in our living room, and it paid off. The Gators made a comeback and held their own ... right down to the final 4 seconds. See what the power of POSITIVE THINKING can get you?! Sturgis must be onto this, because he was one IMPRESSIVELY CALM dude going into kicking that game saving field goal.

So we're all on cloud nine now! : ) Going out to dinner to celebrate. Joyful day to you!



P.S. Had mixed feelings about which team I would root for at the start of this football season -- University of Texas or University of Florida (Ken's Alma Mater), but since U of Florida is going for the "Team of the Decade", I guess that my loyalties have got to lie with the Gators. Just hope that the National Championship doesn't end up being University of Florida vs. University of Texas?!  That would be tres awkward ...